Blog on the Lillypad
Sunday, February 15, 2004
 | Carrying the Cross
Over on the FFF, there's been a debate about a letter from a pastor sent to Jim Vineyard (pastor of Windsor Hills Baptist Church and founder of Oklahoma Bible College) regarding Vineyard's alleged detailed instructions to a young, single woman on how to have oral sex and masturbate (to be able to please her husband; though at present she is reportedly single). Portions of the alleged letter to Vineyard and Vineyard's alleged scathing but juvenile response have been posted. This morning, a new post has appeared, claiming to be from the offended pastor. It outlines the situation from his point of view. |
Regrettably, the man will not sign his name. He wishes to remain anonymous. Jerry Watson, on the other hand, has been clear about his wife receiving similar advice from Vineyard (while Watson was present), and he does sign his name. I wish these pastors, who speak so clearly about Christian courage to others, would exercise some of it themselves. When I felt called upon by the Lord to do something about the Dave Hyles situation, I didn't post what I was doing (contacting police in Dave's area and sending them documented information about his history) in order to protect myself from IFB Hyles followers, who can be exceptionally vicious. I definitely did not want a fight if I could possibly be obedient to God in alerting authorities of what I believed to be a real danger in their communities and yet do so without making enemies needlessly.
But two years later, when it became necessary to say what I had done in order to clarify the matter when others were making confusing statements, I did. And I took the crap that came with going public. The ill-taught Farrises and their ill-taught followers believe (or claim to believe) that I had a duty to go to their incompetent, idolatrous, father about Dave Hyles before I went to the police (in spite of the fact that Farris actually wore that loathesome "hundred percenter" button that told people up front he would not listen; that others had gone to him, and two books and a documentary had been produced about Dave's sins). I just took the crap because of the essential requirement to document what God really approves and what He really commands about purity and integrity in church office vs. what corrupt and unbelieving Fundamentalism teaches that He expects. Once again, a woman shows up the men in Fundamentalism. I am not very brave, and I found the experience of taking their crap upsetting. But I never doubted it was necessary. Until repentance and obedience come to Fundamentalist pulpits, the abuses will continue.
I have no idea why these people, injured and attacked and seeing their loved ones injured and attacked, stay anonymous. First, by staying silent they assure they will suffer further. Second, we're not called to keep our lives as safe, secure, and comfortable as possible. Certainly, we are called to be wise and not rash, so God's people must act with deliberation and evidence. But at the same time elders must confront sin openly and not behave as though they are sinning when they make known the gross excesses that are committed in churches by fallen preachers. Until this pastor makes his name known, the controversy stirred up by Vineyard's followers over the allegations will continue. Vineyard, if these latest claims about him are true, gets away with being outrageous and ungodly simply because the men who claim to follow Christ are timid. He can bank on their lack of genuine commitment to Christ. They are unwilling to suffer for the purity of the Gospel, and so he can rule over them. Just like any bully.
Can you trust Christ? Yes, you can trust Him to save you and guide you. Can you trust Him to keep your life free from suffering, from malacious attacks by others? No, because He has called every one of His followers to take up the cross of shame and rebuke in this world's eyes and follow Him. It takes believers by surprise to realize that we may have to carry the shame of the Cross of Christ right through the heart of Fundamentalism. But the person who carries a cross is not given the right to say where he or she will carry it. Yet where ever we carry that Cross that brings shame and derision in this world, we are following in the steps of our Master.
