Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I come to you today with a heavy heart.
Many of you have met my buddy Earl, whose family relocated with mine to Freehold when we left Piggett due to that community's insufficient Godliness. Our families live adjacent to one another, we homeschool our children together, our wives share a menstrual hut for their unclean time, and his daughters are betrothed to my sons. Earl and I truly are bosom friends, as were David and Jonathan in the days of old.
I Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Earl and I have been working on clearing some brush behind our houses for the last few weeks to create a space to build a small chapel for our family devotionals. Last Sunday, I stepped out onto my back porch to get some fresh air on the day of rest, and I was shocked at what my eyes beheld! I took a picture because I could not believe my own eyes. The picture below is of Earl, GATHERING STICKS ON THE SABBATH!
Earl does not yet know that I know what he was up to. This calls everything into question. I have been convinced for years that Earl is a True Christian™, but if that was true, then Earl would not be committing sin, as the Bible tells us that
True Christians™ are perfect. Has all of the fellowship and exhortation between us been a lie? Is God testing me as He tested Abraham when He commanded Abraham to kill his son Isaac?
Earl is clearly in violation of
Exodus 31:14.
Exodus 31:14
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
And if there is any doubt that gathering sticks on the Sabbath counts as work, the LORD clears up that uncertainty in
Numbers 15.
Numbers 15:32-36
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Despite the claims of liberal false Christians, the LORD makes it very clear that all of His Commandments from the entire Bible are still in effect.
Matthew 5:17-19
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
II Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
However, due to the influence of liberals on our society, civil authorities will not enforce God's prohibition against gathering sticks on Sunday. And if we take the Law into our own hands, we would be in violation of God's instructions to obey secular laws.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
I am at a loss, friends in Christ. God is testing me, and I want to find a solution to this test that is as pleasing to Him as the sweet savour of burning ram fat. I am grateful to the LORD for this test, as it will
ultimately make me even more perfect.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
However, I want to include my Brothers and Sisters in Christ in this decision on how to handle this apostate.
-In Christ