“Business”

Published On: December 8, 2017|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

Accessibility Notice

This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.

From: [Name withheld]

Subject: business

Date: November 29, 2017 

To: [email protected]” 

Dear Mike,

Stop overstepping your bounds and making calls on things that are just not your business. I’m not sure who appointed you judge and jury on matters of God but I can tell you that one day you will stand before that God and have to make account. This is in reference to the historical display that has a flag, appropriate for the display, with the account of a war hero Chaplin. Leave it alone. It truly is non of your business.

Kind Regards,

[name withheld]

_______________________________________

From: Mike Farrell

Subject: Re: business

Date: November 30, 2017

To: [Name Withheld]

Hi [name withheld],

I suspect it is our business. Maybe you should mind your own. Our business is to support the separation of church and state. In so doing, we protect the right of you and all other members of the military to enjoy the freedom to believe as each of you chooses.

If you’ll look at the record, rather than buying the line some zealot pushes on you, you’ll find that the organization responsible for the display not only recognized that the story attempting to justify the flag’s presence was false, it was moved to take down that part of the display. That left a flag, which was clearly not the flag it had been purported to be, implicitly promoting one particular faith over all others, a violation of our Constitution, our laws and our military regulations.

Contrary to your assertion, it is not “appropriate for the display,” which brings to mind a question for you: what if it was a flag representing the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith or some other belief system? Would you have been sending us a message condemning us for calling for its removal? Somehow I doubt it. I suspect someone has gotten you excited by suggesting that your particular ox has been gored. Well, it hasn’t. You’ve been misled.

For the record, we are people of many different faiths and belief systems, so your admonition about our standing one day “before that God and hav(ing) to make account” assumes a great deal. But let me not bother you with the details because you seem to think you’ve found the answer for everyone.

Be assured that we are perfectly happy for you to embrace the belief of your choice. We are not, however, willing to let you or those responsible for that display, or for that matter the officer in charge at that base, condone the unlawful promotion of one particular belief system over others without being challenged. That’s our business.

Best,

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

_______________________________________

From: [Name Withheld]

Subject: Re: business

Date: November 30, 2017

To: Mike Farrell

Hello Mike,

There is no such thing as separation of church and state. There is however protection to insure a state mandated religion can not be imposed on all. The historical content of the display in question should be allowed some artistic license. Do you really believe people are that upset regardless of religious belief by the flag used to depict an historical event to honor a person. Your group goes for headlines because you have a real ax to grind and that is to remove God from everything you can. That is not the spirit of America. And yes, I do feel I have the answer for all people, Jesus Christ. What kind of Christian would I be if I didn’t believe that. You however are entitled to your belief. There are countless errors in our text books of historical events. Spend time fixing those. By the way, whether you like it or not, this country and our laws are predicated on the fact that the God of the bible is where our moral fiber comes from. Now that is accurate real history.

Kind Regards,

[Name Withheld]

_______________________________________

From: Mike Farrell

Subject: Re: business

Date: November 30, 2017

To: [Name Withheld]

Well, thanks, [Name Withheld]. We at last get to the bottom of your complaint. Not that I’m surprised, of course.

As regards the display, I know some are offended by it, and that matters. But more to the point it is the camel’s nose under the tent, an attempt by those, like you, who believe they not only have the answer for all people but want to go a step further and declare this country a Christian nation and its military the Army of the Lord. Whether or not that’s your goal is up to you to know, but the zealots I made reference to earlier make no secret of their intention. And when they come after us, they sound a lot like you.

For you, who claims to be a follower of Jesus, to determine for yourself that I and those in the MRFF “want to remove God from everything (we) can” is a leap to a false judgment that gives you away. “Oh, fie on those who do not have the understanding to believe as I do, they must be anti-God.” And, I think you suggested, anti-American to boot. You might want to take a seat and commune as bit with whomever you rely on, because your judgments betray you.

