Five years ago this Easter I wrote an email to a group on my mailing list that I had sent things to for several years at my work place. This would not be the same as any other email I had ever sent to these people. At the time I was attending a large church and had been there off and on. I had not been at this church for the past several years because I had started another church and was busy with it. I had gone back to this church because Kevin and I had actually gone to all the churches in our area to encourage them to evangelize more. This church was on our list and we set up an appointment to speak with the pastor about evangelism efforts at a public festival that is held every year in the city of this church. This festival averages around 150,000 in it's week run, which is second in size only to the Mardi Gras.
When we met with this pastor he told us of an experience in one of his services where he said the Lord was directing him to do more evangelism and that God must have sent us. He actually said that he felt the Lord was chastising him because of the church's lack of evangelism. He also asked me to teach a class on evangelism since I had gone there for several years before he knew me and was comfortable asking me to do that. I agreed and started going back there. This was in September and this festival was in the first week of October. He agreed that the church would help with this event and have as many people out there to help us evangelize as we needed. When the time came for this event no one showed up for the evangelizing and Kevin and I proceeded on our own, which was normal for us.
Please bare with me because this is all relevant to what I am trying to get a crossed to you. At Christmas time the Christmas service was fairly nice with a good message about the birth of Christ as it should be. There was an altar call for anyone needing prayer and I would guess a couple hundred came up for prayer. The pastor started talking about some paintings that were for sale in the lobby and then called his family up on the stage and said, "We are going to end this service on a secular note." He said, "This is what our family does every year," and they started singing Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
Keep in mind that there are still several hundred people waiting for prayer with needs. When the song was over the service was dismissed and all those at the altar were left standing. Then came the Easter service and the pastor got up just before bringing his message and started talking about the need to get over 1,000 eggs colored for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. He said that they could do it two ways, they could either get enough volunteers to hand paint all these eggs or everyone in the congregation could put a dollar in the plate and they could buy them already colored.
Then he called up all the young children to pass the offering plates around for these eggs. I felt it was way out of place and this was my point in the email I sent out to my mailing list. I have copied the original email that I sent and the corresponding email from the pastor and the youth pastor of this church. I wanted to share this episode online in hopes that if any pastor sees this, that they will avoid making the same mistakes.
I have also edited the names out of the email because I do still care for these people and my intention was never to bad mouth them or the church. I do not want anyone taking this the same way they did, as a personal attack because it was not an attack on them or the church as you will see from the email.
You will also see through these emails just how carnal church leadership can become when defending unbiblical practices. It is extremely sad to see how this played out and I hope that it is an object lesson to all that read it. I also pray that all that read it will see the way this world has robbed us of what are supposed to be Holy days and turned them into commercialism and moved Jesus out of them. Even our churches are falling prey to the world's schemes. Below are the original emails regarding this episode and only the names have been kept out but all the content is original.
In Christ, Adam
This is the Original Email regarding the Easter Episode
Subj: Easter?
Date: 3/20/02 10:42:08 AM Central Daylight Time
From: mailto:ADB4JESUS
To: adam.bartlett@.com
Easter?
It is that time again, the time when we see just how far detached we really are from what is happening around us. What I am talking about is another one of those "Holy Days" in which the world has taken over and the church has jumped in with both feet. I sat in total dismay and anger last week as the service I was sitting in took time out to take up a special offering for eggs for the annual "Easter Egg Hunt." What made it worse was the minister badgering the people to give for this cause!
Maybe I am way off base but I always thought that the closer we got to the coming of our Lord the farther away we should be getting from the world. Apparently that is a concept that is totally foreign to the majority of churches today. I have been extremely fed up with these "religious" institutions for quite some time but it appears that there is no promise left for an about- face with these places. Once again I have to lay the majority of the responsibility on the leaders of these establishments for the continual downward spiral away from any resemblance of the first church.
I have to wonder what the Apostles would think if they were to visit these places on a Sunday morning. What would John think after being boiled in oil for his faith to find "Easter Egg" hunts going on in our churches? What would Peter think, (who was crucified upside down for his faith) in a church that does not offer salvation to the lost? What would Paul think after being be-headed, about these places that focus on emotionalism and entertainment instead of serious prayer and evangelism? What about Isaiah who was sawn in two, what would he say to the churches of today? I believe Jeremiah etched his sentiments a long time ago in his writings:
The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said,
"Go to the entrance of the LORD's Temple, and give this message to the people: "`O Judah, listen to this message from the LORD! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But do not be fooled by those who repeatedly promise your safety because the Temple of the LORD is here. I will be merciful only if you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others; and if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; and if you stop your murdering; and if you stop worshiping idols as you now do to your own harm. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.
" `Do you think that because the Temple is here you will never suffer? Don't fool yourselves! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, "We are safe!"--only to go right back to all those evils again? Do you think this Temple, which honors my name, is a den of thieves? I see all the evil going on there, says the LORD. "
For too long Christians have been in this very situation that Jeremiah describes and have even come to the place that they justify their actions. Look at what Malachi had to say:
"The LORD Almighty says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. I am your father and master, but where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have despised my name! "But you ask, `How have we ever despised your name?'
"You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. "Then you ask, `How have we defiled the sacrifices?'
"You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect.
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty. "
If there was ever a time when these two messages fit the church it is in our day, it is right now. If only their eyes could be opened like that of Elisha's servant in 2 Kings 6. Opened to see the reality of the situation, but I fear they remain blind to it just as the enemy that was coming against Elisha. I fear that they are ignoring the handwriting on the wall as those in the days of Jeremiah and Malachi. We have become so far detached from reality that we accept entertainment, emotionalism, and all the other forms of worldly influence that has entered our churches as normal spirituality. I do not think if Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, or any of the Apostles, especially Paul would agree, nor do I think they would be silent about it either.
I know what Paul would say: "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." So why is it in today's church it is acceptable to have our Easter Egg hunts and Santa Clauses? Have we not become exactly what the scriptures declare above? Some will protest and say, "No that is not the way it is!" I say as the old saying puts it so aptly, "the proof is in the pudding."
Easter Sunday has become a "who's who glamour show" where we show off our new suits and dresses. We come in and supposedly worship our God and then go out and partake of "Easter Egg" hunts right after service! Sure sounds like the scriptures I see above! There are so many people that are completely comfortable with the way things are and there are many more that are completely fed up with "religion" and want more. The only problem is that those that are fed up are too afraid to speak up because they would be going against the tide. I for one am rowing full force against the tide and I say it is time for others to join in.
This present condition in the churches is doing much more harm than it is good. It is time for those that are hungry to let their hunger over-ride their fears and speak out as the prophets and apostles did. Obviously we all have a choice as to how we serve God and how we choose to worship and that choice will be based on individual desires. Just as Joshua said, (my rephrasing) "if that is all you want, that is your choice, but as for me and my house we are tired of playing games and playing "church" and compromising true convictions. We want what the first church had and we don't see it in the churches today. So as for me and my house, we will Worship and Serve the LORD in our house if that is what it takes."
I will become very vocal about these issues because I KNOW that we don't have much time left and there is no time to play "Church" anymore. If that is the extent of what you want out of your walk, that is your option. If not then "seek" Him while it is yet day for the night is coming sooner than you might think.
The following is the Pastor's response to this email which he sent to all the people at my work place twice. About 90% of those on this mailing list I did not even work directly with, nor did they know where I attended church. As I mentioned at the beginning I had not gone here for several years and had just been attending since September. There were four people on my mailing list at work that go to this church that have been on my mailing list for years. One of them did not like my email and printed it out and gave it to the assistant pastor and the story unfolds from there. This is his exact email I have not changed a thing except to conceal names.
Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 21:56:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pastor@.com
Subject: response to easter email
To: adam.bartlett@.com
From Pastor "Badger",
In response to email dated March 20, 2002 3:13 p.m.,
subject: Easter?
Once again we are treated to vintage _______ _________, the poor victim, the bleeding heart, the helpless martyr, the only light left shining in a dark religious world.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
There he sits, in the back of the church, clutching his "One dollar" in his cold angry
hands, praying, hoping, pleading with God that the "Devilish Egg Hunt" will not destroy Easter.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
He believes that kids and adults everywhere cannot decipher between what is real and what is not. Somehow, in his mind, the vision of our Resurrected Lord is blurred by a big bunny with a cotton tail. Millions everywhere know the difference, but he does not. He worries that a fun-filled event on Saturday will override all the teachings of the kids' parents, Sunday School, and church services. He trembles in fear that the "Satanic Eggs" will cancel the power of the Cross of Calvary or eliminate our Lord's Resurrection.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
We have been holding Saturday "Easter Egg Hunts" for over 50 years, and I have yet to hear anyone say their life was destroyed by a bad egg. I never heard them say, "It wasn't the drugs, it was those eggs!" "No, not alcohol, Pastor Badger, the rotten eggs got me." "It was those demonic pastels that led my life to ruin!" Instead, I always see smiles, kids laughing, making friends, showing and trading prizes. Parents are taking pictures with eachother and helping poor children have a fun day on the slides and swings. These same people show up in great numbers on Easter Sunday morning and rejoice in the risen Saviour, Jesus. Why? They know there is a difference between a fun game and the cross that cancelled their sins. Sadly, he does not.
He's "extremely fed up", he states, with those who display "emotionalism and focus on entertainment". I wonder if Blind Bartimaeus got emotional when he was healed? Or how about the adulterous woman when forgiven? It seems I remember a lame man
shouting and leaping in Acts Chapter 3. To me, Jesus is the most entertaining thing in the world! If you sing, talk, act, or pray about Him, I will listen, because I love Him. What shall we do then? Shall we tell the congregation not to rejoice because he is in the back clutching his "one dollar" and he will be offended?
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
Finally,__________ castigates us for not having serious prayer or evangelism. This takes the cake! When hundreds in our church pray at the altar for hours he is never there! Not once in the last 5 years have I ever seen him at our altar on the first Friday of the month when we pray for Evansville. I have never seen him cry or shed on single tear for lost souls or agonize for them. Instead, he chooses to belittle and demean those who do.
He claims we do not offer salvation to the lost but somehow over 400 have been saved and baptised in "Pastor Badger's" church in each of the last 5 years. That is at least one a day. Over 500 accepted the Lord as their saviour this Easter alone. Where are his fruits? Where is his growing church? Who has opened the door to him? Where has he
been teaching you ask? Why it's "Pastor Badger" who loved him and took him in, but _________ choose to stab his brother in the back over an egg.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
___________, please read 1Timothy 5:1,17,19 and consider verse 20 just for you.
Signed by:
"Pastor Badger"
Below is Kevin's response to the pastor.
Subj: Response concerning the pastor's email
Date: 4/9/02 8:34:40 PM Central Daylight Time
From: KJW1975
To: adam.bartlett@.com, mailto:ADB4JESUS
Pastor xxx,
I received a copy of your email in response to an email concerning Adam B's convictions about practices of a church and churches, and to tell you the truth, I was completely shocked by your response. I cannot believe the sarcasm
and flesh displayed by your answer. I hope, although you sent it mostly to
people at his work place, that people at your church don't see the display of the
flesh I saw by your letter!
In the first place, portraying Adam Bartlett as a bleeding victim sitting in the back
of the church clutching a dollar bill was definitely out of line. If you read his
email with a Spiritual mind, you would clearly see that it isn't he who claims to
be a victim, but all the members of churches are the victims of church leadership
more interested in entertaining the flock of God rather than feeding them.
In reality, YOU and most ADULTS may not blur together visions of the resurrected
Jesus with an Easter bunny, but pastor, in the mind of a little child that is EXACTLY
what happens. You missed the whole point. I don't care whether your church has
been having Easter egg hunts for 50, 75, or 100 years! Food sacrificed to idols
is still a sin.....even in the New Testament! If you want to argue the point that
Easter eggs and Easter bunnies are not idols, I won't have to educate you of it's
origin in paganism for you already know it.
The issue goes far deeper than a "rotten, devilish, egg." The issue is that your church
is drifting more and more into entertainment, and less and less into prayer
and waiting on God. You talk about Friday nights. I think you shouldn't put Jesus
in different compartments. Where is He so much of the time on Sunday mornings,
your main service? There isn't DEEP worship and praise then. It is too interrupted
by announcements, people going up front for this recognition or that, jokes, and
so many other things that make it very hard to enter into the Spirit. Just when you
know the Holy Ghost is willing to move, off goes the switch, and on goes the
entertainment, and other things that quench the Spirit of God.
You make the claim that Adam doesn't know the difference between fun and games
on Saturday and a resurrected Christ on Sunday. The fact is pastor, is that Adam
so much knows the difference between the two that he became sick and tired of
the church NOT knowing the difference. Come on, pastor, even your Jesus in the
Easter play was running around giving people "high 5's" after the healing episode.
