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- March 4, 2004
- Micah Clark
- Executive Director American Family Association of Indiana
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- Dear Micah:
Thank you for your reply to "An Open Letter to Dr. Don Wildmon."
As I respond, please keep the following in mind:
1) On 2/8/04, you were provided with a copy of my report, "Internet
Christian Bookstores: Haven for Non-Christian Materials Part
1." There was no reply.
2) Although my name appears in the address section of your reply,
I did not receive a copy. Instead, your reply was furnished to
me by an unnamed source.
3) On 3/2/04, I called and left a message for you. Again, no
reply.
4) Your 3/2/04 reply appears immediately following this response.
Now, I have taken the time to read your reply, carefully and
thoroughly. I will overlook your sensational, knee-jerk remarks
and focus on the centrality of the issue.
Prior to your reply, had you taken the time to contact AFA's
Paul Chaney, Randy Sharp, Ed Vitagliano, Diane Gramley, Gary
Glenn, Scott Lively and Buddy Smith, you would know--beyond a
shadow of a doubt--who I am. I suggest your calling them and
asking. While you're at it, ask them to share my involvement
with AFA--both as a friend, supporter, defender and fellow activist.
Since you are curious and have a right to know, I am a Christian
and an Investigative Researcher. As a service to the body of
Christ, I provide information and documentation on a wide variety
of issues to individuals, companies, organizations, pro-family
groups, outreach ministries and the Christian and conservative
news media.
The issues I confront and provide information on deal with heresy
within the Church, non-Christian cults, the New Age Movement,
the gay/homosexual agenda, pornography, child porn, transsexualism
and whatever the Lord leads me to get involved in.
In the past, I have worked hand-in-hand with AFA on issues concerning
businesses, muti-million dollar companies and national charities.
The Lord calls us to be faithful, not victorious. Through my
faithfullness, the Lord has been glorified with numerous victories.
As an example, last year I spent six months researching, confronting
and eventually exposing a high profile, non-repentant, male-to-female
transsexual within the Assemblies of God USA. While the transsexual
claimed to be a "Christian," he also claimed that God
approves of transsexualism and that transsexualism isn't a sin.
Prior to his exposure, I learned the transsexual was not only
a member of an Assemblies of God church (for 10 years), he also
occupied a teaching position within the church, and had substituted
for the Pastor on occasion.
After bringing this to the attention to numerous Assembly of
God officials--from Thomas Trask in Missouri to Ray Rachels in
California--they compromised and made excuses, but decided to
address the issue when I mentioned the words "national news
release."
It was a battle I won't soon forget. I stuck my face into a hornet's
nest, and was ruthlessly persecuted and threatened by many within
the transsexual community, and treated unfairly by longtime Christian
friends. My faith and patience was tested beyond the limits of
endurance. Yet, the Lord blessed me with renewed faith, courage
and strength.
Needless to say, it didn't take six months for the Southern Baptist
Convention to deal with a similar issue. But that's another story
for another time.
Bottom line? I have had a choice in all of the issues I have
confronted: run from it or confront it. I trusted in the Lord's
guidance and chose the latter.
Since December 2003, I have confronted an issue that had been
a "thorn in my flesh" since the early 1980's: the infiltration
of non-Christian materials within walk-in Christian bookstores.
When I discovered the heretical, cultic, New Age and pro-gay/homosexual
authors within internet Christian bookstores, that "thorn"
grew to the size of a 2x4, and I knew something had to be done.
For me, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
But never in my wildest dreams did I contemplate the backlash,
accusations and compromise from those I love, respected and trusted
the most.
In spite of it all, I refused to back down, and now have a good
working relationship with most of the major internet Christian
bookstores--including Spread The Word Ministries. While all have
openly received my information, time will tell if they keep their
word and remove the non-Christian materials.
Had Buddy Smith returned my calls and worked with me--instead
of closing the door on January 21, 2004--this issue may have
had a happy ending.
Hopefully, prayerfully, there won't be a need for Part 2 of my
report, which will cite the names of both individuals and internet
Christian bookstores.
Truth--whether whispered or shouted--is still truth. Proof--whether
realized or rejected--is still proof. Both Truth and Proof will
stand up to intense investigation. It always has and always will.
Micah, in closing for now, it has never been my intention to
offend anyone, cause controversy, see my name in lights or experience
15 minutes of fame, so to say. I bear no hatred towards anyone,
nor do I have an axe-to-grind with AFA. Indeed, if I have offended
someone, it was done in love (Ephesians 4:15). Moreover, when
compared to Jesus Christ I am pond-scum from a sewage pipe; a
sinner saved by grace (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8).
The centrality of this issue isn't about me or you, but of Christian
accountability. Words and actions are important, and I believe
in holding people accountable for their words and actions, especially
my fellow Christians. This isn't a popularity contest, and I
expect the same from my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
While we spend a tremendous amount of time wrestling with issues
such as the gay agenda and pornography (and rightly so), we have
taken a backseat to "trivial issues" and allowed the
enemy to slither into the body of Christ--right under our noses--onto
our Christian bookstore shelves, both electronic and wooden.
Indeed, the need for discernment is at an all-time high.
As a Christian involved in apologetics, I put up a stiff defense
for the faith (Acts 20:27-31; Jude 3) and use the Bible as my
final authority (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1), to the best
of my ability. And I expect the same from you, others within
AFA, and anyone claiming to be Christian.
As Christians, if we aren't willing to take up our cross and
follow Him--regardless of the issue or whom it may effect--then
we might as well pack our bags, stop boycotting Disney World
and spend a weekend with Mickey Mouse. Because there's nothing
sadder than a weenie, milk-sop, fence-sitting, impotent Christian.
And it's a sad state of affairs when a Christian is more concerned
with not offending someone out of fear of reprisal or fear of
what others might say or do.
Of Christians who compromise, a Christian friend once said, "with
a wink and a nod, you demonstrate that you are trying to be nicer
than God, who dealt severly with such sin." How true that
is.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
expose them (Ephesians 5:11). No means no. With God there are
no gray areas. We are without excuse. It's high time we stopped
playing nicer than God.
Finally, information is available upon request. Once the "proof"
is presented, I ask that you not sit on it, file it away or write
it off as the ramblings of an idiot or troublemaker. Instead,
I ask that you check it out, verify it and speak with those whom
I have named in this response. Then, when you realize that I
am a fellow Christian activist, who has used the same tactics
against AFA that I have learned from AFA when confronting other
issues, you will realize the importance of this issue, then encourage
AFA to follow their own advice and rid their website of heretical,
cultic, New Age and pro-gay/homosexual materials.
And let's hope AFA does that before a sharp, cracker-jack gay
activist finds out.....
Thanks, Micah, and God bless. I look forward to hearing from
you regarding this very important issue.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud (704) 434-7862
fearless5199@yahoo.com
- -----
Original Message ----- From: Micah Clark To: BUD PRESS
- Mr. Press,
If your going to make an outrageous charge like this, you
had better have proof.
In your lengthy letter I saw no proof of "cultic"
"heretical" "New Age" or "Pro-homosexual"
authors or books. You did not name one book, pamphlet or magazine.
You are making a serious charge against a group that has a
track record second to none in standing for Biblical truth and
decency.
With all due respect, you should put up or shut up. What books
are you talking about? Name them so those of us who possibly
share your values, can know what in the world you are talking
about when you make such an astonishing claim from out of nowhere.
Again, those of us whom you CC'd have no idea who you are,
and you are making a wild-eyed emotionally-charged accusation
that we have never heard before. Worse, you have done it without
including any proof. (Did I say that already?)
I appreciate your dedication to opposing evil, but your asking
us to throw stones at one in which we have found no sin.
Sadly, even if you had a case, if you had proof, you probably
have shot yourself in the foot with your tactics. . . you appear
to have an agenda that has little to do with an on-line bookstore.
I may be wrong, and I am willing to listen, but you will have
to prove to me that AFA is CLEARLY out of line in a much more
convincing and rational way, regardless of your emotions.
Sincerely,
Micah Clark
AFA of Indiana
micah@AFAIN.NET
Bud Press is a Christian and an Investigative Researcher.
As a service to the body of Christ, he provides information and
documentation on a wide variety of issues to individuals, companies,
pro-family groups and the Christian news media. |