Excerpt from a letter from a reader:

One of the things I am appreciating about our pastor is that he is fair, and he is only dogmatic where he must be.

Just last night he told me of a man-- a truck driver-- who came to a recent midweek service and went out of his way to make sure it was OK for him to come into the auditorium. The pastor, puzzled at the man's reluctance to walk right in and sit right down, informed him that everyone was welcome.

This man, on the road most of his days, visits Baptist churches when he can and where he can. Apparently, he was stopped over in Los Angeles and visited R.L. Hymers' church. Hymer's deacons (read: thugs) wouldn't let him in because he wasn't wearing a tie. (!)

When he tried to explain that he had just pulled in on a 12-hour run from New Mexico they were unmoved.

Excerpt from a very sad letter from a reader:

I have gone to many churches,I have quit many churches. somthing always seems to happen where I feel like I'm in an episode of the twilight zone. The very people whom I have trusted, loved and belived in, have either steered me in the wrong directon,attacked me, stollen my money and even my family from me.

I have alot of trust issues, and because of this I'm holding back my wife and children from church.this is not for a lack of faith, my faith has never changed, I just want to protect them from the same things which tryed to distroy me. In the process I'm not doing my job as a husband, as a father, and as a friend.

I pray to the Lord as a child in the darkness trying to find my way home.
______________________

The man had no hope, and didn't even ask me what to do. He just seemed to need to talk about his experience. I believe hell enlarges her mouth daily to receive Fundamental "Bible believing" "KJV Only" bastard pastors from Baptist churches. There seems to be no shame in them. The lazy jerks don't even write and curse me-- they are so busy checking out the porn sites.

"Bastard" used in context of Hebrews 12:8.

Here is what can happen when a Fundamental Baptist jack boot destroys a believer with a mind:

RICK GODWIN

From: Ron B__________
To: steve@balaams-ass.com
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2003
Subject: jackboot?

Steve, you are doing a disservice by writing that article. If you have an issue with a certain pastor or brother in the Lord this is not the way to display it!

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My Response:

I used some personal experiences, which came to us with the Lord's permission, because I believe the Lord was trying to wake me up and show me that the Fundamental Independent Baptist movement is now going whole hog into Laodicean decay. This does not include all local churches of course, but there are far too many to now pass off these pig pens as a minority.

I consulted with several pastors and evangelists who were not within my circle of friends, and they encouraged me to do the articles. About 85% of the illustrations in the section are from these men, not me. There are some very evil men who have, I think within the past 20 years, determined that the IFB churches are a great place to shear sheep close, goof off, and generally play the fool. They have learned, like Benny Hinn in Charismania, to say the things and even go to the right schools which give them credibility.

If you think these men should not be exposed, then I must assume you are one of them.

Any man of God within the IFB movement, who is godly, is groaning over the direction of ALL the fellowships. Pastors are standing back from old associations and "going it alone" with the few in their small church fellowships. Our pastor avoids almost all associations in Eastern Tennessee. He has friends among pastors to be sure, but they are few.

So, your ignorance of reality, or your defense of the wicked, means nothing to me friend. In fact, your complaint does not recommend you very well. This sounds just like another jackboot squealing in pain. I hope that is not the case.

Who did Jesus speak "woe" to the most? The Pharisees, who were the "Fundamentalists" of his day. You who want me to lay off of IFB men yell "Amen" if I deal with Benny Hinn and Chuck Swindol, but if I touch your friends like Jack Hyles, and expose their adultery and greed, you scream "off sides."

Hmmmmmmmmm

Amos 7:13-17 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court. Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

Maybe you need to repent of something you read on the Jackboot section. Is that possible? A pastor in Pennsylvania wrote me just after I posted that set of articles and confessed that he had seen, by the conviction of the Holy Ghost, that he was a Jackboot just like what I described. He wanted to leave the ministry and go sell insurance. I told him to confess sin to his people, and if they wanted him to stay, he should go on to by a faithful pastor. He did repent and is rejoicing in fellowship with the people he serves-- a hireling who became a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

Are you sorry that happened? If so, you must not be born again.

I have also received many e-mails from people attending Jackbooted local churches, and they want to know what to do. I tell them not to tear the church apart. Go to the pastor and lovingly rebuke him. If he rebels, move on. This is happening in Bible believing churches all over the world, from Seattle to Singapore to the Outback of Australia. You are ignorant of this I gather. I deal with it all the time, and your tender mercies for the wicked mean nothing to me. YOU are the one with a problem. Get your Mennonite tender feelings up and into the zeal mode for a change, and DEFEND the flock of God instead of the hireling. Menno Simon was NOT a pacifist with the wicked church leaders of the Reformed movement. He condemned them soundly.

And you? Huh?

REPENT! Get off your defensive high horse and see what Jackboot aspects are in YOU!

Psalms 139:20-24 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You don't have to agree with me because I am convinced. I am not your guru. But, you have NO idea what you are talking about. That section was written to expose and correct a problem, NOT for me to vent my wrath. Using that old saw simply shows that YOU are under conviction in this area.

In Christ

Steve Van Nattan