Devout Christian MRFF supporter writes to fundamentalist legal organization Liberty Counsel’s Matt Staver in support of Mikey Weinstein, asking him to “cease your attacks against him and people with beliefs different from yours”

From: (Long-time MRFF supporter’s name withheld)
Date: December 10, 2023 at 6:30:00 PM MST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Attention: Matthew Staver

People come to Jesus freely or not really.
James Dunn, 1932-2015

“I’m a Texas-bred, Spirit-led, Bible-teaching, revival-preaching, recovering Southern Baptist. That’s neither a boast nor a whine, just an explanation of ‘where I’m coming from’ as the kids say.”
–Address to American Baptist Churches, 1995

I had the great privilege of knowing James Dunn and my brother had the great honor of being his pastor in Washington, D.C.. James was the executive director of the Baptist Joint Commission of Public Affairs from 1981-1999.

My family became Baptist in Sweden when the Lutheran Church was the state church and handled land distribution. Hence, they lost their land and emigrated to Minnesota in the 1880’s which included my grandparents (as children), my great grandparents and my great-great grandfather (b. 1812).

Roger Williams fled the Boston area for his life and founded Rhode Island and the First Baptist Church in America on the basis of freedom of religion of all: not just Baptists, but for Catholics, Muslims, Native Americans and those of no faith. 

John Leland was a Baptist clergyman, friend of James Madison, who wrote the Bill of Rights. Madison did not believe that separation of church and state was necessary in those amendments, but Leland threatened to run against him for governor of Virginia if it was not included. Madison relented. 

This is an important part of my heritage and identity. 

Mikey Weinstein is an odd friend for me to have. Many years ago I heard him on the radio talking about how Baptists were harassing a veteran at a vet’s hospital in Iowa, because he had converted to Judaism. I called Mikey for 2 reasons:
–correct his misunderstanding of Baptist history
–to tell him that from the historical sense, we Baptists were in agreement with him.

I am writing to you because of your condemnation of Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which not only protects the religious freedom of Jews, but also Muslims, people of no faith and many Christians.  You seem to desire religious freedom for your brand of Christian, which leaves out many Christians who believe differently from you. I believe that Mikey ends up defending more Christians than people of other faiths. 

While Mikey and I often use language differently from each other and I am not a pugilist, he has become a dear friend. 

I am writing with the hopes that you would cease your attacks against him and people with beliefs different from yours, whether they be Christian or of different or no religion.

For a little context, my mother prayed that all of her children would go into Christian ministry. I discerned a call from God when I was 5 years old and informed my mother that I was going to accept Jesus in my heart. She thought I was too young, so I told her she could be a part of it or I would go do it by myself. I was glad she agreed to join me. And I have been a follower of Jesus for 62 years.

I hope you will listen to a larger audience. As a child, I won all the Bible memory contests (always), I started to teach VBC, Sunday School and be a camp counselor between 6th and 7th grade, and started a Bible study for junior high girls–some already with drug issues–when I was a senior in high school. I graduated with honors from Wheaton College, with a degree in Bible, and received my M.Div. from Bethel Seminary, from the denomination that my family helped found in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I live a life of prayer and have devotions with my husband morning and night and read the New Testament in Greek.

I grow when I assume I don’t have the corner on Truth, but allow others to help me grow like iron striking iron. Your words and your organization are deeply troubling to me. I hope that you will realize that Mikey would defend your religious freedom as long as it is not at the expense of others’ religious freedom. I appreciate Mikey’s respect for my faith and for other religions when practiced respectfully. People should not be be forced to to listen to anyone promulgating their religion, and we must trust God’s amazing grace in reaching into human hearts. 

Your sister in Christ,

(Long-time MRFF supporter’s name withheld)

Click to read American Family News article that prompted this email: “Military Religious Freedom Foundation leads Kentucky VA astray”