LETTER TO GLENN GOODWIN FROM GARY
January 19, 1999
Dear Glenn:
Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Heaven and earth.
I received your letter dated 1-4-99 and I thank you for responding to my phone call to you on January 1, 1999.
It appears to us and is self-evident by your letter that all possible doors of communication over any issue not resolved between us has been shut by you and the elders of Gospel Assembly Church.
The scripture does say against an elder, receive not an accusation except before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear. I Tim 5:19-20. At least in the early church, they were not afraid to listen to a witness's account and if the person was guilty, they were rebuked before all and not covered up and forgotten about. They never put up walls and told the witnesses they didn't want to hear anything negative about an elder.
I'm sorry for you and the local elders that you have taken this position. Maybe in time the Lord will show you and them the error of your ways. I will pray for you to that end.
Another interesting point in 1 Cor. 6:1-5 Dare any of you, having
a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the
saints? [2] Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the
world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
[3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain
to this life? [4] If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life,
set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. [5] I speak to your
shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall
be able to judge between his brethren?
Here, before they went to the unjust, they were to bring it openly before the saints to judge because they were qualified by God to judge things in this life which were considered small matters in comparison to judging angels and the world to come. Issues were not brought before the elders but openly before the saints and let them judge for themselves what is right and that is God's word and that is what should be done here. Take it openly before the saints and inform them of all issues and let them judge.
Also Jesus taught in Matthew 5:23-26 to Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him and to first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Not shut them out and not even listen to what he has to say or set it up on your terms to only listen to what you predetermine beforehand what can be said or not said.
Please don't take the attitude of Rehoboam when men came to him wanting peace and he spoke roughly to them and would not listen to them. It only divided the nation further. I Kings 2:1-16 - Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord. So maybe this cause is of the Lord too. We will just have to be patient and wait and see the end results.
I can only hope that we all would be honest enough to do it God's way but if
not, then I know God will bring things to fruition in His time and way. Will
not the Judge of all the earth do right?
So thank you for your time in this matter.
Sincerely,
Gary D. King