Answers to Objections to this Blog

Ok folks, the objections to this blog I’m hearing more than any other right now are that Dr Gaines may not have wronged me personally and that this blog is airing our spiritual dirty laundry before the world. I'm afraid some folks have erred in the truth, wishing truly wonderful things about keeping this quiet; but not realizing the necessary negative counter-parts of those wishes. Let’s take a look at those:

We know from Matthew 18 how we are to go to a brother who has wronged us. The men who claim to have been wronged by Dr Gaines (their claims of his sin against themselves and others of his congregation) have tried to deal with these issues straight down the line of Matthew 18. I will point out that the last verse (17) of that passage says, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” These men have been unable to tell it to the church because the leadership at the church will not provide the forum to do it.

Now the question comes: Have I been personally wronged by Dr Gaines. That question is a non sequitor when used as an attempt to discredit my hosting of this blog. To condemn me and the blog for hosting this information when I’ve allegedly not been wronged would be the same as condemning a man under the same circumstance for offering his home as the meeting spot for these men to address their concerns to the church. Perhaps he was not wronged himself, but nothing scripturally precludes him from offering to host the church to hear what the men claiming to be wronged have to say. Going further, it may be argued that by refusing to answer these charges, the administration has sinned against the entire flock—myself included. I do not at this point allege this.

Of course, the next step in arguing against the blog is to say that I am airing our dirty laundry for the world to see and that that is wrong. I will ask a couple of questions here and then make a couple of direct points:

Question 1: If this blog could be restricted to only Bellevue members, would the information contained on it be kept within that circle? I believe the answer to that is “not a chance.”

Question 2: If this were not a blog but a meeting of the entire church in the church building, would the information distributed here be contained within the body present at that meeting? Again, absolutely not.

But we do know that holding such a meeting would comport exactly with Matthew 18. I submit, and will continue to state, that this blog simply constitutes a meeting place for the people of Bellevue. We know that if we had a churchwide meeting at 2000 Appling Road (which by the way was forbidden by the leadership weeks ago), members of the world would get in there too. We would not be able to call roll. We would not be able to ensure that everyone was a member. This forum is no different.

Statement 1: I have made every effort to conceal this blog from those who should not be near it. The blog is not registered on the normal blog lists so by far the easiest way to get to it is to either type in the address directly or click the link on savingbellevue.com.

Statement 2: The only scripture I can find that would speak to not allowing these things in the public is that of 1 Cor. 6:1-8. I truly believe this Scripture does not forbid the coincidental revelation of church discipline issues into the world (after all, should the world never know how we deal with those who transgress without repentance?) but it does forbid the church to allow a secular person to render judgement (legal judgement) in church matters. This, I believe, an incorrect point people both draw from this passage and are using to question the legitimacy of this blog. I believe the point being incorrect is validated by 1 Cor. 5:12-13; 6:2-7. You may disagree, but I believe this interpretation is within the normal parameters of legitimate scriptural interpretation (ie there’s nothing heretical there, only debatable). Further, I am not condoning actually outsting someone form fellowship via this blog. That would clearly be contrary to 1 Cor 5:4-5.

Going furter, I would point out that the onus isn’t placed on the church to avoid discipline so that our reputation will be preserved in the view of the world (1 Cor 5:1-11: does anyone think that after the exercise of what’s prescribed in that passage, the world wouldn’t find out?) (And again, should the world think, having never seen it, that we do not discipline our own?). However, the onus is placed on individual believers to avoid sin so that their behavior will not hurt the church in the world’s eyes (Titus 2:7-8). Make no mistake: It is not the other way around.

That said, we should never sacrifice obedience to preserve our reputation to the world. Nor should we ever worry that our obedience will put off the world. Isn’t that what any number of men whom have filled Bellevue’s pulpit have always said: we are to be a different people?

One last note: 1 Tim 5:20 give us certain conditions and once those conditions are met, we must rebuke elders who sin “before all.”

Now, some thoughts on truth from the man, along whom with my father, I most respect in this world:

• It’s better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie.
• It’s better to speak the truth that hurts then heals than falsehood that comforts then kills.
• It’s better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie.
• It’s better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with the multitude.

And it's time for a latin signoff for the evening that relates to these objections: Manet Mansuraque Est: As it is, It shall remain!


Contextualized Cited Scriptures:

Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote
unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

Titus 2:7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

1 Tim 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.