Advice for Victory

Victory Baptist

Philemon v. 24 “Marcus … Demas … my fellowlaborers.”

2 Timothy 4:10 “Demas hath forsaken me…”

Acts 15:39 “…the contention was so sharp between them (Paul & Barnabas), that they departed asunder…”

After 25 years of missionary evangelism and in ministry officially since 1994, we have been privileged and blessed to experience many different situations, from the unexpected vehicle issue to a variety of good, bad, or indifferent church situations.  We have had the incomparable blessing to serve in some churches year after year and to see VBS age children in those churches grow up and reach "helper status."  Through the years, the LORD has kept us going, upholding, strengthening, and encouraging us in creation missionary evangelism and supplying our needs and even many wants!

For example, in 2023 we had to have some major brake work done on our RV/home/office when we were in Kankakee, IL.  Although this repair was a major expense ($2700), we can only imagine what it could have been had we continued to ignore a tire wear issue.  As it turned out, there was a problem that needed to be addressed before a tragedy might happen on the road.  The brakes on the RV were not operating, and the truck brakes had been doing all the work.

Condition of brake shoes

As I was typing the above illustration, not originally intending to use the repair as a segue, I realized that the same is true when it comes to other issues ... be it personal, job-related, spiritual, etc.  Sometimes, something seemingly small represents a much bigger issue.

After much prayer, I am absolutely certain that the LORD prompted me to address a rather complicated and eye-opening situation that came to our attention several years ago.  It involved a church that supported us financially for about 20 years and was one of the first ones to take us into their missionary family.  I recall an opportunity to serve there in a VBS and we think it was our JungleTales theme that year.  On another occasion, we parked our RV there to serve at the Big Pine camp.

speaking to juniors at Big Pine Camp

Other than that, we had a couple of opportunities as their missionaries to report on a Wednesday or a Sunday when we were on our way back from the west.

“And we know that all things work together for good …” (Rom. 8:28)

In March of that year, as I was comparing our debt-to-income for filing taxes, I realized something interesting as I listed our supporting individuals and churches.  I'd noticed that our monthly income had decreased over the last year or so, and I thought of the effect of COVID on churches and people's giving.  Plus, my ability with fundraising is rather dismal and the very thought of asking a church, "Where's our check?" is detestable!  Whatever the case, I realized that a supporting church in CO hadn't sent us a monthly support check in quite some time.  After more research, I found that they hadn't sent us a check in over 2 years!  I racked my brain and wondered, "What had I missed?"

Things Change

We all change.  Change can be good, bad, or indifferent.  Churches also change, since they are made up of individuals who change.  Since we began Creation Family Ministries in 2000, the LORD has brought a number of influences in our lives that "pointed" us in directions that are different from other creation ministries.  One of those "pointers" was in the area of health, an area which was one of the concerns the previous pastor had about our ministry.  The new pastor said this area was a matter that the former pastor thought we should keep "personal."  In other words, we should keep quiet about it (see below).

(above) "...the previous pastor communicated that his concern over your position on personal health and tying it to creationism was a departure from the biblical teaching expected in a ministry partner and was more appropriately held personally not publicly."

We also learned that the other two issues of concern they had were that we promoted dinosaurs living today and that we took a stand for the King James version of the Bible.   However, the text issue was their main concern.

No Answer

After a longtime friend and retired missionary encouraged me to reach out to the church, I used Facebook Messenger to communicate with the previous pastor who still serves in the church.  After some initial conversation, I mentioned to him that I had been going through our finances and noticed that the church hadn't been sending support.  Instead of offering a reason why or asking if we had received a letter, he said he would speak with the new pastor about the issue and get back with me.

On August 15, 2023, after the last response from the new pastor, I searched my G-mail account using a different word and happened upon an email that the previous pastor had sent! (below)

Confusion

Hmmm.  After a great deal of emails with the new pastor about the three concerns of the previous pastor, concerns that he relayed, I found the above email the former pastor had written me which stated that the church was going to drop our support because we were no longer doing "a great deal of VBS work out west." 

FACT: From 1999 to 2007, we went west every year. 

Since 2009, we have made a western trip every other year since that type of trip every year was both a financial and physical hardship on us and our vehicles.  This information would have been in our newsletters and emails, as well as on Facebook. It wasn't until 2023 that we skipped two years going west due to fuel expense and family health concerns.  So, our alleged "shift" referenced above had taken place eleven years earlier!  This is very different from "the last few years" as the email stated.  Plus, totally absent is any reference to the three areas of concern that were made known to us by the new pastor.

It is apparent that the fake reason was re: our alleged lessening of our work out west, while the real reason was our stand on Bible versions.

"For God is not the author of confusion..." (1 Cor. 14:33)

The Bible even recounts believers who had disagreements. Paul and Barnabas had a contention over John Mark and parted ways (Acts 15:37-40), Paul confronted Peter in front of others over duplicitous behavior (Gal. 2:11-14), the apostle John called out the contentious behavior of Diotrephes (3 John 9-11), and Paul named Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14-15) as one who had done him "much evil."  Paul even called out a former co-worker, Demas, who "departed, having loved this present world" (2 Tim. 4:10).  Sometimes, it is necessary and right to call out others, even other believers, for overtly wrong behavior.

It is fully the responsibility and right of each assembly to pray and decide where and to whom they send their money.  I have not one issue with their decision.  In fact, I am all FOR their freedom to choose where to send funds!  This post is regarding the way this decision was handled.

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Proverbs 18:13

Aside from making confusing statements and avoiding telling the real reason they discontinued a "partnership" with us, Victory failed to heed the admonition in Proverbs regarding answering a matter before hearing it. 