What kind of Christian would you be if you didn’t feel you have the answer for all people? I think the answer is more in the doing than the believing. I think of Pope Francis who washes the feet of Muslim immigrants. I think of my friend the Episcopalian Rector who married the first gay couple in his community. I think of my friend the rabbi who, though not a Christian and unsure if there really was a God, nevertheless lived a life of loving goodness, providing warmth and comfort to all who felt a need. I think of my friend, a Muslim leader, who stands up to vicious bigotry every day without falling into either hatred or despair. And then I hear from you, the self-professed Christian, who so lacks the ability to celebrate his relationship with a loving God by being open to human difference that he resorts to impugning the integrity of people he doesn’t know on the basis of his own warped perception of the way of Jesus.

Your Biblically-inspired moral fiber can use a tune-up.

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

_______________________________________

From: [Name Withheld]

Subject: Re: business

Date: December 1, 2017

To: Mike Farrell

Hello Mike,

You have read far too much between the lines and assume you know me way better then you can. You have a world view which is no surprise. You think because a person does a good deed that buys them something. I can’t answer for those examples of what you feel is the real deal like the pope and all but God knows their heart. Most have a personal agenda, political agenda, etc. There is only one truth. All those examples you give just may be the people that the bible speaks of where Jesus said, “yes you did all these things but, I never knew you” and they end up in hell. The devil is the subtlest of all beings and he is selling the world his bill of goods. The truth is, without Jesus, there is no righteous way. You see, I am open to human difference. I am a loving person to all. I spend my time working for Christ. I also have to spread the good news of Christ without compromise. Jesus said, “the world will hate you because they hated me” and I except that. To love is the act of doing to someone what is right regardless of how one feels. “Right” is defined in the bible. Telling the truth is love.

And yes, I want to call America a Christian nation, why not. It is our roots. You see what the world view is doing to our nation, the world, the family structure. Not a pretty picture. “In God We Trust” is everywhere. The halls of all our government building are filled with God. The moral fiber of who we are came straight from the bible. And yes, I feel a personal attack on God in our nation. If you and your organization are a part of it or not, I can’t say for sure because truth is, I just responded to a petition and maybe I did get excited and called your organization on the carpet without merit. I let God be the judge. I will pray in all seriousness that the truth of who God is be revealed to you and your organization in a mighty way. I know to you I sound so typical and narrow-minded. Please don’t be angry, take all I say as someone who really does care about all men and their salvation.

All tuned up and ready to go,

With kind regards,

[Name Withheld]

_______________________________________

From: Mike Farrell

Subject: Re: business

Date: December 1, 2017

To: [Name Withheld]

Hello [Name Withheld],

I don’t actually ‘know you’ at all. What I know about you is what you’ve made plainly evident in the messages you’ve elected to send our way.

You assume a lot. You’ve made a judgment, apparently a recurring theme with you, about my “world view,” that is incorrect. I do not believe, as you suggest, that “because a person does a good deed that buys them something.” I do, however, believe that when people lead good, decent, generous, thoughtful, loving lives, it says something meaningful about their character. YOUR BELIEF HERE IS THE BIG LIE FROM SATAN. THERE IS NO GOOD THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH WITHOUT THE SAVING GRACE OF CHRIST.

Given the examples I cited, you may choose to ascribe ulterior motives, such as your “personal agenda, political agenda, etc.” swipe, to the Pope, the rector and the rabbi. I can’t help you with that. As far as I’m concerned it simply demonstrates a kind of poverty of spirit and makes me sad for you.

 What saddens me more is your notion that “there is only one truth” and you are its keeper, and “without Jesus, there is no righteous way.” Your pretense at being “open to human difference” and your self description as “a loving person to all” fails to account for the judgments you are so quick to ascribe, unless one is to believe, as you apparently do, that nothing is lovable, valuable, worthwhile or meaningful unless it is accompanied by an acceptance of and devotion to your particular interpretation of Jesus and his teachings. THESE ARE NOT MY JUDGEMENTS AND CERTAINLY NOT MY INTERPRETATIONS BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO REVELED THIS TO THE AUTORS OF THE BIBLE

 As to the rest of your diatribe about the wily devil, the value of words being defined by the bible, your ahistorical view of the founding of our nation, your paranoia about attacks on God, spare me. I’ve heard enough of that sanctimonious crap to make me despair. When devoted, God-touched so-called Christians can rationalize child molestation in order to serve their personal needs, you’ve got plenty of work to do in your own community. THIS PARAGRAPH IS YOUR OWN ACCUSER.

