“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause... Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.” - Exodus 23:1-3,6-7
- The Parameters of Biblical Discernment -
Internet gossip is at an all-time high since the beginning of the information age. Now, more than ever, true Christians need to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16). In other words, we need to understand the crafty and serpentine ways that the world uses to destroy men of influence in our time. Christian, don't be so naïve (as I was!) to think that professing Christians will not launch a massive smear-campaign against true Christians just like the "Political Assassination Hit Pieces" that are common in politics. The fact that America has descended into total disarray and madness for the past 4 years only underscores the importance of this issue.
Don't let men rob the accused from the only means of recourse by refusing to name the accuser. Not even heathen "law and justice" would allow such things in the courtrooms of America. How much more ought Christians to shun a NAMELESS and FACELESS smear-campaign that gives no opportunity for the accused to give an answer. Our bounden duty is to follow Biblical Due Process in order to discern the truth. The eternal destiny of the individuals caught-in-the-crossfire of these events, I know not, but let us all be sobered and duly warned: “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15).
It is truly horrifying what Jon Green (brother-in-law to Paul Washer) and company have been able to amass on thechurchofwells.org. They have judged many matters and fantasized about others without concern for all the witnesses present (to hear both sides) in a mock trial that is a disgrace even to secular law and order. Truly, a day of reckoning is coming! However, to all who traffic here and there, I plead for sincerity and truth: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25). “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19).
Questions to Determine Biblical Due Process:
Have you asked the sources (the witnesses) which you have heard reports from concerning their testimony of personal conversion to Christ, to verify that their witnesses are veritable and trustworthy? Spiritual and biblical discernment must be used.
Do you even know if these people are regenerate and / or right with God right now (Note: a backslidden regenerate man will also deliver false witnesses against the true, according to biblical and historical examples)?
Did you verify the sources who witnessed against us with two or three witnesses who were present in the circumstances which they testified about? If so, why have you not included our witnesses who were present in whatever situation is being spoken about?
To neglect our witness is neither biblical nor charitable. Why is it that you do not care to hear our testimony concerning the situations they have witnessed about? If you have decided upon our spiritual condition without fulfilling Biblical Due Process, your decision has been guided by "discernment" methods which inspired Scripture does emphatically condemn.
Do you even know if these people are regenerate and / or right with God right now (Note: a backslidden regenerate man will also deliver false witnesses against the true, according to biblical and historical examples)?
Did you verify the sources who witnessed against us with two or three witnesses who were present in the circumstances which they testified about? If so, why have you not included our witnesses who were present in whatever situation is being spoken about?
To neglect our witness is neither biblical nor charitable. Why is it that you do not care to hear our testimony concerning the situations they have witnessed about? If you have decided upon our spiritual condition without fulfilling Biblical Due Process, your decision has been guided by "discernment" methods which inspired Scripture does emphatically condemn.
What is Biblical Due Process?
Spiritual & Biblical Discernment Must be Used
(#1) Not every witness should be believed, but only TRUE and CREDIBLE witnesses - only those who are evidently converted to become lovers of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10) by the grace of God: in other words, the fruits of true conversion must be present in their lives! For instance, in the secular world of America, would a spy from Russia be a credible witness in witnessing against an American on matters of American Law? Likewise, shall we hold as credible, witnesses who are not even in the Kingdom of God (Jn. 3:12)?
(#1) Not every witness should be believed, but only TRUE and CREDIBLE witnesses - only those who are evidently converted to become lovers of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10) by the grace of God: in other words, the fruits of true conversion must be present in their lives! For instance, in the secular world of America, would a spy from Russia be a credible witness in witnessing against an American on matters of American Law? Likewise, shall we hold as credible, witnesses who are not even in the Kingdom of God (Jn. 3:12)?
“Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the Kingdom of God” - John 3:3
“But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” - Jude 1:10 “Beloved, BELIEVE NOT every spirit, but TRY the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” -1 John 4:1 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, WHY DO YE NOT BELIEVE ME? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." - John 8:43-47 "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." - 1 Jn. 4:5-7 “It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.” - Prov. 18:5 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” - Gal. 6:1 |
(#2) There should be an awareness that we live in perilous times (2 Tim. 3:1-5): a time of mockers, backsliders, persecutors, and liars who profess the name of Christ so as to wear sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
"Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. LET THEM ALONE: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" - Matt. 15:12-14
“PROVE ALL things; hold fast that which is good.” - 1 Thess 5:21 "And then shall MANY be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive MANY. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of MANY shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." - Matthew 24:10-13 |
(#3) There should be a biblical perspective of what mischief Satan is capable of through slander and persecution. It is vital that we are instructed of biblical precedence concerning the capabilities of Satan in this area, lest what happened in the 1st century to the apostle Paul repeats itself. This means that there should be an awareness that true Christians can be deceived by the manipulation of Satan through slander, like the Jerusalem Christians did wrongly reject the apostle Paul at the latter end of his ministry because they believed the ever-growing tumult of false witnesses which rose up against him (they were feeling pressured, no doubt, by the great multitude of false reports which ran to and fro continually). [Fore more information on what happened to the apostle Paul, please see The Early Church & A Survey of Biblical Missions.]
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep IN THE MIDST of wolves: be ye therefore WISE as serpents, and harmless as doves." - Matt. 10:16
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receivethnot the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.” - 1 Cor. 2:13-15 Promises & Prophesies Which Must be Fulfilled --- John 12:23-28 (Lk. 6:40 (1 Jn. 2:6, Heb. 2:10, Acts 14:22), Jn. 7:6-7 (1 Jn. 3:1, 13, 1 Pet. 4:1), Jn. 12:35-36 (Matt. 5:14-16, Eph. 5:7-17, Heb. 13:12-13), Jn. 15:18-25 (1 Jn. 3:1, 1 Thess. 1:6, 2:1-4, 13-16, 2 Tim. 3:12) |
All the Necessary Witnesses Involved with the Event Must be Heard & then Judged
(#1) The temptation will be to hear some witnesses but not all witnesses of a reported incident, to hear the accusers but not the accused - but this must be resisted! All the witnesses who were present and involved in the matter reported must have EQUAL place to speak before conclusions/judgments are made, and the witnesses must be treated with due process of respect irrespective of reputation!
"Doth our Law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" - John 7:51
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.” - Lev. 19:15-16 "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, HEAR the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall NOT respect persons in judgment; but ye shall HEAR the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." - Deut. 1:16-17 "He that answereth a matter BEFORE HE HEARETH IT, it is folly and shame unto him." - Prov. 18:13 "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment." - Prov. 24:23 |
(#2) The witnesses must be soundly examined - the persons and their fruits - and when they prove sound and true to be considered viable witnesses, two or three from a single event reported must be carefully examined and diligently questioned with the contrary witness held in scope. Note: This is not two or three witnesses of two different events of two different times who come together to confirm something similar, thus condemning the character of the accused, these are two or three different witnesses from the SAME event, with the contrary witnesses heard, weighed, and held in just balance.
“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” - 2 Cor 13:1
“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” - Deut 17:6 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” - 1 Tim 5:19 “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” - Prov 18:17 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” - Prov 25:2 |
In Conclusion
We have pled from the beginning for Biblical Due Process (O may it be forever graven into the rock with an iron pen!)… they have refused from the beginning. They have cast the rules of biblical integrity to the wind concerning this matter! In an effort “to better educate” themselves of us - and unrighteously smite us all at once, I suppose - they have spawned this hellish creature called: “Discerning the Church of Wells”! May all of those whom the Lord our God would mercifully lead to the reading of this be warned to avoid such as have and do offend against the right way of our glorious King and Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:5, 1 Tim. 6:5, 2 Jn. 1:10). As for all of those that have sinned thus... we pray that they may do no more such wickedness! Amen.