THIS ISN'T A GAME, pastor! The message of the Gospel is serious. We should
never cheapen it with worldly things like that. Our Savior suffered terribly, bled
and died for all the good works He did. Do we want to portray Him as a Hollywood basketball player giving people high 5's because He made a Spiritual "basket"?
It isn't a game when souls are coming to the alter to get their souls repaired and
possibly receive eternal life, and suddenly you lead the church away from choruses
of "Oh come let us adore Him" and lead them to "Chestnuts roasting over an open
fire." I had invited a couple to start attending your church, and they had been
going to the early service. Being wounded deeply in another church, they had
been looking for a place that was more Spiritual. They loved your Dad's preaching.
Then came the morning of your grand "Chestnuts" song during the alter call. It
upset them so bad, they never came back. (you may verify this by emailing
Jeff. What kind of answer do you think I could give them on behalf of you and
your church? I had none.....I was shocked.
When Adam talked of emotionalism, I have to agree with him. I came up in the
Pentecostal Church, so you could hardly say I don't know the difference. There
is a big difference between a saint getting blessed and dancing in the Spirit, than
the rehearsed strange dancing I see every week by the women in white at your church.
It is an entertainment distraction. And you think possibly it is bringing
in the anointing of the Lord? And then there is the woman I talked to from your church
saying that she gets the "jerks" from the Lord on Sunday night, and she
begs Him to stop because it hurts her body! Are the people not educated between
emotionalism and true manifestations of the Holy Ghost? And you compare Adam's
statements of emotionalism with the lame man healed in the bible? You know that
is not what he meant! When I see a lame man at bible center leaping, running and
praising God, I will be right behind him! But sheer giggling and laughter for no
apparent cause by a "minister of joy" isn't anything I see done in the book of Acts.
There is true ministry in the Holy Ghost....mighty healings, deliverance from demons,
manifestations of miracles.......not meaningless laughter and parades through tunnels.
Did it occur to you that Adam isn't there on Friday nights because he WORKS nights?
And here you are making this grand statement about this to mostly people
he works with!!! Do you think perhaps your reply would be better served getting
facts straight? I can imagine what those folk he works with on Friday night must
think of this intelligent pastor making these pot shots at a church member when
they see him working with them on the night you claim he is being carnal and
not praying and weeping for souls!
I have seen Adam pray and weep for the lost more times than you can count. I have
been with him in city parks, door to door, out in subzero weather at Garvin Park,
and at festivals publicly proclaiming the Gospel.......AND SO HAVE YOU. It is
only a couple of months ago around Christmas time you were praising Adam from
behind the pulpit about his dedication to lost souls at Garvin Park, when no one
else gave a rip about it. The church gave him a standing ovation. And now, here
you are in April, sarcastically writing his coworkers proclaiming he doesn't weep
for lost souls or care, after throwing him out of the church over a strong conviction
he has from the heart to have God's house a Holy place with nothing but Jesus
at the center!
The fact is that out of your own mouth, and I heard it during a meeting with you and
Adam, you admitted your church wasn't an evangelistic place. You made sweeping
promises about how that was going to change. You had 7 weeks of pack-a-pew
services and then no change was seen. You promised Adam help at the Fall Festival.
You want to know how many passionate souls showed up from your church to help
us witness to the 50,000+ people that were there? Take a guess...
You say that 500 accepted the Lord on Sunday? I hope that statement was true.
Or was it 500 that came to the front of the church? I remember one particular
Sunday when you gave a good sermon....and it was really good, pastor. You gave
an alter call. Throngs of people came forward. I came to help pray with many of
them. We stood and waited on direction. You gave announcements. You talked
of a man selling paintings of the trade towers that were hit. You talked about
all kinds of things.....then you dismissed all of us. There wasn't a prayer uttered
at the altar by the masses that were there. There was no seeking time. Everyone
was confused. We all finally just gave up and went back to our seats. Now you
tell me, how many of those people were able to touch Jesus that morning? How
many were born again that day? You probably don't even remember that morning.
Have things gotten so mechanical for you that you think people are coming into
the kingdom by merely walking to the front of the church?
I had to write this email because apparently coming to talk to you privately heart
to heart isn't always a wise thing to try. Today, after work, I came by the church.
I had heard of you angrily letting Adam know he wasn't welcome there anymore,
and it disturbed me. I thought I could talk to you concerning Adam's heart, since
you wouldn't even hear the matter from him.
