Misunderstandings (Jerry)

Ian Dorion (dorioni@intellinet.com)
Thu, 03 Apr 1997 13:00:22 -0600

> McDonald, 4/3
> Ian, thanks for the post. As far as your inquiry into the churches
> of Christ, we are not affiliated with the United Churches of Christ
> or the Congregationalist Churches. We are simply the churches of
> Christ. For information on who we are and what we are I suggest that
> you go to Michael's website and go to the link on who the churches of
> Christ are. The address is:
> http://www.odd.net/ozarks/churches/cchrist/camdenton/index.htm
> Here you will find what churches of Christ believe. Michael has
> done an excellent job in this area. At no time would I go along with
> a government who would persecute people simply because of their
> belief. I, like Michael, will try to get laws legislated concerning
> morality (murder, stealing, abortion, etc.,.) but I would not stand
> still for the church (as the church) lobbying in congress. The state
> is one institution and the church is quite another. As I previously
> pointed out, I do not agree with the idea of prayer sanctioned by the
> school. I am talking about where a prayer is led over the intercom
> and all must stand and pray. However, at the same time, I do want my
> son to be able to pray silently for his food, etc.,. I have been
> around the church of Christ all my life and hold pretty much to the
> same views as my father before he did. He did not agree with the
> church acting as the state and neither do I. However, I believe that
> as a citizen of this country I have a right to try to get laws passed
> which I believe would be benefical to society. However, most of my
> work on this is done through teaching and preaching. When I was the
> president of the Jefferson County Kansans For Life I taught against
> abortion. I do not spend time in lobbying. I believe education is
> far better than trying to turn some polititian's head to my point of
> view. Most of them are so dishonest that they will vote for whoever
> they think will get them elected.

(Ian 4/3) I don't understand what you mean when you say you taught against
abortion. Rather than guess, I'd like an explanation.

(Jerry) I think that we got started off on the wrong foot. I was not
> trying to be rude when I told you that you could save your Easter
> greeting. It may have come out that way, but that was not my
> intention. I merely wanted you to know that I do not celebrate any
> such religious holidays. The only day that I consider sacred it the
> first day of every week (which has nothing to do with the Sabbath-see
> Farrell's explanation concerning my beliefs here). If I came across
> as being rude I apologize for my demeanor. Sometimes I come across
> this way when it is not what I mean for it to be at all.

(Ian 4/3) Well, it did come across as being rude but I understand that and will
remember it. I have a similar habit at times so I know well of what you speak. No
apology is needed, the explanation will do nicely. You know Jerry, we might just
get along.

> I am, however, a debater and it is my nature to turn up
> the heat when my opponent turns it up. As for your being my enemy is
> concerned, I have repeatedly pointed out that this is in a spiritual
> sense. Farrell Till is my spiritual enemy (as he even pointed out
> when he said that we have been debating adversaries for several
> years), but that does not mean that I don't like him. That does not
> mean that we don't get along. When he and I debated in Sullivan in
> 91' we got along real good I think. We still get along, but that
> does not mean that we don't consider each other adversaries (enemies)
> when it comes to debating this issue. We both press the issue and we both turn
> up the heat on each other. Aside from that we get along real well, I
> think. I have to go for now. As I suggested if you want to know who
> we are call up Michael's web page.
> In Christ's Service,
> Jerry McDonald

(Ian 4/3) I'll look at Michael' page now.