Because accusations against me in connection with this letter are still current at another forum, I'd like to make a few comments here.
The following email was relayed to me along with the request that it be posted as written. I have complied with that request and post it now exactly as I received it and with no commentary.
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Since this accusation has repercussions far beyond myself and my family, and impacts upon the God to whom I have dedicated my life in service, His church, and its ministries, I must challenge Dr. Abrahamsen to provide documentation defending the accuracy of his statement. Of course, he will not, for he cannot. They do not exist, and never have.
It so happens that I saw the documentation Dr. Abrahamsen has before his letters were posted. The documentation came from Dr. Thompson's own home base.
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There are many reasons why inaccuracies and assumptions may arise in situations such as this. Often, two people may witness the same incident, but see it in very different ways--both being true in the minds of the witnesses. On other occasions, past experiences may influence our understanding of facts, giving us varied ways of interpreting the facts we observe. Sometimes, pertinent facts are unavailable for first person witness, leading interested individuals to make assumptions that may or may not be accurate. On yet other occasions, facts are intentionally distorted or fabricated in an effort to deceive--sometimes very effectively!
I agree wholeheartedly with this, and I believe that the conclusions Dr. Thompson came to back in 2004 with such tragic results, would have been quite different if he had considered what he is stating here. This whole affair started with the false tales of Brenda Walsh. If Dr. Thompson had been as eager to check the accuracy of her stories as he seemend to be with statements verified by two witnesses and more, which he did not acccept as sufficiently verified, then the problems of 3ABN and the pain he refers to here below, would never have been the same.
Undoubtedly all of these factors have contributed to the pain that has been experienced by so many in recent years in regards to the issues leading to Dr. Abrahamsen's letter. For the reasons given here, some things will remain a mystery so long as life may last here on earth. Only in that better land may we hope to see truth in all of its facets. Until then, we must go on, walking by faith, trusting the promises of God that, "All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28.
Dr. Thompson is entitled to religions freedom, like all others, and this includes following the leading of the demon that appeard to Brenda Walsh that night, and which led her to make her false tales, and believing that also worked together for good to some people. But that does not make it the just way to go when it affects others.
For my part, as an individual very much involved in the events under discussion, and as chairman of the board of 3ABN during the time under discussion, I hereby wish to express my sorrow for any wrongs I have done, or any wrongs done by other members of the 3ABN community to those who have been hurt. Though we are all human and sometimes fail to live up to our highest aspirations, never has there been the least intent to mislead or cause pain. For the hurting ones (on both sides of the conflict) my heart aches, and for these I pray each day. Through these difficult times 3ABN's theme song has been severely tested, but remains our constant quest, "I want to spend my life healing broken people." We all do!
The confession part in this statement sounds good, and I cannot say it is not honest. But confession also demands restitution, something we have never seen applied. I agree with you that the theme song of 3ABN has been severely tested. Such things happen when your help to broken people excludes people you have caused so much pain due to false reports. Prayer is good, but prayer also demands action in areas where the Lord has placed you.
Will we ever agree on all points? Likely not! Will we ever see eye to eye? Perhaps not until we cross the river into that better world, but my plea is that we love one another in word and deed, proving by that love that God is our Father, and we, His faithful and true sons and daughters.
Jesus Himself defines who are His faithful sons and daughters. You find this definition in Matt. 25:45`Then the King will answer them, "I tell you the truth. What you did not do for even the smallest of these, you did not do for me."
46And they will go away to be punished for ever. But the good people will go away to live for ever.'
Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun shine on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust," Matthew 5:44, 45.
Let us love one another!
Walter Thompson
Chairman, 3ABN Board of Directors
Your confession may be good, but what did you do to one of these least ones when she stood there all alone in front of a group of hyppocrites who claimed they could cast her out because they themselves are the saints who are proclaiming the true gospel? Where was your love then?