What happened was an experience that troubled me so deeply that now I would
have a lot of trouble worshipping there in peace. I was told you weren't there, and
to wait on your youth pastor. While waiting, although I really wanted to keep it
private and talk to you, I was asked what it was about. Before it was over, the
secretary, your wife, the youth pastor, your son-in-law, and a few others were
all interrogating me like I was a criminal.
Your youth pastor was yelling and screaming constantly, trying to catch any and
every error in a word I spoke. He told me I was not submissive to my pastor. I
asked him to give me an example. He said it was because I had come to the
church to talk to you without making an appointment! (Imagine that.....a church
that thinks someone sins because he dares come by to have a heart to heart
talk with his pastor without first calling!!)
Your youth pastor also said that Adam was lying to me if he told me that you let
him know he wasn't welcome at your church anymore. He said he was with you
when you were talking to him. Now pastor, you tell me who was telling the lie?
Was it Adam or your youth pastor?
Another asked me who I thought I was telling them what I believed, as I was not
in full time ministry, but rather had "work clothes" on! I tried to reply that the
bible says if we don't work we don't eat, but was not heard through all the
yelling and carnality that was displayed by these people. When I said that they
didn't even know me or my name to be making hateful accusations, I was told
that my name was apparently "Mr. America." What kind of ministry would attack
someone not even involved in this conflict with such childish statements?
I was told I was not telling the truth when I said that people were standing at the
front doors of the church with buckets collecting money from visitors that came
to see the power team that came to the church. (They were receiving "offerings"
of a certain amount before people could even get into the sanctuary.) I simply
stated that it came across as the church charging admission to get in, and many
visitors were probably not given a good impression of the church over it. And
even that made your "ministers of the gospel" angry with me. Are people such
Spiritual babies today that they cannot endure sound doctrine, nor handle anyone's
strong convictions about something without getting in the flesh, even if they may
not agree? God help us!!
Another accused Adam of calling and requesting the church put in the bulletin
to encourage members to go to the open house at the Islamic Center. When
I tried to correct that statement and let them know that it was Adam that pointed
out that crazy invitation in the bulletin, it didn't seem as if I was heard.
Your wife told me that your church was going to continue to have Easter eggs,
Santa Claus, and Halloween at the church. She said that they were all good
things including Halloween. When I stated that I didn't believe that was so,
I was told that I should go someplace else. I was told by her that people like
me were "a dime a dozen."
I am glad I have known the Lord for 32 years of my 44. Otherwise, as a young
Christian, I could have been tempted to believe that God feels the same way
about me that she does. The truth is, that I am not worth just "a dime a dozen"
to the Lord. I am a child of the king. If my convictions don't agree with someone else's,
the last thing a Christian should do is tell them how worthless they are in their
"work clothes."
I was escorted out the door and followed by 4 people which included your youth
minister. He was constantly in my face, and mocking what I said. Even when
I asked him why he felt the need to yell. They then demanded I leave and never
come back. When I didn't run to the car, they were threatening to call the police.
(for crying out loud!)
You tell me, is this the way a "Holy Ghost Filled" church ministers to its people?
I think not. You can get the story about how I was treated from your people. I
don't expect them to tell you exactly what happened.....but I know, and God knows.
I haven't made all these big claims about myself or what I have done in the kingdom
as I saw you attempt to do and compare your works with Adam's. I know that
Jesus specifically doesn't want us glorying in ourselves.
Questioning Adam's fruit in the kingdom was not wise. He doesn't go about bragging
about it like other Christians feel the need to do. I will tell you that you are so
wrong, pastor, for making these carnal comparisons. Adam has done more in the
Kingdom of God than most Christians I have observed in my life. And why would
you have the nerve to compare the ministry of an entire church against an individual
Christian in the first place?
Your answer back to Adam cheapened your ministry, for it was not a mature response
and had no scriptural backing for what you were trying to defend.
I am so sorry that you were offended by it and took it personal, but I hope you
take it so personal that you actually read it, get a hold of Adam, and really hear
his heart. It is one that loves your church and YOU enough to have the nerve to
proclaim what he believes is true. It is tragic that you think Adam is the kind
of person that feels sorry for himself and had self serving motives. May God
forgive you.
Kevin J Wilson
Below is the youth pastor's response to Kevin.
