Letter from Bro. Chester Wright to Bro. Haney

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Amos is The Borg at its very best.

He isn't quite sure what it is he doesn't like about MJ, but has decided to run him down on an internet forum anyway, because his friends don't like him.

He has questioned MJ's belief in the New Birth and accused him of being liberal by asserting he has moved away from essential standards (whatever that means).

Say, isn't Chester Wright the same guy who wrote the article in favor of television ads last year?

Isn't he the one that The Borg villified?

Isn't Chester Wright last year's whipping boy?

I guess Amos and his crew just need a new whipping boy.

This year it's Mark Johnston.

At some point we need to recognize Amos' tactics for what they are. His tactic are divisive, destructive political assassinations of other members of the body of Christ who express minute differences of opinion from "Ole Time Pennycost."

I wonder at this.

I am amazed at this.

I do not pretend to understand this.

But I have watched Amos and his posse for two years now, and they never change.

A few clarifications and comments...

I am absolutely unashamedly a part of the Borg I guess, if you define the Borg as those who are concerned about doctrine and separation, or "Old Time Pennycost" as you term it.

Bear in mind that when you speak of "Old Time Pennycost" you are talking about my mama. And yours, though you seem to be embarassed by her. While that doesn't make me angry, it does make me sad for your sake. That must be very hard.

As for MJ, I could make more specific comments about things that I disagree with, but I choose not to in this venue. I would rather accept your accusations of vagueness than violate confidences and personal standards of conduct.

Now on to Chester Wright.

He and I may not see eye to eye on the tv issue, but I challenge you to do a search and find a single word I have written anywhere that villifies him. I know him personally. He is a friend. He is a lover of Truth, and dead solid on this message that I love.

"The Borg" may have villified him, but I don't exactly walk in lockstep with any one clique, or allow any little Pentecostal special interest group to tell me who I can be friends with. Because of this, I often get shot at by both sides.

I preach for men that would be considered liberals, and they are my friends. It makes me no difference who likes that or who doesn't.

I do have this little quirk called loyalty. I am loyal to the Message and to my friends, and I have a hard time keeping quiet when either one is attacked.

So there you have it.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Amos

He is probably way too smart to get into a verbal exchange with Chester Wright.

That would be a no win situation for him.

Bishop Wright is smarter before breakfast than he is all day long, and has more Bible in his little finger than the other guy will ever have.

Originally Posted by Amos

A few clarifications and comments...

I am absolutely unashamedly a part of the Borg I guess, if you define the Borg as those who are concerned about doctrine and separation, or "Old Time Pennycost" as you term it.

Bear in mind that when you speak of "Old Time Pennycost" you are talking about my mama. And yours, though you seem to be embarassed by her. While that doesn't make me angry, it does make me sad for your sake. That must be very hard.

As for MJ, I could make more specific comments about things that I disagree with, but I choose not to in this venue. I would rather accept your accusations of vagueness than violate confidences and personal standards of conduct.

Now on to Chester Wright.

He and I may not see eye to eye on the tv issue, but I challenge you to do a search and find a single word I have written anywhere that villifies him. I know him personally. He is a friend. He is a lover of Truth, and dead solid on this message that I love.

"The Borg" may have villified him, but I don't exactly walk in lockstep with any one clique, or allow any little Pentecostal special interest group to tell me who I can be friends with. Because of this, I often get shot at by both sides.

I preach for men that would be considered liberals, and they are my friends. It makes me no difference who likes that or who doesn't.

I do have this little quirk called loyalty. I am loyal to the Message and to my friends, and I have a hard time keeping quiet when either one is attacked.

So there you have it.

Too bad you don't exhibit the same loyalty for your other UPC brothers.

Have you called Mark Johnston to express your concern, or are vague accusations your preferred method of expressing "concern" for him?

My mother is not now, nor has she ever been, "Ole Time Pennycost."

I stand on my own.

Amos, do you have one specific shred of evidence to support your claims against Mark Johnston, or are you just shooting from the hip?

