Do I Respond?
December 14, 2008As I mentioned in my post Moving at the Speed of Life I wrote in to my local home town paper “To The Editor” because I was disturbed by some letters that were written.
I have had nothing but great response from that letter (which was published the first of October). I had phone calls from people I did not know thanking me for writing it, I had emails and even people stopping me in local stores to tell me thank you for writing it.
Well, I had an Evangalist write in to the paper responding 2 months later regarding my letter. Read her letter below.
Revelation Is Truth
To the Editor:
I’m writing in response to Shayna’s (she used my first and last name) letter that was written several weeks ago titled, “Moving at the Speed of Life — We Are Proud to Collide With Each Other (okay she didn’t even get my title right) — Crash a 2005 Movie.”
I do not live my life based on a movie nor do I base the word of God on a movie. This will be the last time I will respond to any letter. I write to the editor because God does not need me to defend His word but to deliver His word to people who want to be saved and seeking the Lord Jesus their Savior. In Romans 12:2 Jesus said: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Maybe, Shayna, this is what’s wrong with you and that’s why you’re crashing and colliding. Believe me, I’ve been there.
I’m an African-American woman who has been called by God as an evangelist. I do not compromise God’s word for myself, my family, my friends, my associates or my children. God’s word is just what it is — God’s word. And, Shayna, it does cut. For the Bible says: “For the word of God is living and active sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
Every time you go to church and hear the gospel preached, you should come out bleeding (in the spiritual realm) because none of us are perfect, but we should strive every day of our livse to be perfect. Matthew 5:48 says: “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
I’m not bias, prejudice or racist. I try to love everybody, but sometimes people just won’t let you love them.
Shayna, as far as our world becoming filled with hatred, well that’s always been from the beginning of time. Things will even get worse before Jesus returns. II Timothy 3:1 says: “But know this, that in the last days perilous (danger, risk, jeopardy and hazard) times will come.”
II Timothy 3:2-5 says: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, naughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
And from such people turn away!
Evangelist Tootsie Gilbert
I did reference her letter, never her name, in my letter because I was disturbed by some things she had written. She writes in to the paper quoting the Bible, her beliefs and condeming people almost every week. Her letter that really disturbed me was the letter regarding divorce. Granted, nobody wants to get a divorce. I didn’t. I have been married before. You can read her letter in my previous post. To condemn people because they divorce is being bias and/or prejudice to me. No matter how much you quote the Bible and twist it into your own interpretations. I thought her letter was dangerous. I couldn’t help but think of a wife or husband that was contemplating divorce from their spouse due to spousal abuse or abuse of a child. If they happen to read her letter, would they second guess leaving their abusive relationship because “God hates divorce”? I know from first hand how hard it was to leavean abusive relatioship. I left my ex three times and went back to him twice. I was concerned about my relationship with God, what He would think of me if I left my ex. I finally realized because of my faith and the relationship that I had with my God that He would forgiveme and that He did not want me to go through the abuse I was going through. I remember how weak I was the two times I went back to my ex. When I finally came to the revelation that my God would forgiveme and how He just wanted me to be safe, happy, strong and didn’t want me to live a miserable life for the rest of my life. Yet, how many women or men are that strong to actually leave an abusive relationship. Anyone discouraging that… is dangerous for the victim of an abusive relationship.
I believe that a lot of people that preach to others about God and the Bible are the ones who are the real sinners. Do as I say not as I do. It’s really hard for me to read in to peoples twisted interpertations of the Bible and what God was meaning in a specific Bible quote. It also bothers me that if one does not believe in what others believe then “They are going to Hell!”
Anyway, I think it is funny what she wrote back to me over 2 months later. I suppose I made her think or she had to look up Bible quotes to try to insult me or put me in my place. A part of me wants to respond and then another part of me says turn the other cheek. Her letter just proves of what I was saying in my letter.
So, what do you think… should I respond or just leave it be!
…it’s just another ordinary miracle today!
P.S. Please excuse the incorrect grammar… it’s late and I know I have made some errors! 
Hi Shayna,
it’s ever a pleasure read Your post.
I will be very short. I think You know my thoughts about “the problem”, and I don’t wont somebody be offended by, so I prefer send You a mail.
Thanks for Your last reply in my blog.
Hugs
alex
i say don’t respond, if only because i agree with your comment about “people’s twisted interpretations of the Bible.” anything you respond with will likely not have an effect on her views.
happy holidays to you and your family!
Honestly, if it were me, my response would be a simple “It’s dangerous to assume that blindly quoting the Bible is an acceptable substitute for actual thought,” but I doubt that’s your style.
You’re nicer than I am =P
But I doubt that much can be said to win her over. No matter what you say, in her mind it’s going to be the word of a stranger pitted against the infallible Word of God. And if she only accepts a literal interpretation of every word of it, I’m afraid that you could put forth a flawless argument and still come up empty.
Fanaticism knows not the meaning of reasoned debate. For a fanatic, there is only right (her view of it) and wrong (anything that challenges her view of what is ‘right.’) Therefore, I’d suggest not responding.
True, there will be people who will read her response but I’d say that unless they are already religious fanatics themselves, they will probably take it with a grain of salt.
Having been raised Jewish and thereby studying the Old Testament extensively (and since having read through the New Testament as well as LDS scripture since I am now a Mormon) I could certainly throw scripture back at fanatics who want to quote it to me. But I don’t because to do so would be pointless.
It is good to see you Shayna. I’ve missed reading your posts (your series of posts on Eugene were my favorite ones.)
By the way, while I still maintain my regular blog and still post sometimes on NBF, I’ve since been the beneficiary of an offer to join the blogging team over at ColdHeartedTruth. It’s a little disconcerting because CH’s counter reads “Get the truth” before loading the page but the main blog is here and my sub-blog is here. For a mixed view blog (including some commenters who can get testy at times) I think we do a fairly good job of staying civil, and CHT has several times had postings picked up by major media or top tier blogs.
I agree with everything EW says and Eli
Shayna, I moved to the bible belt. Never in my life did I think I would have friends who buy cakes that say “happy birthday Jesus,” but I do
The woman who buys those cakes was abused in her first marriage. She feels no shame over being divorced though I’m sure it must have been very very hard–the father of her children.
She’s a “good Christian” who people respect and therefore listen to when she talks about Casa–our local shelter for abused people–I’m donating my old appliances and will probably do volunteer work there. “people” is on purpose as people here understand some women abuse men
The point is that rational people, no matter what their individual beliefs understand that abuse happens
I didn’t understand anything she was saying but I didn’t read very closely as it did seem she was taking random Bible quotes to make a very stupid argument
No, she’s not worth a response
I know it’s hard to let that first burst of anger and resentment pass. I often write things without thinking only to find a day or so later it either all seems pointless, or silly, and in the end is probably not worth the energy.. Especially, as Pia said, she does not appear to be all that rational and that alone means she would have no way of understanding what you were trying to say.
If she tried to present a rational argument and failed I would say go for it, but there is no evidence of logic there.
So Pia agrees that you’re nicer than me
The phrase “holier than thou” comes to mind.
I noticed in her previous letter, she said “I know you can count on one hand the times you’ve heard your pastor preach on marriage and divorce…” Um, actually no. But thanks for assuming.
Also, I like how she quotes Scripture when it’s convenient, but then adds her own little parentheticals in there, too.
Ugh. That’s frustrating. And sad.
*hugs*