Subj:
from youth pastor
Date: 4/10/02 11:41:14 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Youth Pastor
To: KJW1975
Hello. First let me say that I am not regretful of anything I said to you. However, the emotion in which I said it could have been tempered. I didn't yell or scream I lifted my voice to get your attention. This whole thing could have been averted if the original party would have not slandered, etc. in his email to over 30 people. I thought if there is a problem according to scripture, if you have aught in heart with a brother go to him privately. If you reap discord according to what I understand you get discord. Now the response comes by means of a rebuke openly . 1Tim. 5:20. I know you and Adam have strong convictions about somethings, and some are correct but something I learned a few years back is you can be right but if you have a wrong spirit it makes you wrong. It seems there always is a battle to fight with some cause or some error that needs corrected but now the attention has been shifted to the church that has always and will always miss the mark according to your convictions. However, the Lord said he is coming back for his church, although in error he still loves us and works with us. Keep in mind that our gifts are to build up and not tear down, edify is the word that is in scripture. Keep in mind that some in the Bible could not work together. Lets be satisfied with that. I could respond to every comment that you had in your 4 page email by I am not. God's grace on you and your continued work for His kingdom. Now lets go on .
Below is Kevin's response back to the youth pastor:
Subj:
my response to the youth pastor
Date: 4/10/02 9:50:08 PM Central Daylight Time
From: KJW1975
To: mailto:ADB4JESUS
Hi Youth Pastor,
Glad you wrote. I prayed about this whole thing today. What was so confusing to me was that I didn't even go over there to discuss any of this with you, pastor's wife, the secretary, or anyone but pastor. But the secretary pulled me into this conversation, and before you know it, pastor's wife jumps into it, the secretary thinks that talking to you would help, and not only you but 3 others came out.
If I had my way, I wouldn't have even gotten into the conversation to start with. I didn't send the email. But I know Adam's heart. I sat out in my old car before coming in and actually prayed that I could talk to pastor and somehow reconcile both he and Adam, as I saw the devil hard at work.
What I got was so much misunderstanding and angry people over simple convictions on both sides that it horrified me. I have never in my life gone under such interrogation in a church by people I didn't even know. I came up in a small Pentecostal church where everyone knew each other. You NEVER called and
made an appointment to simply have a heart to heart talk with a pastor, and I was so baffled at a comment made to me about not being submissive to pastor because I was coming to try to rectify a situation, instead of making an appointment first that I actually went home shaking.
I wasn't shaking over fear, but of shock that Christian people could get so full of animosity and actually treat you like the devil himself.....even calling the police after all the shouting and accusing.
I don't know any of you. I started going to your church full time last fall, although I went there off and on before. But I tell you youth pastor, it is not the type of environment I am used to, and I saw a side to leadership that has become such a stumbling block to me that I don't believe I can go back. And it isn't because of "easter eggs" or "santa clause". It is because there seems to be no room for humbleness and
a teachable Spirit there.
I was put down because of my clothes....and I was a "dime a dozen" to your pastor's wife because I had a concern for the Church. Right or wrong in your eyes, I just don't think it warrants sarcastic comments and a display of the flesh.
I don't hate you. I prayed for all of us today. I hope there is growth in this experience for you so that if some poor soul voices a concern in the future he won't go through the same treatment.
Kevin J Wilson
Below is my response to the youth pastor.
Subj: Re:Easter
Date: 4/11/02 9:38:49 AM Central Daylight Time
From: mailto:ADB4JESUS
To: Youth Pastor
Youth Pastor,
Thank you for ensuring that everyone at my work place received pastor's email twice. I want you to know that I am sincerely sorry for the huge misunderstanding about this email and how it was construed. I will not and cannot apologize for what I said. Regardless what you or anyone else thinks at that church I was not writing that email as a direct assault on the church or pastor. I used that one instance of the Easter Egg hunt and the collection of money to make a broader point.
The rest of the entire email was to conclude that point involving all churches that follow the worldly holiday vision. I admitted to the secretary and assistant pastor that maybe using the word "badger" was not the right choice and ask both of them what would have been a better word and neither gave one. None of you know me at all if you think this was done maliciously. None of you know me at all either if you think for one moment that if I did have a problem with someone I would not talk to them directly. In fact I did speak with pastor just a few months ago on some other issues and have before.
