Expert: Ernie Laurence, Jr. - 9/2/2008

Question
I learned this technique from Ernie, and find it somewhat useful on this particular board.

Why would Ernie treat any other human like this:

"You are a false teacher and I would seriously prefer if you were not on this panel of experts about the church of Christ.  You do not represent the church of Christ as the Bible presents it.  You represent only those congregations who have become one with the world and are indistinguishable from it.  It is folks like you that seriously kindle the righteous anger within me and I will do everything in my power to counter you and expose you for what you are.  Your teachings will direct countless souls to eternal damnation, and no doubt many have already gone that way.

Repent, Mr. Roberson, before it is everlastingly too late."

I wonder, does Ernie's righteous anger come from the Spirit of peace and love? You will be allowed to make your own determination.

But, to paraphrase Ernie's earlier response, who would you rather discuss religious concepts with, Ernie, or Hoyt? Which one's responses read as though they accept the questioner and read as though they come from a loving and compassionate heart?

If you want to risk Ernie's righteous anger, then feel free to ask him any questions you'd like. I assure you that I will never address anyone in such a fashion.

Ernie wants others to know what he understands, and so he asks himself questions so that he can shed his light on topics he was not asked. In doing so, he misunderstands the original questions and offers responses that are irrelevant.

He then....and get this.....he rates himself all 10's for his answer!

Check this out from his ratings page, and notice the name of the rater....

Date       Rated By  K   P  T   C   N   Comments
2008-08-30  Ernie     10 10  10 10  No      
2008-07-22  hara      10 10  10 10  No      

Cute, very cute. Apparently he thinks he's pretty much the bomb.

Answer
Hoyt then answered his question:

~~~~Unlike Ernie, I don't intend to rate myself all 10's for this answer to my own question.

At least he didn't nominate himself for Expert of the Month, which is itself a glimmer of hope.

For those of you who are not members of Churches of Christ, I have to offer my apologies for Ernie's behavior. Unfortunately, he comes from a rather conservative group of folks who pride themselves on knowing proof texts and who seem to believe in a somewhat disengaged God who expects imperfect people to perfectly understand all things divine.

As you can tell, these attitudes can result in some responses that sound pretty nice from folks they think will agree with them, or those they think know less than themselves. Unfortunately, if you were to join one of their groups and then attempt to think for yourself, they may well turn on you with attitudes and language that Ernie has demonstrated in his recent responses to me.

This behavior is embarrassing to me, and I ask that those who read them try not to color all churches of Christ in light of Ernie's conduct.~~~~

I replied to him by adding to his answer:

Unfortunately I was not paying attention being involved in other thoughts and did click accept on the ratings part.  Ah well, it is of no consequence.  Hoyt's singular bad ratings of my perfectly rational response to his question counters it almost perfectly, though he should have given me a 1 in everything to be perfect.  I'll be sure not to do so next time and thanks to Hoyt for pointing it out.

As for the rest of my responses, none of them are asked by folks such as you.  Anyone can read through my responses and see clear, scriptural answers for every question.  It is only those who are false teachers, claiming to be experts and then answering with only their personal opinions (which would be fine if we were talking about weed killer or curtains but not if we are talking about something objective like the Word of God and morality issues) that I treat as the Bible gives example and command to treat them.

I have provided scripture for my behavior and backed up every answer I have with scripture.  If someone wants to know what God has to say about something, they can ask for my help and I'll send them to the scripture I think best answers their question.  If they want someone to tell them only what they want to hear, someone to scratch their itching ears, they can come to Hoyt.  As always, the freedom to choose is there.  I'm just making sure it's an informed choice.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie

_________________________


A fuller answer I will provide now.

Pointing out the rating system, which as anyone can see from other ratings I received non-consequential at best, is petty.  It requires no further response.

As for the rest, why would someone like me become angry and treat another human being with such animosity?  Aren't Christians supposed to be about love and peace as Hoyt suggests?  Well, yes, in point of fact we are.  However, these terms must be properly understood for them to have any meaning.

Did God love all the wicked He destroyed in the Flood of Noah's day?  What of His own children like Korah in Numbers 14, or Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 that He destroyed.  Or the Jews as a whole that He ended as a religion and a nation in AD 70 with the use of the Roman army?  Truth is, love is more than a good feeling.  It is entirely wrapped up in doing what is best.  In our case, love towards God involves keeping Christ's commandments (John 14:15) and love towards our fellow man means teaching them the things they need to know to stay on the strait and narrow, even if it makes them feel uncomfortable (James 5:19-20; 1 Cor. 5:5; and others).

So what does this mean in regard to my words and actions towards Hoyt?  Well, it involves loving God by keeping His commandments to mark those who are false teachers (Romans 16:17; Titus 3:10) and to have no fellowship with them (Eph. 5:11; 2 John 9-11; etc.).  We are to rebuke with authority those not zealous of good works (Titus 2:14-15).

Furthermore, anger is not a sin (Eph. 4:26) as Christ was angry (Matt 21:12-13) and was oft calling out false teachers for their error (Matt. 12:24-45 emph vs. 34; Matt. 23).

So I do not need Hoyt to apologize for me or for any other sound (Titus 1:9)members of the Lord's church.  I'll speak for myself and once again show that everything I do and say is backed by the authority of scripture (Col. 3:17).  Examine my past answers and examine Hoyt's and see who follows after God and who follows after their own selfish desires.  With me it is scripture after scripture to back what I say.  With Hoyt it is only whatever makes you feel good, do it.  That is the epitome of selfishness.

I will close by saying this.  Anyone can read my previous answers and see where I have been polite and straightforward to any who come asking me a question who is not calling themself a member of the church while speaking lies.  To those wolves who claim to be members of the church of Christ but who do nothing but lead people off into sin by their false doctrines, people like Hoyt, unless they repent and do the works meet for repentance (Acts 26:60) then they can expect nothing but the business end of my sword (Eph. 6:17).

So if you want to hear whatever makes you feel good, go ask Hoyt.  If you want to hear what the real churches of Christ are all about, which is Truth and real, Biblical Love, then ask me.  I will not lie and I will not tell you anything but what will get you to heaven, even it may cause you to be uncomfortable.  That's what real friends do.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie