FAN MAIL: Free Speech Is A Two-Way Street!
An anonymous letter was received from someone obviously not a fan.
The person, referred to as Anonymous here, included a toy “spinner” so as to “…keep busy hands off (the) phone.”. The author said that he or she, he/she for short, was “… praying that God will give you something to do so you don’t have to go after any neighbors with your spying on everyone.”.
The author went on to say “Instead of being angry with you for behavior, God let me know I should show compassion for the evil in your life.”. After offering Bible verses the author felt might help with this, he/she said “Hope this helps you to pray to God about your current and past behavior with all people so you might be a nicer person and not spend so much time looking for problems.”
Finally, the author said that he/she “Will continue to pray that God will show you the way.”
Thanks for the letter Anonymous. Not much on toys so will donate it to the nursery at church. You’ve chosen a monologue over a dialogue. The latter is more availing when discussing matters of public interest. Some puke just chose to assassinate Charlie Kirk anonymously because the evil controlling him couldn’t win an argument on the merits. Is that why you wrote the letter without being accountable for it? Were you afraid that facts might upset you or work to your disadvantage?
Some brief responses to your statements are offered here.
These “hands” are very busy. There are more enjoyable activities than watching public business being conducted contrary to the interests of the residents. You can see, if you attend Village Council meetings, that the public generally doesn’t watch closely enough. Mostly the ones that have something to gain at taxpayer expense show an interest.
Smart phones, aren’t they amazing! We have the world at our fingertips anytime we want. We use them for information, communication, and entertainment. But there is no substitute for experience. Sometimes that experience tells us to look something up or sometimes it tells us that our attention to what is going on is unnecessary and the phone can be used for entertainment. It’s certainly quieter than a spinner toy.
As for going “… after any neighbors with your spying on everyone.”, that’s bewildering. A literal reading would suggest binoculars, drones, wire taps, hacking, or some other nefarious activity. That can’t be what you mean. Does it refer to resentment over seeing what everyone else sees if they look, to domestic disturbances or criminal activity in the Village, to reasonable inferences drawn from words and actions out of public view that you would prefer remain out of public view?
It’s appreciated you listening to God “… letting you know to show compassion for the evil in your life.” We all need compassion. But again, the statement is unclear as to its true meaning. Is this just a general acknowledgement that we’re all sinners or referring to some specific sin that irritates you? Are you suggesting that only one ideology is allowed to participate in self-government or that all sinners are precluded? That lets a lot of people out.
As to the final comment advancing the “Hope this helps you to pray to God about your current and past behavior with all people so you might be a nicer person and not spend much time looking for problems.”, your “hope” is nice. But why don’t you want time spent on “problems” in matters of public interest? That’s what free speech and participatory government is all about. You must know that “niceness” is in the eye of the beholder. And, it is much different than Christian virtue. You know Jesus wasn’t particularly nice at times but He was always good.
For example, Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple; Jesus was a little rough on the woman caught in adultery; He gave the rich young man a wake-up call; His charge on discipleship was pretty icy when He said that anyone qualifying for discipleship must hate his own father, mother, wife children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life; Jesus made fools of James and John who wanted to sit next to him; He cursed a poor fig tree for not having fruit; He wasn’t initially nice to a woman who’d asked Him for help with a daughter who was demon-possessed; He told the scribes and Pharisees that they were serpents and a brood of vipers; and, His letters to the seven churches were not models of how to win friends and influence people.
Anonymous, you sound like someone who is not being fed God’s word in church. Such churches are getting fewer and farther between. No matter how young or old we are, it’s never too late to take the narrow path.
