Word of this blog and a separate private Facebook page have apparently spread like wildfire and made its way into sermons, Bible classes, and face to face confrontations, with accusations being thrown around left and right about who they think is instigating it all. What’s sad is how wildly false the accusations have been. Tongues have been wagging about the blog with all sorts of false assumptions, and it seems to me like the dictionary definition of gossip, evil surmising, and slander. I’ve personally heard false accusations against three or four different people in the last couple of weeks, myself included.
This culture of gossip (under the guise of keeping the church pure, because we have to have a good pretense for it, after all) has been a part of the church for as long as I remember, but the longer you are around it, the more your conscience becomes numb to it. Conversely, the longer you’re away from it, the more it sticks out like a sore thumb, because it’s just not normal to talk about other people’s supposed sins so openly. It’s a rumor mill, that’s all there is to it.
I remember as a pre-teen knowing about the private sexual lives of some members of the church, simply because I was in the car, or in the same room as someone on the phone (in the days when phones had cords), or in the next room over during a fellowship while someone was talking indiscreetly about another person (yes, that’s the proper use of the word indiscreet, it does not mean the same thing as immodest—look it up). There were plenty of whisperings about various members and what they did in the bedroom, and while I will assume there were plenty of good intentions to go around, it was nevertheless good old fashioned gossip. I still remember some of those graphic accusations to this day, including who was withdrawn from unscripturally for what, and the reputation of the person who was the subject of the accusations still lingers 30 years later. Once you hear something like that, you can’t unhear it.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
For the record, I haven’t sent out any anonymous emails to church members telling them about this blog. It has never been my goal to even promote this blog, but simply to make the information available to whoever needs it. Without any grand promotional efforts on my part–99% of the promotion has been word of mouth by readers–it has received about 2,800 4,280 5,636 29,301 46,983 57,501 page views and counting. There is clearly a hunger for this information.
I have no idea who sent the email I was accused of sending, nor do I know the person who started the Facebook group. It was apparently started weeks before I’d ever heard about it. Before next Sunday, I should expect some confessions, because there has certainly been a lot of evil surmising and slander going on, about me and about others they are speculating might be involved.
For my part, I would be happy to correct any factual errors anyone finds here immediately, if you can find any. I’ve already corrected a total of two minor errors one person found after scouring the site for half an hour.
I apologize in advance if any of my posts have come across as overly sarcastic, that’s definitely not my goal, but I do think a sprinkle of sarcasm helps underline some points. If my goal were to bash and mock people, believe me, the tone of this blog would be entirely different. I have no other goal but to inform and build up the faith of those whose consciences have been oppressed by this church for decades.
1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the
habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only
do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying
things they ought not to.Titus 3:2 – …to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
James
3:5-6 – Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes
great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small
spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the
body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life
on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Luke 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Great blog, Kevin. I'm originally from Stanton( I remember you being a young boy there).I Spent almost twenty years in the church seeing many of the things you speak about but keeping them in the back of my mind, and doubting my own feelings that something wasn't right .This constant gossiping was so confusing because it was ok for teachers to talk about people but no one else to even question actions of a teacher. Being outside of that influence and away from the constant intimidation it is so much more clear. There was no love or understanding. I'm sure… Read more »
Amen Loraine.
Thanks Loraine, I appreciate it. I remember your name. I'm sorry you had that experience, but you're absolutely right that there's no point in being bitter about anything. I just want to get the facts out and help people wrestle with the doctrinal errors, that's all. No other agenda than that.
I remeber being little i knew everyones buisness. Worse than high school teenagers. I could never get a straight answer either. Always an excuse or well, or oops. Always gossip
I see your agenda is sincere and out of love for all in the grips of this sect. I was speaking of myself not being bitter because I can learn from that experience to use my mind more, to question all things I hear whether religiously or politically. Thomas Jefferson said "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear." I think he was a very godly man. I constantly need to remember this. It is so easy to turn your mind… Read more »
Hello Loraine: I met you when you came to Des Moines for the “May meeting.” I am in the Rising Sun Church of Christ. Our pastor Steve Rowland is great, along with many other in our family centered congregation. **** are here, and recently **** has been attending. I am learning so much. I finally realized that I am a child of GOD. So glad Kevin Harper has this page.
Thanks Loraine. I love that Jefferson quote.
I believe that the atheist who questions boldly the very existence of God is probably more likely to come to know the God of the Bible eventually than the nominal Christian who doesn't question what his teachers and preachers say.
Seek and ye shall find…but if you aren't seeking God because you think you already have Him, you're certainly not going to find Him.