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Too bad you don't exhibit the same loyalty for your other UPC brothers.

Have you called Mark Johnston to express your concern, or are vague accusations your preferred method of expressing "concern" for him?

My mother is not now, nor has she ever been, "Ole Time Pennycost."

I stand on my own.

Amos, do you have one specific shred of evidence to support your claims against Mark Johnston, or are you just shooting from the hip?

I have an opinion, based on sermons preached and other things that MJ and I don't agree on certain important matters.

If you think you can bait me into being more specific than that on an internet forum, you are mistaken.

I am loyal to this Truth first, and those who preach it and live it without fear, favor, or compromise.

Cards do not necessarily relationships make.

You obviously have a burr under your saddle and that is fine, but I am not going to be crowded into being stupid.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Amos

I have an opinion, based on sermons preached and other things that MJ and I don't agree on certain important matters.

If you think you can bait me into being more specific than that on an internet forum, you are mistaken.

I am loyal to this Truth first, and those who preach it and live it without fear, favor, or compromise.

Cards do not necessarily relationships make.

You obviously have a burr under your saddle and that is fine, but I am not going to be crowded into being stupid.

Yes, I most certainly do.

It's called integrity.

It is stupid (your word) to make baseless accusations against a man without speaking to him first, unless there is some sort of published evidence to support your claims.

Issuing some vague accusation against the man opens up all sorts of evil imaginations in the minds of our readers. It's nothing short of slander.

[ManOfWord]

Yowza! Things are warming up quite a bit here! So now, the powers that be are coming after another possible doctrinal "deviation" and now the younger ministers are the targets. That is so sad. Get rid of the younger ministers and guess what they'll have left in a decade or so? NOTHING!!

History teaches us that history teaches us nothing!!

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Yowza! Things are warming up quite a bit here! So now, the powers that be are coming after another possible doctrinal "deviation" and now the younger ministers are the targets. That is so sad. Get rid of the younger ministers and guess what they'll have left in a decade or so? NOTHING!!

History teaches us that history teaches us nothing!!

So true!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Yowza! Things are warming up quite a bit here! So now, the powers that be are coming after another possible doctrinal "deviation" and now the younger ministers are the targets. That is so sad. Get rid of the younger ministers and guess what they'll have left in a decade or so? NOTHING!!

History teaches us that history teaches us nothing!!

Wonder if a few generations ago they thought the "young preachers" were deviating any?

Seems from some of our earlier pioneers there's been some deviation - I'm sure Bro. Goss would be very surprised!

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Wonder if a few generations ago they thought the "young preachers" were deviating any?

Seems from some of our earlier pioneers there's been some deviation - I'm sure Bro. Goss would be very surprised!

It is amazing to me sometimes how certain "old paths" can be forsaken such as radio, drinking cafinated beverages, and the like, but other "old paths" must be maintained with out question. And some new "old paths" got added like no facial hair on men.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

It is amazing to me sometimes how certain "old paths" can be forsaken such as radio, drinking cafinated beverages, and the like, but other "old paths" must be maintained with out question.

It used to be amazing to me too, Rev, but then I realized that on these matters, people think with their hearts and not their heads.

There are things that intellectually we realize don't make sense, but emotionally, we can't let go of.

My favorite phrase when dealing with situations like this is "Don't confuse me with the facts!"

This is what I was referring to concerning Amos' protests on this very thread. He couldn't come right out and say what MJ was doing wrong, but it had to be something!

[Amos]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

It used to be amazing to me too, Rev, but then I realized that on these matters, people think with their hearts and not their heads.

There are things that intellectually we realize don't make sense, but emotionally, we can't let go of.

My favorite phrase when dealing with situations like this is "Don't confuse me with the facts!"

This is what I was referring to concerning Amos' protests on this very thread. He couldn't come right out and say what MJ was doing wrong, but it had to be something!

Brother, I choose not to name specific areas of disagreement, but I know what they are.