I have also talked to the assistant pastor on issues before and the difference is that I talked to them, in a calm voice and tried to come to agreement without getting in the flesh. That email was one of many I send out on various topics regarding spiritualization and have for many years. I can send you a stack of these from years back that express similar views and even when I was not going to the church for the past 7 to 8 years. The people that are on my email list from the church have been receiving things from me for years and they will tell you that I have sent messages like this out for a long, long, time as I said the past 5 to 10 years while not at the church.
I purposely did not mention any names in order to keep from pointing anyone out. Unfortunately you, pastor, assistant pastor, secretary, and the rest of this Spiritual Staff automatically assumed the rest of the email was also directly to you. Your church is not the only church in the city or country for that matter. I love this church and always have, I love pastor, assistant pastor, and you too and always have. But I do not think it is right to ostracize me for having convictions over something that is truly holy in nature.
I find it ironic that secretary would not listen to my explanation but assistant pastor did and he even understood what I was saying as was going to just forget about it. It was me that pushed for him to give the email to pastor because it was already spreading around because of someone's anger. People were coming up to my sister and asking her about it and she did not even know about it. People came up to my mom in a store and mentioned it to her. I realized that it was circulating and before pastor heard the evil report generated by someone I wanted a chance to talk to him and explain myself.
Unfortunately things happened as they did and he did not give me that chance and in very harsh tones told me he did not want to see my face and that I was not welcomed there, said bye and hung up before I could say anything. I know you say I am lying about this and that you were there but I will stand before God and sing the same song then. I know how you and the staff treated Kevin when he came by and that was totally uncalled for. To speak to him the way he was dealt with showed complete immaturity and so did pastor's email.
I would have gladly come in and talked to pastor and anyone else that took offense to the email but I was never given the chance. I even asked assistant pastor for over a week to set up a meeting with pastor and himself so I could do just that. As you can see that was never done, instead it was handled in the way it was. I do not consider it my wrong that I was not afforded a chance to talk with pastor as I requested. In fact it only shows the reality of the matter is that I am not sure he really wanted to know, his mind was already made up. You stated that this whole thing could have been avoided if I had not written the email to start with, but I say that it could have been avoided if it was handled right.
You quoted scripture to indicate that I was unbiblical by not coming to pastor if I had a problem. Well that verse also applies when the pastor and assistant pastor fail to honor the request of a meeting as I did. I did try to do the biblical thing but was not afforded the chance. It amazes me that such anger and hostility could come from spirit filled people over someone's difference in how holy Easter should be observed. It is also amazing that someone would be treated in this same hostile manner by these same spirit filled people for wanting nothing more than to make peace.
I am sorry youth pastor, you can think as you like about me but I think it is clear from how this was handled that the blame does not lay on me. True, I was angry over the situation of the Easter Egg episode and the offering but I chose to use that incident to try to open people's eyes to the reality of what we are truly doing to these HOLY days. I have already asked for forgiveness that if anything I done was handled incorrectly and if God convicts me that I indeed did I am never too big to apologize. I believe that you and all involved owe Kevin an apology for the way he was treated. I truly wrote that email with the intentions I indicated and that is all I can say. Adam
Youth Pastor's response back to me
Subj:
from youth pastor
Date: 4/11/02 12:02:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Youth Pastor
To: mailto:ADB4JESUS
First let me say the email was sent twice by mistake because it was returned undeliverable. Adam, let me remind you that this "huge misunderstanding" began with your newsletter that you sent out ever so often. Just because you don't use the name or the place you are at doesn't mean people are not smart enough to figure it out. How about if the shoe was on the other foot and Pastor or myself or assistant pastor was in the pulpit and mentioned a young man who works over at your work place and said stuff about your house and your home, your wife and your kids, we made some poor choice of words that could be used as inflamatory and slanderous such as, total dismay and anger in the way your handle your kids, I saw this young man badgering his wife, fed up with these types of people and we need to do something about it. Then we sent it to people on our monthly mailing list because we had access to it and surely they would want to hear about this person but yet I didn't mention their name or where they lived and it is ok right? right? You should have went to pastor if you was going to use him and the church as a point in your spiritual newsletter. Did you ever stop to think that people would put two and two together? Come on Adam, it started with you and you know it. God forbid if those 30 something people on your list actually got a rebutal in the form of a rebuke openly 1Tim 5:20. You are an evangelist right? Than why tear down. The gifts build up or edify and you have chosen to slam his church and put your hands on God's anointed. Use your gift and go get the lost and stop trying to enlighten the christians, that is God's job and He has said He will come back for His church that is so much in error in your opinion. I used to be right in everything but my spirit was wrong. So I cringe when I hear such things in the wrong spirit. I will send more later but digest this for now. Thanks for your time. bless ya.
My final response to this situation
Subj:
Re: from youth pastor
Date: 4/12/02 9:19:16 AM Central Daylight Time
From: mailto:ADB4JESUS
To: Youth Pastor
Youth Pastor,
We could obviously argue this endlessly and you will still never see the point. You use a scenario about my family to try to relate to the email I sent out and it is not even comparable. I will say though that if those comments were true about me and the way I treated my kids and wife then I would obviously have little room to get angry over the truth. You state that "I put my hands on God's anointed" and I must disagree with you. It is quite interesting that rebuke flows in a great river out of your church but there is no return flow.
In fact aside from any type of rebuke it is forbidden to even think that there may be any inconsistencies in that sinless place. It is quite obvious that there is no error in the staff, the services, and God forbid we dare mention the pastor. You say that you cringe when you hear such things in the wrong spirit. That is good, so I am only to assume that you were cringing the whole time your group (including yourself) of sinless ministry staff were viciously attacking Kevin. Of course I am in error again because you are beyond reacting in that manner. Once again I have to reiterate that if things were done wrong I have asked for forgiveness but there was no option to clear that up with pastor because he does not afford a person the time to do that.
His reaction as "God's anointed" was exactly what anyone would expect of Jesus. If this is how you handle the "truth" even though it was delivered in the wrong way according to you, I would hate to see how you deal with someone that commits a serious error. I have tried to do the "submissive" thing in your thinking and make appointments with pastor, in fact I have gone weeks without any answer. That is the response you get when you try to make appointments with him. There were MANY times that I called and talked personally with a receptionist and wanted to set up an appointment and NEVER received a call back.
If I did not continuously call to get the time it would never be arranged. In fact the last time I talked with pastor it took over 3 weeks! Regardless of the method that was used to get that letter out can you tell me what was untrue about it? Did they take up a collection for the eggs? The rest of the letter was not directed at your church so tell me that what I said about the collection and the egg hunt is not true! I would also like for you to address the lie you told to Kevin, that pastor never said that I was not welcomed there. You said that you were standing there and he never said that. That is a lie and you know it, regardless whether or not you want to admit it, God knows. So, am I to assume that you just used a wrong choice of words when lying to Kevin?
Youth pastor, I have no desire to get into an email war with you or anyone else. You state that it is all my fault for writing that email to start with. IF that is true then I ask forgiveness for that, but even if I did want forgiveness you or anyone else there are not willing to accept that. It is clear by your reaction and by pastor's phone conversation with me that there was never any intention of allowing someone to repent even if they wanted to. Pastor never gave me a chance to say anything and when I did he mocked me and said "Gag me with a spoon." Boy, I am sure glad that Jesus didn't take that same approach with Saul on the road to Damascus. Of course Saul didn't do anything near as bad to the church as write an email about his convictions did he? You digest that youth pastor!
I totally agree with every word that Kevin wrote in his response to pastor and I will not answer any more emails regarding this subject. If you would like to call me sometime and get together and discuss this I would be happy to. If not that is your choice but please refrain from sending any more emails to me regarding this.
In Christ, Adam
It is hard to believe that this all took place over one email to a group of people over the way pagan Easter practices are entering our churches. This is a sad commentary of a large church and a pastor that has been a pastor of over 40 years. To make it all even more absurd this is supposedly a spirit filled congregation that should be more attune to the spiritual things. When we allow pagan practices in our churches and then defend them this is the only result we can expect.
There will never be solid spirituality when the world is mixed in with our churches. It also opens the door for more errors to surface and they will also be defended because there is no discernment when we are lying in bed with the world. This is the biggest danger and this is my biggest concern with the practices we see in the churches today. God is warning His people to "Come out from among them and be ye separate," and this most certainly includes pagan practices of Easter and Christmas in our churches. I haven't even mentioned Halloween which should never, ever, have a place in any church.
I hope this has been helpful to the reader and I pray that no one else has to go through an ordeal like this to defend spirituality in a "church."
In Christ, Adam
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