Bitterness is Evident

[An e-mail sent to the Generals:]

To the aggressive Christians in New Mexico,

     Let me introduce myself. I am a pastor/missionary of over 25 years. I’ve seen and heard just about everything relating to the Church. From reviewing all that you’ve posted (also that is posted on Brad Shank’s website), I’ve come to the conclusion that the woman, MS as you call her, is a bitter and vindictive individual that needs a renewal in her life. If all she has to do is persecute you people, she needs to find her first love again. She needs to find forgiveness and ask forgiveness.

     I have my doubts that the “evil” inflicted upon her is all true. I’ve seen this spirit in many places I’ve worked. Bitterness is a sin. I’ll pray for this lady’s recovery.

     With love,

     Missionary C.S.L.

Our Reply:

Root of Bitterness

Dear pastor/missionary,

     Thanks for your input—we welcome letters from friends and critics as well.

     The book of Hebrews (12:15) says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (NKJV). Bitterness is an old enemy of humankind. We’ve all had to deal with this demonic thing. The problem with the lady (and others) in question is that she covered up her sins, or at least tries to justify them. By her handwritten letters to us during her supposed captivity, we see she confessed to many things. We feel that she was sincere. But after she contacted her attorney she became bitter and vindictive and has spent the last 19 years trying to destroy us as a community.

     When bitterness is allowed to develop in one’s heart, the end result will be defilement—to the person and others as well, as Hebrews tells us. This bitter woman claims to be “Christian” but a genuine Christian cannot and will not allow bitterness to grow. Harboring bitterness is like harboring a deadly serpent in our heart.

     Bitterness develops, i.e., grows, when one comes behind in the grace of God. When one is offended—real or imagined—they tend to react in several ways: nurse the bitterness by keeping on remembering the details of what (supposedly) happened to you; the other way, as this lady (MS) has done, is to talk about it to as many people as possible. This latter one spreads the disease among others. We can testify that her lack of heart repentance bred bitterness, bitterness in turn infected others, others joined the “war campaign” to destroy the people who corrected her in the beginning, and so on.

     The Word of God tells us to DIG up the root of bitterness, not allowing it to grow wildly. Even if we did do all the evil things she claims (which we did not!), the Word still instructs us to forgive others—read the Bible please! Forgive as the Lord forgives you, me, we, us.

     James 3:14-17 speaks on this subject. “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart...” There are many forms of bitterness. We, the target of years of persecution and prosecution, take Matthew 5:11-12 seriously; apparently she does not. Peter tells us, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps” (I Pet. 2:21). Her real or imagined suffering at our hands ought to have worked good fruit, not evil fruit as she demonstrates.

     May I remind my readers that we have to fight off this destructive characteristic of bitterness as well. We just refuse to allow ourselves to become bitter for all the lies this lady has spoken against us. Oh, yes, we, as Jesus did, have the right to challenge our accusers, but we are careful not to harbour resentment and unforgiveness. Jesus many times defended Himself against unjust accusation. Also, we have not carried on a 19-year war against this bitter lady. We have more important things to do. But presently we are challenging ALL her lies publically.

     Drinking the cup of bitterness only poisons the one drinking, more and more. Our dear bitter adversary will say, “I’m not bitter. I’m just hurt.” Really? There is a saying that says, “Bitterness remembers details.” This may be true in many cases, but not in her case. If one was to go over all the “hurtful details” this person has said, from her original Testimony Under Oath (TUO) to the latest Dr. Phil TV Show, her “details” are confusing and contradictory.

     Instead of healing over the years (she claims that God loves her so much!), bitterness has accumulated, deepened and spread far and wide. The solution to this pollution is revolution—REPENT AND FORGIVE! I John 2:9 is pointed: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but HATES his (or her) brother is still in the darkness.” Eph. 4:31 tells us, “Let all BITTERNESS, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Verse 32 tells us to be “forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

     Gen. Jim