I TRIED, BUT

 Earlier, I learned that one of my relatives by marriage had attended a Joyce Meyer conference. For the sake of anonymity, let's call this person "Brooks." (You know, like the all-star 3rd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, Brooks Robinson, but it could also be a girls' name, like in the old TV show,  "Our Miss Brooks.")

I wrote Brooks a letter, enclosing "Laying Down the Law" as a gift, since our relationship has been an excellent one. As I explained, it was given in gratitude. 

I continued the letter by doing two things: I informed Brooks that Joyce Meyer (JM) was a heretic, citing actual quotes to back up my charge. Like the Bible says, "By their fruits you shall know them." (In context, "fruits" refers to their words, not their deeds, a common misconception.)

I didn't hear from Brooks for some time. I didn't hear, that is, until this week when a brief note arrived. Until then, I thought I'd lost a friend. After reading the note, maybe I have.

Before I tell you The Rest of the Story (a shameless plug promoting my radio program), I need to say something, though it strays from the subject. Periodically, when I listen to pastors or read some of their newsletters, I often find an interesting theme that runs through them: in every witnessing encounter they have, it always turns out to be successful. But we all know life doesn't work that way. We live in a fallen world. Sometimes we go to the plate and get a hit; sometimes we go to the plate and strike out. What I was reading or listening to from those pastors wasn't real. 

OK. Now back to The Rest of the Story. Brooks informed me about being a follower of JM for 20 years(!) and that many others followed her. I was surprised at the mention of the 20-year relationship, but everybody knows that JM has a huge following at every conference. Brooks went on to say that there was enjoyment in the fellowship experienced at the conferences.

However, the biggest surprise of all was read, "I've never heard her say any of the things (my word was for "things" was "heresies") you asserted in your letter." So, my charges were merely unsubstantiated "assertions." But, for 20 years, Brooks has never noticed anything amiss?!

I would have preferred to read, "I've never heard her say these assertions, but I'll look into it," or "I'll do some further study on this serious matter." 

What I "asserted" is easily found on the Internet; a child could do it with the help of friend Google. The heretical "sermons" are there for the hearing in living color. "He who hath an ear, let him hear."

Or JM writes books where I found the heresies. 

I'll close by mentioning two important things: we all try, and sometimes we strike out; we all try, and sometimes we hit a home run. We don't need one more brag-a-mony that gives the impression, "I really put that guy down." That's not the real world.I struck out.

The second thing is I'll try again. I'll send the direct quotes from JM, citing the book for Brooks (notice the clever alliteration) and page number, or the link where Brooks can hear and see it, live and in living color, or in black and white on page # 38, and encourage Brooks to study the matter. 

Stay tuned. When I know something, you'll know something.