Knoxville, Tennessee pastor, Tim Guthrie, writes an open letter pleading with Southern Basptist pastors to put an end to internet bullying. Speaking of their tactics, Guthrie writes:
They bully people using social media and web sites. Ironically, their main approach finds them using anonymous twitter accounts and websites to bring about their desired action, usually "repentance" of their targets.
Pastor Guthrie goes on to call for action:
Good men must rise and say enough is enough! James White, JD Hall, and their thugs must be told ENOUGH! Ministry is not about attacking other ministers. Dr. Al Mohler, Dr. John Macarthur, and leaders of the every group of Pastors involved can and should speak with one loud and strong voice and say NO MORE! It is not enough to distance oneself from these workers of evil. They must be repudiated!
Take the time to read Guthrie's entire piece. You will not regret it I assure.
There may indeed be examples of cyber bullying that can be pointed to in the tragic death of the Caner son. And certainly sin needs to repented of. It seems to me though that there is a bigger and more dangerous sin that hangs like a dark cloud over this battle in the blogosphere, and that is the proliferation of tribalism that exists as it's source . The tribal lines and implications that bracket and preceeded this death should not be missed. This post, and the post that it links to, are really not anything more than continued shots in this larger "war". I really don't believe anything beneficial will come out of either of these posts unless both sides are able to publicly acknowledge the destructiveness of these tribal conflicts.
Posted by: Phil | 2014.08.10 at 06:31 AM
Phil, Some of us are not interested in unity with that sort of evil. Who tries to divide father and son? Surely it is not Jesus?
Posted by: Lydia | 2014.08.10 at 04:35 PM
There is enough indwelling sin remaining in each of us to be offensive to others - not to mention bring grievous to
our own spirit. Surely the biblical admonitions to bear the weaker brother and to prefer the other over ourselves would go a long way in removing the tribal tendencies we must all resist, even if full injury remains out of our grasp. We cannot expect victory if we cannot even acknowledge the goal.
Posted by: Phil | 2014.08.11 at 04:05 AM
Peter: Do you know the link between Mohler and MacArthur and White and Hall? I'm trying to figure out why Tim singled them out as having a particular responsibility to intervene. I asked Tim but he just said there were direct links. Is it just because they are prominent Calvinists? I agree wholeheartedly with the letter, but as I pointed out to Tim, identifying Mohler and MacArthur by name seems to imply that they bear some particular responsibility for Hall and White and their actions. Thanks.
Posted by: Bill Mac | 2014.08.11 at 09:17 AM
Phil, What on earth are you talking about? Sounds like empty platitudes plucked out of context. Who is the weaker brother in your comment. Can you be more specific?
What exactly are we to ignore so "we can prefer others over ourselves" and feel pious while we protect evil? Child molestations? Bullying?
Posted by: Lydia | 2014.08.11 at 09:23 AM