When we read rumors and stories on the internet, we do not know if they are true. Here are my comments. First, the Scripture:
“One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut. 19:15).
“Surely God is good to
Israel,
to
those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had
almost slipped;
I
had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their
bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
they
are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they
clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
their
evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
with
arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and
their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and
drink up waters in abundance.
They say, “How would God know?
Does
the Most High know anything?”
This is what the wicked are
like—
always
free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
Surely in vain I have kept my
heart pure
and
have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted,
and
every morning brings new punishments.
If I had spoken out like
that,
I
would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it
troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then
I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on
slippery ground;
you
cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely
swept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes;
when
you arise, Lord,
you
will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved
and
my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I
was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you
hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and
afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And
earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but
God is the strength of my heart
and
my portion forever.
Those who are far from you
will perish;
you
destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I
have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I
will tell of all your deeds.”
(Psalm 73)
“Do not fret because of those
who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away….
Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked and
ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless,
observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.”
(Psalm 37:1-2, 34-38)
Personal opinion: Where there
is smoke, there is fire. However, sometimes there is much smoke and very little
fire. The devil is often on both sides in a public controversy. And the
devil is a liar (when he lies, the speaks his native language). If you have no
means of checking the veracity and no means of knowing the original source of
the information, then believe me some of it is not true. However, even if it
were all true, it is often written in a way to get the reader to make certain
inferences. This is the way lynch mobs happen. It is not the Christian way to
communicate information. It may be fun to participate in, but it is dangerous
fun.
The next post will also be on this subject. It is an article written by my son which I recommend.
Written 10/5/1998.
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