Tony Spell has church in spite of the ban

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by n david

There’s a video showing a white truck swerving towards the protester, then turning into the church parking lot. An arrest warrant was issued for the driver but I haven’t read any update on it.

Doesn’t matter what precipitated the two actions. We’re supposed to have the HG and fruits of the spirit inside of us. The protester is a sinner doing what sinners do. There’s no excuse for especially a Pastor to do anything like that.

I beg to differ.
If someone threatens or harasses my family, I will defend them.
And the Bible backs that up.
What he was wanting to do was to get out of the bus and speak to the protestor. And Sis. Spell was in the bus telling him to stop and just go.
Which he eventually listened to.
If he had it to do over again, he says he would have listened to her and drove on.
But, trying to pretend that this is the unforgivable or unpardonable sin makes me want to know how perfect all of you are...
The church (or Bro. Spell) should have just taken this guy to court and hit him with a restraining order (because he had taken to following church people around town and basically shouting "unclean, unclean").
But hindsight is always 2020...

[n david]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

I beg to differ.
If someone threatens or harasses my family, I will defend them.
And the Bible backs that up.

There was no threat. And the Bible does not suggest that people should lose their cool and confront others for harassing them. Good grief, look at what happened with the early church martyrs. Remind me where they defended themselves.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

he was wanting to do was to get out of the bus and speak to the protestor. And Sis. Spell was in the bus telling him to stop and just go.
Which he eventually listened to.

One doesn't need to drive a bus towards a protester to speak with them. And discernment should tell you it's not a good idea to do what he did.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

he had it to do over again, he says he would have listened to her and drove on.

It's good that he recognizes that it was a bad idea and he wouldn't do it again, but unfortunately, the damage has already been done.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

trying to pretend that this is the unforgivable or unpardonable sin makes me want to know how perfect all of you are...

No one is pretending or suggesting this is the unforgivable or unpardonable sin. Stop it. We're also not making excuses just because of the role and status of the person.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

church (or Bro. Spell) should have just taken this guy to court and hit him with a restraining order (because he had taken to following church people around town and basically shouting "unclean, unclean").

Source for that claim, please. The articles I've read say he has been in front of the church protesting. I haven't read that he's followed people around town. If true, those people should file a report with the police.

Originally Posted by aegsm76

But hindsight is always 2020...

Discernment shouldn't need hindsight.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by n david

There was no threat. And the Bible does not suggest that people should lose their cool and confront others for harassing them. Good grief, look at what happened with the early church martyrs. Remind me where they defended themselves.


One doesn't need to drive a bus towards a protester to speak with them. And discernment should tell you it's not a good idea to do what he did.


It's good that he recognizes that it was a bad idea and he wouldn't do it again, but unfortunately, the damage has already been done.


No one is pretending or suggesting this is the unforgivable or unpardonable sin. Stop it. We're also not making excuses just because of the role and status of the person.


Source for that claim, please. The articles I've read say he has been in front of the church protesting. I haven't read that he's followed people around town. If true, those people should file a report with the police.


Discernment shouldn't need hindsight.

nd - with all due respect, I am closer to the situation than anyone on here. At least, so far as I know. There may have not been a stated threat, but there was harassment of church people. And not just at the church.
The media would have you believe that all the protester did was stand in front of the church with a sign. It was far more than that.
But, it would have been far better to file a report with the police, but there are other reasons why that would not have worked, either.
And as for discernment shouldn't need hindsight.

Well, show me someone, you know, who displays perfect discernment...

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

nd - with all due respect, I am closer to the situation than anyone on here. At least, so far as I know. There may have not been a stated threat, but there was harassment of church people. And not just at the church.
The media would have you believe that all the protester did was stand in front of the church with a sign. It was far more than that.
But, it would have been far better to file a report with the police, but there are other reasons why that would not have worked, either.
And as for discernment shouldn't need hindsight.

Well, show me someone, you know, who displays perfect discernment...

I did see a video where the protester “saluted” one of the ladies and there was a lot of profanity as well. If it had been my wife, it would have been difficult to not teach a lesson in southern etiquette.

I certainly wish Brother Spell hadn’t done this. I believe he was justified in refusing to close church. He didn’t help his cause with this incident tho. I think he realizes it, but just a little late.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Tithesmeister

I did see a video where the protester “saluted” one of the ladies and there was a lot of profanity as well. If it had been my wife, it would have been difficult to not teach a lesson in southern etiquette.

I certainly wish Brother Spell hadn’t done this. I believe he was justified in refusing to close church. He didn’t help his cause with this incident tho. I think he realizes it, but just a little late.

I wonder which issue is more important:

1. Preacher acted rudely toward a flaming antichrist? Or,

2. Government dictates when, where, how, why people can peaceably assemble to worship God?

Obviously, number 1 is clearly far, far more important an issue in today's church world.

[n david]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

nd - with all due respect, I am closer to the situation than anyone on here. At least, so far as I know. There may have not been a stated threat, but there was harassment of church people. And not just at the church.
The media would have you believe that all the protester did was stand in front of the church with a sign. It was far more than that.
But, it would have been far better to file a report with the police, but there are other reasons why that would not have worked, either.
And as for discernment shouldn't need hindsight.
Well, show me someone, you know, who displays perfect discernment...

With all due respect, I don't know you from Adam and there's no real way to verify what you claim.

With as supportive as the Central City News and its editor is of Rev Spell, I'm just surprised Woody hasn't reported your claim in his articles.

Also surprised this hasn't been mentioned during public statements by Rev. Spell or his father.

It takes a pretty naive person not to know that confronting someone who's been harassing you, especially to the extent you claim, isn't a good idea and they'll likely do/say something to cause more trouble.