Vol.VIII No.VIII Pg.2
October 1971

They Out~Jesus Jesus

Robert F. Turner

Did you ever know a fellow who was so sweet it was a bit sickening? Who smiles pleasantly when rebuffed, pats you on the back when you point out an error, and tells you how much he loves you — over and over again — as you try to seriously discuss his divisive teaching and practice? Some can get syrup all over you via a telephone conversation — long distance.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and I take it that He loved the Jews whom He called Hypocrites! (Matt. 23:25) He died for enemies like that; instead of trying to choke them to death on sugar. And Mark 3:5 records that Jesus looked with anger upon some, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. Pauls spirit was stirred by the idolatry of Athens; he had no small dissension and disputation with Judaising teachers; and he withstood Peter to the face, when he felt Peter was to be blamed. (Acts 17:16; 15:2; Gal. 2:11-f.) Frankly, I get just a little bit suspicious when someone appears to out-Jesus Jesus, or out-Paul Paul.

Cled Wallace once wrote something about how a good man could be judged by the enemies he made rather than by his friends. Jesus said, Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Lu. 6:26) Maybe that is why I get an uneasy feeling when a fellow pours a lot of praise my way. Am I really that good?? Well, just as Im beginning to enjoy it, a genuine friend and brother tells me I am not. The overmuch righteous man (Eccl. 7:16) is just too good to be true — and that is the problem exactly. SPECIAL NOTICE FROM PLAIN TALK

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Vivian and I are in St. Louis, Mo. with the Spring and Blame church. We go from here to St. James, Mo., thence to Mulvane, Kansas. Then, after a short break enroute, we go to San Diego, Garden Grove, and Gardena, Calif., and Glendale, Arizona, to conclude this years work.