Like millions of other people, I "blog" on the internet. I do it semi-anonymously (so, don't tell anybody it's me!) here, for instance: http://fatbaptistpreachers.blogspot.com/ I have yet to get any comments on my posts, though I would welcome them. Maybe all the Baptist preachers that read my blog are fit. Or, maybe the fat ones are happy that way. Or, maybe the competition for readership is too steep, and no one reads it at all. In any case, I don't blog just for the fun of doing it. I really, deep down inside, hope people will read this stuff. And, maybe, comment. The couple contacted at random blogs on the internet. They had their email address on their blog. Maybe, like me, they want people to contact them. After all, they did answer. As to the motivation for asking, I don't know, any more than I know the motivation for answering. Is it relevant to their answer? MK sheri is one of my favorite posters on these forums. We don't always come at things from the exact same angle, but I think we are in substantial agreement on many points. And, on those points where we differ, she is a lucid and courteous exponent. I deeply appreciate your comments, MK sheri, and I applaud your contributions to these forums. More people should follow your example. MK sheri is also very gracious, an essential trait if we want people to consider our opinions. I, too, try to be gracious, even if MK sheri sets the bar pretty high. For all that, I admit that I have given the email a pretty literal reading; please do not construe that as being uncharitable. While the email has all of the outside aspects of having been written in one sitting, with no revision or editing for clarity, it would be hard to polish it up enough to make it say something different than it does. Taken at face value, the author says this: "Now, if there was story after story of how NTM didn't take care of issues correctly then I would consider not going with them. . . " In the face of story after story of how NTM didn't take care of issues correctly, the author would CONSIDER not going with NTM. As MK sheri says, this is "a person who assumes that this abuse is not a pattern and is not woven into the fabric of the mission." I agree with that. But this person also leaves open the possibility that, even if it were woven into the fabric of the mission, they would still go with them. The author also said that "bringing the name of Jesus to those who have never had the chance to hear of him over rides this." Overrides what? It sounds like it overrides story after story of not taking care of issues correctly. I found, and still find, that breathtaking. MK sheri said, "Regarding the part where they say that Satan tries to use things to destroy God's work. This is true. Satan thought it was great to have all those children (and missionaries) being hurt. S thinks it is great that the sin was covered up. He (or cronies) are no doubt working to do what they can to keep people blind to their own sin, to keep them from repentance, to keep them from doing anything that will glorify God." I totally agree with her on this; I would have said the same thing, just not as clearly. As it works out, during the time that these crimes/ sins were happening, and their cover up was all but complete. . . NTM grew. Please note that the author of the email said, "I don't think we should take Satan's side and prevent people from hearing the gospel." I don't think s/he is trying to say that we shouldn't engage in sexual abuse of children or cover up such actions, since that would be taking Satan's side. That is true, but it doesn't fit the context. It sounds to me like they are saying that bringing these things to light is what can destroy NTM, and we shouldn't be a part of that. I've actually been told that by others, as well. My participation in this site is hampering the spread of the gospel, they tell me. I believe that those who have "taken Satan's side" and are hampering the spread of the Gospel are those who committed these atrocities, not those who have exposed them. I would like to think that all Christians agree with that. It is shocking that there are those who blame the victims and others who would draw attention to these things.
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