 I find a shred of hope in your acknowledgment that you may have acted impetuously and may have judged us incorrectly. You did and you have. I DON’T NEED YOUR, MINE COMES FROM THE LORD.

 You plead that I not be angry. I am, a bit, but I’m more sad than angry. You’d have me take all you’ve said “as someone who really does care about all men and their salvation,” while mouthing pieties and condemning those who, to you, have not yet seen the light. SAYS THE WORD OF THE LORD, NOT ME.

 If you want to actually be what you’ve claimed above, I’d suggest you open your eyes, your arms, your mind and your heart to include not only women but the billions of people in this world who may never know Jesus, who may have no interest in knowing YOUR Jesus, yet who somehow manage to be good, decent, thoughtful human beings even without the benefit of what you infer is the special insight you have somehow managed to achieve.

 I wish you less self-righteousness and more insight.

 Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

_______________________________________

From: [Name Withheld]

Subject: Re: business

Date: December 2, 2017 

To: Mike Farrell

So Mike, the real you shines clear. The mention of Jesus changes your posture in a way that make Jesus’s claims very true. The one really obvious point you overlook is that it isn’t my righteousness at all but the God I serves righteousness. I can’t make any claim other then what the word of God says. The very fact of your anger, now loud and clear, tells of a person who wants to be his own God. The world view you deny is evident in your message. As for insight, you chose worldly insight, I chose Godly insight. In the end, if I am wrong, nothing lost. BUT, in the end if you are wrong, you lose everything. 

About all those people who don’t know Jesus you talk of, God has made provision for them. Also, that is one of a Christians task to bring the gospel to all. It appears that people like you take great offense to that task. 

As far as the child molester, if they are truly Christians (which in may cases they are users of the Word and not Christ followers at all), they have a savior which will accept them with opens arms with true repentance. 

I have spent 5 years working in an inner city homeless shelter, I have taken care of an elderly man who has no living relatives for the last 7 years (washed him and his clothes, paid his bills, taken care of his property, cut his toe nails, taken care of all his medical needs etc). Not to gain anything but just to serve a God I believe has asked this of me. His hands and feet. I say this only to make a point that if all those that claim Christianity were Christians, you wouldn’t be so bitter but truth is, the road is narrow and few who claim are. SAD!

I don’t condemn anyone, they condemn themselves. My insight comes from the Holy Spirit. It’s not special but available to anyone who asks. Many very intelligent people over many years have researched the bible to prove it false and most have come to Christ. My prayers are with you Mike, that your eyes be open to the truth of who Christ is.

Kind Regards,

[Name Withheld]

_______________________________________

From: Mike Farrell

Subject: Re: business

Date: December 7, 2017

To: [Name Withheld]

Hi [Name Withheld],

Good for you for your good works in the inner city. That’s nice to hear and is appreciated.

I take no offense at anyone who chooses to live out her or his faith. It’s when doing so involves

judging and condemning those who don’t see it their way that the basic fallacy of it becomes so

pathetic.

As far as what you deem “worldly insight” and its inferiority to your self-described “Godly insight,”

I’ll leave you to your enjoyment. The way you’ve laid it out sounds more like you’ve made a wager

than a leap of faith, but either way, you’re welcome to it.

Like everything else about us and the work we do, you’re quite wrong to ascribe my attitude about

so-called Christians who are in fact pompous, self-satisfied, dishonest hypocrites as “bitter.” I’m

not bitter about them at all, I’m simply disgusted by sanctimony.

Do take care.

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

Share This Story

Leave A Comment