An open letter to ozarkbreeze

[Josh]

I don’t think anyone’s saying Jeriah Mast doesn’t deserve his day in court.

What a lot of us have trouble with is the pattern of these behaviours for years and years with evasion of any consequences, and then coming back to the USA and pressuring past victims not to press charges.

[temporal1]

Hats Off:
Years ago a brother came to me and said about an issue in the church "This isn't right! That brother isn't being treated right!" I told him "We have a group of trustworthy deacons who must know what is going on. We can't ask for a court type of situation where we ask for all evidence that affected this situation. We have to trust them."

Now, many years later, I wish I had listened to him.
There is a point where we have an obligation to ask questions and to expect answers.
I want to love and trust every one. It is painful when we find we shouldn't do that.
So I agree with you to a large extent. I just want to believe everyone and yet this seems to be impossible.

This whole CAM issue hurts - we have been having a major church issue which seems to have overtones of this CAM issue - and we just lost a 14 year old granddaughter to heart failure.

Sometimes it gets to be just a little much.
My daughter just told me for my own good I should deal with one loss at a time.

As i read this, i recall that old saying, “Trust but verify,” and wonder if it might help you.
i think it helps me at times.

i often feel overwhelmed by the world, and by what is just in front of me, in my tiny part of it.
loss of loved ones leaves holes that cannot be adequately filled. life becomes living around those empty places.

probably most of all, i grieve for how life is for children and young people, and i wonder what is ahead for them. so many people seem to be obsessed with controlling their minds! why? what will come of this. how can people be so depraved they want to steal-destroy childhood, when childhood is only temporary, to begin? what is the purpose?

[Judas Maccabeus]

I don’t think anyone’s saying Jeriah Mast doesn’t deserve his day in court.

What a lot of us have trouble with is the pattern of these behaviours for years and years with evasion of any consequences, and then coming back to the USA and pressuring past victims not to press charges.

Could this flow from some of the unique theology in Charity churches? I am trying to get my head around this. I suspect in my circles, he would have been sent to the authorities as soon as this came to light. I may be wrong here, never seen anything like this.

J.M.

[temporal1]

I don’t think anyone’s saying Jeriah Mast doesn’t deserve his day in court.

What a lot of us have trouble with is the pattern of these behaviours for years and years with evasion of any consequences, and then coming back to the USA and pressuring past victims not to press charges.

If i’ve read correctly, JMast is incarcerated, the court process is underway, so, that part has begun.

The remaining parts are how to prevent and respond to (other present?) and future allegations,
and, hardest of all, how to effectively respond to the many victims.

It’s unnerving to think, a few years ago, when appleman wrote about preventive measures in his fellowship, JMast must have been actively abusing children in Haiti.

There is a pattern to how these situations develop. There has got to be a way out.
Scriptures promises a way out. God’s way out:

1 Corinthians 10:13
https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/10-13.htm

..
12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.…

i take these words as a PROMISE.
in my life, i pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me, esp based on this promise.

[Hats Off]

I don’t think anyone’s saying Jeriah Mast doesn’t deserve his day in court.

What a lot of us have trouble with is the pattern of these behaviours for years and years with evasion of any consequences, and then coming back to the USA and pressuring past victims not to press charges.

Could this flow from some of the unique theology in Charity churches? I am trying to get my head around this. I suspect in my circles, he would have been sent to the authorities as soon as this came to light. I may be wrong here, never seen anything like this.

J.M.

I think it could happen in ours; we are so pressured to forgive and forget. If he repents, we need to forgive; that is the mantra.

[Josh]

Could this flow from some of the unique theology in Charity churches? I am trying to get my head around this. I suspect in my circles, he would have been sent to the authorities as soon as this came to light. I may be wrong here, never seen anything like this.

J.M.

I want to be cautious of claiming this, because it happens in other very different theological settings.

One thing is for certain: adopting Charity types of belief systems does nothing to stop abuse.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I don’t think anyone’s saying Jeriah Mast doesn’t deserve his day in court.

What a lot of us have trouble with is the pattern of these behaviours for years and years with evasion of any consequences, and then coming back to the USA and pressuring past victims not to press charges.

Could this flow from some of the unique theology in Charity churches? I am trying to get my head around this. I suspect in my circles, he would have been sent to the authorities as soon as this came to light. I may be wrong here, never seen anything like this.

J.M.

I think it could happen in ours; we are so pressured to forgive and forget. If he repents, we need to forgive; that is the mantra.

But to try and shield him from the civil consequences as well? I would be encouraging him to get a lawyer and confess.

J.M.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Could this flow from some of the unique theology in Charity churches? I am trying to get my head around this. I suspect in my circles, he would have been sent to the authorities as soon as this came to light. I may be wrong here, never seen anything like this.

J.M.

I want to be cautious of claiming this, because it happens in other very different theological settings.

One thing is for certain: adopting Charity types of belief systems does nothing to stop abuse.

Point taken, I am unfamiliar with Charity. Was wondering how ones theology impacted this. It seems to occurp from southern baptist to Mormon and everything in between. No Mormons have an even bigger problem, there it is part of the institution.

J.M.

[steve-in-kville]

[As i read this, i recall that old saying, “Trust but verify,” and wonder if it might help you.
i think it helps me at times.

Ronald Reagan, if I have my history correct.

[temporal1]

[As i read this, i recall that old saying, “Trust but verify,” and wonder if it might help you.
i think it helps me at times.

Ronald Reagan, if I have my history correct.

he popularized it, but a quick search stated it was an old Russian proverb, which seems credible, gives it added depth. (for people like me, who don’t care so much about quoting politicians.)