Doreen, after reading the Introductory letter, unsubscribed for the following reason(s):
Hi! Really I did not feel that anything you had in your topic list would be of interest to me at this time and I get soooooooo much email already I just don’t want any more – never have time to read it anyway. My interests are health according to God’s plan and living according to a faith driven Christian based life and I am not interested in politics or government issues etc. Joyce Meyer is one of my favourite teachers on how to live in joy, peace and purpose.
Thanks for asking.
Doreen
Paul wrote the following response:
I was wondering where you got the idea that The Issues of Life were about politics or government.
You mentioned you are interested in health according to God’s plan. As it happens, the idea for sending out these letters came from a response to a newsletter we publish periodically regarding our organic farm, Harvest Haven Market Farm. Over the years we have been learning from God about how to live healthily in all ways. He said He would take us “back to basics,” and so it has been. We share these things about how to live in our letters, starting with the Lord of Life Himself, Jesus Christ.
Paul
Victor sent this reply later:
I greet you in the Wonderful Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Doreen,
I have finally taken the time to respond to your letter. Paul has shared your correspondence with me. I don’t believe you have replied to him. We are both curious as to where you got the notion that our letters were about politics or government (earthly) that is. I suspect that you have us confused with someone else. Nevertheless, in the Name of the Lord, I have things to say.
You say, “I am not interested in politics or government issues etc.“
We are not interested in those either, except in a believer’s perspective and involvement, as with Joseph, Daniel, his companions, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Elijah, Elisha, Micah, David, Solomon, and many others. What I am saying is that God’s people are often involved in matters of this world’s politics and government, among other things. God is Sovereign over all things, and sends His servants to deal in various matters in this world, though they are not of it.
You say, “My interests are health according to God’s plan…”
I presume you speak of physical health primarily, or I don’t think you would put it quite that way. Paul did explain that aspect in his last letter to you, which I enclose here in case you did not receive it. God has given us physical health, leading and teaching us how to have these benefits. Of course, He would have us to have a healthy and sound mind as well. That comes by hearing the Word of God and believing it. His Word is Truth. By your answer, I am left with the impression that you are misguided and imbalanced in terms of body, soul and spirit. You may correct me if I am wrong. I will explain.
You also say you are interested in “living according to a faith driven Christian based life.“
There is a false faith and there is the true faith. There is the faith that serves self, derived from self, and there is the gift of faith that serves God. James confronted his audience, saying:
“You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20 MKJV)
Which faith is it that you have, Doreen? If you truly believe the Word of God, you won’t expect me to assume by your claim that you have the true faith because it says:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world” (1 John 4:1-3 MKJV).
I am trying your spirit now, in this letter. If you confessed that Jesus Christ comes in the flesh, you would consider, examine, and engage in some dialogue with us concerning the Lord, because we are in Him and He is in us. (Read Our Testimonies and some Teachings on our website.)
One in faith will always take time for the saints. For our part, we would rejoice in finding anyone in true faith with whom to fellowship, whether in person or on the net. While we encounter many who say they have faith, we find very few that really do. We do not believe you are one of those that do. Why?
1) Your first judgment of us is faulty…we are not about politics and government. Therefore, you do not recognize us, though we come in the Lord.
2) You do not recognize the sovereignty of God in all affairs, and how He uses His servants in all areas as He sees fit. Genuine faith recognizes His sovereignty, including His omniscience.
3) While we approach you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, your very first interest mentioned is not God, not Jesus Christ, not doing the will of God, not the Word of God, but health, be it physical or spiritual…and I suspect you meant physical, which, as you ought to know, if you had faith, is far less important than the spiritual.
4) While we understand the flood of mail with which one can be inundated on the net, we believe that those who walk by faith will know the difference between good mail and bad or profitless mail. But that takes the exercising of the spiritual senses to know the difference between good and evil, which you do not have. Why? Along with all that I have already said, the next point proves more…
5) You say, “Joyce Meyer is one of my favourite teachers on how to live in joy, peace and purpose.” Let me ask you, Doreen, where in Scripture is it recorded that anyone in any ministry of the Lord ever puts his or her name in lights before men? Did Paul? No. Did Peter? No. Did John the Baptist? No. Did Jesus Himself, Who alone is worthy of all praise, worship, honor and glory? No. He said to His disciples, “As My Father has sent Me, so I send you.” When did a woman go preaching in Scripture? Nowhere. There is not one example of it. On the contrary, here is what Paul had to say about this matter:
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I do not allow a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:11-14).
And: “Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
Joyce appears pictured on her site with her husband in a carnal, loving relationship, yet the two of them walk in disobedience to God. Is their love Godly, or merely conjugal, or even existent? The blessing of God is not upon their marriage if they take His Name in vain, as she does walking contrary to the counsel of the Scriptures.
I expect that Joyce has been confronted on these issues many times. She has her answers and you may repeat the typical, well-worn replies you have heard from many. Read Diabolical Doctrine: Women Are Ministers of God in Spiritual Authority over Men.
Of Joyce Meyer you emphasize living in joy, peace and purpose. Whether her emphasis or yours, it does not matter, though I know that she does have that emphasis, and therefore again offends God. The ministers of the Lord did not preach those things as an end in themselves, the way you mention them. There is nothing wrong with joy or peace or purpose, but are they the goal? Though much desired, are they to be sought for themselves? Are they not the automatic fruits of faith and obedience to God, which come in due time? If people seek after those things, they commit idolatry, automatically having other gods besides the Lord.
Doreen, by the counsel of the Lord and of the Scriptures, and by the gifts of discernment and understanding in the Lord, I perceive that you are far from the true faith, the Biblical, God-given and ordained faith of the saints. You instead seek to gratify the flesh (yourself), as you amply demonstrate by your words.
Why do I tell you these things? Is it to strive? No. Is it to contend? If so, it is to “contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). It is to stand up to the serpentine faith that is everywhere prevalent, promoted by false teachers who glorify themselves rather than God. Given the true faith that “drives” us, we speak the truth both to those who have it, and to those who think they have it but don’t. We want you, and all people, to have the true faith, and that is why we write and speak. Turn from your sins, Doreen. They are not worth it; believe me. God is.
“Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves. Do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
“…knowing that I am set for the defence of the (TRUE) gospel” (Philippians 1:17).
Victor Hafichuk