In truth, absolutely no one from the church reached out to us to discuss their concerns about our western travel and why we discuss health or living dinosaurs, or even to find out what led us to add to the statements on our website concerning Bible versions.  As far as I know, no one even bothered to research the "Neither Oldest Nor Best" book which shared the compelling evidence that influenced us in this matter.  What's more, the Scripture admonishes believers toward unity (e.g. Psalm 133:1; 1 Cor. 1:10 & 3:3). 

What is unifying in a scenario between believers that involves such confusion, lack of honesty, and surreptitious behavior? 

My father-in-law, Ken Sheets, has taught textual apologetics (his term being "evaluation") on the seminary level for 6 times over the years and has been an excellent resource.  He has actually come from the "multi-version" side through his analytical research in the field of textual criticism, and through teaching the Biblical languages for more than 30 years at Ambassador Baptist College and (presently) at Tabernacle Baptist Bible College & Seminary.  He accurately asserts that the text issue isn't about any English translation.  It is about the languages that GOD HIMSELF CHOSE to use in communicating His Revelation to mankind.  The overarching issue, then, is whether a particular modern language accurately represents the ancient languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Honestly, I sought to hear as much as possible from the new pastor about why the church suddenly decided to drop a long-time supported, veteran missionary over the Bible version issue.  At his suggestion, I undertook to read the book "From the Mind of God to the Mind of Men" and found it to be very interesting and informative.  Since I'd sent him the "Neither Oldest" book by David Sorensen, with an encouragement to read it, I thought I would likewise read one from his perspective.  In doing so, I found "From the Mind of God" to be heavily biased toward the CT (Critical Text) side, a view that I refer to as "multi-version."  Among the things I noted from reading it was that there was a total lack of addressing the availability of modern tools (e.g. using a Google search) that help people understand meanings of words such as the archaic English words in the King James.  I referred to this in more detail in my last letter to the new pastor (link below to be updated later).

While there is much, much more to this situation, sharing everything would be extremely lengthy and tedious to the reader.  I earnestly desire to represent the situation succinctly and as accurately as I can.  However, the bottom line is that they were duplicitous.  They said they sent me a letter and that they called to let us know their decision, even saying that they recorded the information in the deacons' minutes.  I certainly would recall such communication and would have filed the letter.  Yet, they have not produced a copy of the alleged letter. 

• They said the reason for dropping our support in 2020 was a change we had made to our labors out west, but we have been going west every other year since 2009. 

• The pastor alleged errors in the King James version, naming Isaiah 9:1 as an example, but he was totally, unequivocally wrong. (See here and here for detailed reasons why, along with a comparison here -- links to be added later.)

To his credit, the new pastor acknowledged and apologized for their failure to communicate with us, and he has been up front and in depth with his perspective.  He even agreed to read the copy of "Neither Oldest" that I sent him and produced a review which I shared with the author. I am grateful that he took that time and effort.  I want to say that I personally have no hard feelings toward him, the church, or the previous pastor.

While much more can and perhaps should be said, I would like to share with the reader my last letter (link to be updated later) to the new pastor which broaches most of the issues involved.  While he and I were never able to meet in person, I certainly wish we could have. 

Not knowing the church had dropped our support, I called him as we were traveling in August/September of 2021 to check on the possibility of us coming to share a report while we were out west.  It was our desire to meet the new pastor.  However, we were taken aback by the unusual and "cool" response we received over the phone.  He was given multiple evidences of his erroneous beliefs (e.g. that there is an error in the KJV of Isaiah 9:1), yet he refused to acknowledge and change.

"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceits?  there is more hope of a fool than of him."  Prov. 26:12

It is indeed sad, even tragic, that issues like this have caused great division, separation, and error among brethren.  However, in the case of Paul and Barnabas' contention over John Mark, the positive was that two missionary teams were formed as Barnabas took Mark and Paul took Silas!  Hence, the positive from this situation is the fact that our knowledge and understanding of the issue has been broadened and strengthened so that we are better equipped to help others, proclaiming truth with authority and warning of errors and false teachers!

It is our encouragement that each individual do his own research, weighing all sides with an open mind to the evidence.  When we see such decisions among believers to "cut off" others without actually doing what the Bible says (Proverbs 18:13), and not having accurate answers for important questions in the process, we are burdened all the more to help especially younger believers understand that not all churches or preachers that say they believe the Bible can be trusted to promote and stand for the truth.

"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth." John 17:17

My Advice for Victory

1. Don't be so dogmatic on the text issue that you cannot abide someone who holds solely to the TR/KJV position.

2. Be thorough in communicating with your missionaries when you both disagree on an issue of preference.

3. Allow for areas of disagreement among your missionaries in the text issue, or other areas of preference, keeping in mind the Baptist distinctive of individual soul liberty.

4. Be teachable when explanations are made that point out inconsistencies, inadequacies, or inaccuracies that exist in many of the modern versions.

5. Keep good records of communication with your missionaries, even after you discontinue their support.

6. Avoid the modern business structure and operating that's common to many modern assemblies.

7. Learn that "pure religion" is to serve (James 1:27) and pastors are not to "lord" over others (1 Peter 5:3) to try to make them believe as they do.

For me, I continue to pray for this church, the pastors, and the people there, and especially that the situation might be rectified.  This post has not been without a great deal of care for ones who have been swayed into error, especially when a long-time trusted version of the Bible is falsely alleged to be "erroneous."  It is my prayer that these few words will eventually be of some help to turn someone from error to the truth.

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"  (Galatians 4:16)

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Ephesians 4:15)