"sam,"
I guess the only posts you are reading are your own. So, let me repeat myself and repost a comment I have made a little while ago about your "pet topic," Matthew 18, and which APPLIES DIRECTLY TO YOU, TOO:
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"Junebug,"
Are you trained in Biblical Interpretation? Can you read the Bible in its original languages (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic)? Are you an expert in Linguistics? I guess the answer to my questions would be: "None of the above!" All you know about the Bible is what your parents read to you for the Bedtime Story time.
Let me give you a mini lesson in PLAIN BIBLICAL READING: Matthew 18 deals with ONE-TO-ONE ISSUES between members of the church. Let me quote:
"If another member of the church SINS AGAINST YOU, go and point out the fault WHEN THE TWO OF YOU ARE ALONE" (Mt 18:15, NIV).
The case is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT when matters are PUBLIC. Such matters must be dealt with PUBLICLY. Paul (unlike you) knew this matter, and when he caught Peter acting hypocritically in Antioch he DENOUNCED PETER IN PUBLIC. Let me quote:
"But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas BEFORE THEM ALL (!!!!!), "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile, and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" (Galatians 2:11-14, NIV).
PUBLIC MATTERS MUST BE DEALT WITH PUBLICLY. So, you are wrong when you state:
"Have you gone to him to ask him if this published story was true or not? That is what Matthew 18 teaches Johann. Until an effort is done to find out the particulars behind this, you have no business making this public."
You assumption that "The magazine had a reason for withdrawing the article, probably because they were wrong in what they published" is just a speculation. Garwin McNeilus could have simply bought the story from the magazine or threatened the magazine with his lawyers, in order to make them shut up. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. What happened years ago is relevant today because the boy is the father of the man.
Garwin McNeilus' dark dealings were made PUBLIC. Matthews 18 has nothing to do with it. YouR suggestion that Johann go and talk to Garwin about that PUBLIC MATTER only shows your ignorance in Biblical matters.
GOT IT?
Eduard
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All your posts are written in the "DADA" style. I don't expect you to know what this means, but let me ask you: What papers are you using to get cuts from and pull them from a hat in order to "construct" your "messages"? Believe me, it is hard for me to find anywhere, in any text, more nonsense than you pack in your "messages." What a terrible pity that I cannot do a little text analysis of your posts. I got already two warnings from the moderators when I expressed my PROFESSIONAL opinions about the level of your mates' writing skills, so I will refrain from saying anything about yours.
Do me a favor, though: Please, ask someone who knows English to write your posts!
Eduard