by The Mick
(a.k.a. Finnegan)
The Mick Takes A Serious Note!
"The Shillelagh "
" Concerning this, Remigius, bishop of Auxerre, who lived about this time,
writes thus (on Ps. 69): "There are different times of persecution; one,
when the heathen fall unmercifully upon the [Messianic believers]; the
other, when the evil purpose of the (false) [Messianic believers]
persecutes the believers, which time still continues in the [assembly];
for, though the heathen kings, and others, are dead, still the devil is not
dead, who secretly vents his cruelty, by secret instruments, that is,
through bad [Messianic believers].""
Chron., 9th book, page 287, col. 1, from Leonhard, lib. 4, history. Georg.,
lib. 4, fol. 305
from: Martyrs Mirror; Thieleman J. van Braght; page 242; GREAT PERSECUTION
OF THE BELIEVERS, CAUSED BY THE MUTUAL CONTENTIONS OF THE KINGS IN FRANCE,
IN SAID YEAR 842
It seems that often the worse enemies of True Worship come from within.
It would be bad enough if these were recently added people who decided
they had made a "mistake" and yielded to outside pressures; but, when
those who have been present for a longtime or those long-standing in areas
of responsibility decide to dishonor their vows of fidelity, they leave a
rift in the organization and seldom leave peacefully. They who were our
supposed "friends" are become our enemies.
Is it too harsh to label these as "enemies?" Let us take a look, and
see. First they tend to be "high maintenance" type of individuals
who take up much of the resources (time, money, effort, counseling,
emotions, etc.) of those associated with them. After much and longtime
working (long-suffering) with these individuals they finally decide to exit
the organization, usually trying to get others to follow after them; and,
from experience so far, the accusation of "no love" being shown to them are
leveled at all who tried to work with them. These people seen to flock to
those in the organization who are less firmly grounded or who they feel
they can influence or in some degree control. When their agenda either
blows up in their face or their true agenda is ferreted out, the
accusations fly. They then leave, claiming many hurts, and with much fury
and commotion takes as many as possible with them.
Those who were in leadership or higher profile positions are more
intense and take longer to bring the situation to a head, causing more
destruction to the organization (usually as much as they possibly can). Of
course even worse accusations are made (the organization leaving the truth
(as they see it), incompetence, plotting against those who see truth as
they see it, intimidation, etc.) seldom admitting to their wanting to start
their own organization to counter the one they left, though they almost
always do.
So, what have we here? A type of individual who displays one kind of
personality coming in, and another when exiting. One who wishes to
influence and lead others while saying that they do not. One who shouts to
the world accolades of the organization and its responsible leaders, while
undermining the resources and bringing false charges and doubts to others
about this same organization and/or its leaders (oneself excluded, of
course). One who lauds the necessity of discipline while bringing through
the gates the very pseudo-liberalism that has shown itself destructive to
persons, groups, organizations, countries, civilizations... One who when
shown their error' (s) rebel, attack and seek to harm the reputation and/or
person of those who are trying their best to follow the Spirit that we all
agreed to follow and help others to follow. When ALL else has failed to
allow them to have their way, they start, or join, one or more groups
(can't really call them "organizations") that are predicated on the
destruction of the original organization and of all who support it; even to
the point of lies (and we know who the father of lies is), false lawsuits,
etc. These are nothing more than self--important, self--promoting,
destructive individuals seeking a following; all the while denying it to be
so.
Are these enemies? Yes, especially if one considers that they are
seeking to destroy the organization (and by extension the individual loyal
members and supporters) that we, and they at one time, agree is the ONLY
pathway to eternal salvation, the One Body, the True Body, the Straight and
Narrow Way, etc. They seek, to have their OWN inflated (leavened) ego
satisfied at the cost of the salvation of all others. They have fallen away
to their own lusts (even to other, sometimes violent, religions) and would
rather see destruction for all rather than admit to sin (sound familiar?)
Should we continue to tolerate these people in our own lives? Not I! I,
and my household, will not knowingly be sullied by their filth and poisons!
'They made their bed, let them lie in it' say I. If they truly repent,
well and good; if not, well and good (and good riddance then). They are the
proverbial snakes-in-the-grass to which, metaphorically speaking, a
[shillelagh]
[shil·le·lagh also shil·la·lah
(shə-lā'lē,
-lə)
n.
A cudgel of oak, blackthorn, or other hardwood.]
to the head will answer them, since they have rejected the sword
of the Spirit. No, rather let us concentrate on helping those who truly are
seeking the right and keeping ourselves in the truth of Yahweh & His Son
Yahshua.
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