Blog on the Lillypad
Monday, October 11, 2004
 | Oh that Independent Fundamental Baptist-X Display of Deceit, Ignorance, and Deception!
Over on the Hyles-Anderson College forum on the FFF, I must have struck a nerve, as the IFBx preachers and some of their slavish followers are once again hurling insults at me. I think it's the usual themes of "ugly" and "lesbian," two favorites of Fundamentalists when a woman thrashes them once or twice around the back lot for their ignorance of Scripture and disobedience to the Word of God. |
A reader from Kansas writes, quite movingly, "Why do you keep up the fight with the idiots on the HAC forum? Nearly every time I attempt to read any of the threads in there, it just ticks me off. You've shown yourself to be quite superior to most of them intellectually. You appear to have a better grasp of the Bible than most in there do, as well. The thing is, they will never realize tha because....well....most of them are complete idiots!"
Actually friend, they are complete deceivers, some to the point that they are entirely self deceived as well.
Yes, they are astoundingly and shamefully ignorant of Scripture, and yes, they do preach the most ridiculous ideas that always turn out to contribute enormous status to the preacher (as they are preachers), and yes it does get embarrassing to watch them at times.
But you have to understand, if they abuse me, they are abusing others. And not every other person has the lovely gift of contempt for their words that I have. I can't say I'm keen on being called names day after day. Then again, it bothers me a lot less than it would somebody who really took these ignorant devils seriously. I have a certain immunity that ought ought to be put to good use.
For one thing, we need a prolonged and consistent demonstration on a public venue of how ignorant of Scripture and chained down in sin these men are. There is a sense, indeed, in which I urge God by prayer to keep them blinded so that they will continue to make a full demonstration of their ungodly and unconverted hearts. In this way, the innocent and vulnerable are warned away.
But in the second place, men are brought to their own destruction by their own lusts and desires. That doesn't acquit us of our responsibilities to hold men in office accountable, but even when they wrest power for themselves, they are not innately powerful. I don't know the exact mechanism that God will choose, but just as Marty Braemer, when I was wondering what to do about the troll Over It, foolishly bragged in the forum that he had created Over It, so these men, given enough time and space, will destroy themselves.
I certainly intend to help things along by publishing the Encyclopedia of Abusive Church Practices, complete with multiple quotes and examples, but ultimately, the trigger lies with them. I will not bring them to destruction. My correspondent is absolutely correct in this regard, as I have very little power. Rather, when God is pleased to render judgement, He will stop holding back, and they will bring about their own public humiliation. But all things in GOd's time. And meanwhile, the demonstration is crucial. Time has to be allowed for the innocent and the simple to get thoroughly nauseated with IFBx and get out of it.
I doubt that after ranting and raging fo hours on the internet, that Guy Beaumont, Wally Jones, Marty Braemer, Jonathan Farris, or Chris Farris just switch off their guilt and rage. If they have to keep proving themselves and avenging themselves on a woman they don't know, who can do them no real harm, think of what they must do to those they expect to serve and obey their causes. A demonstration can be a good and a powerful thing when it is called to remembrance at the appropriate time. And every event---always--builds to the appropriate time.
