Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/14

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Years ago someone posted here about a pastor who was convicted of molestation, and it upset me so badly that I posted a scathing post to the newspaper website where the news of his arrest had been posted (publicly). What I failed to consider was that his children, who had been my dearly loved friends since childhood and all through high school, would also read what I had written. I verbally attacked their father for his terrible immorality, and in the process, I wounded my friends. My knee-jerk reaction caused a rift that I'm not sure will ever heal, and it also taught me a valuable lesson about the power of words to wound or kill "innocent civilians." E.g., when you're close to a situation, I've found it's usually best to bow out completely.

My only other comment is this: When you say something ambiguous like "More than meets the eye", it has more damaging potential than stating something specific. I hope you just didn't think that through, and that you wouldn't deliberately state something vague to allow people's imaginations to run wild, but truthfully, I don't know you well enough to know whether or not you would do something like that.

I know there was an ultra-con pastor who once did something similar to my father when he left the AMF, making a statement like, "He committed a sin" and then leaving it at that. By the time the "rumor" got back to my parents, he had been accused of all sorts of things, INCLUDING adultery, because of that one vague, open-ended statement by a very respected minister. Knowing that track record among ministers for using such tactics to tear down a man's influence when he starts moving in a different direction from the rest of the group, it does make it hard to accept that you didn't state that for the purpose of titillation. I've sat around enough preachers' tables myself to know how ministers can shred other ministers with horrible ease. It was part of the "culture" that I detested. One of the things that I appreciate and respect in my current pastor is his absolute refusal to speak negatively or gossip about other ministers, no matter which side of the aisle they're on. It's an admirable trait that I want to emulate one day when I grow up.

I tried to correct it I certainly did NOT mean immorality.

[Carl]

Originally Posted by CC1

LOL!! So you noticed that also.

There was some discussion awhile back on here about Wasmundt's book which caused me to look at it because I recognized the name. My brother-in-law went to the same church as him when growing up. Dave Wasmundt was one of several young preachers in their church. I asked him about DW and he said he was the one who always had something just a little deeper to say whereas some of the other guys seemed to just preach the usual gloom and doom endtime message. Sounds like he was more of a contemplative which lead him to maybe question some things and ask some questions about the status quo. Anyway keep the avatar!

[CC1]

I can only imagine the pressure SP is under. Particularly if, as I suspect, some of his ultra con brethern have come to him to try and correct him. I don't blame them for doing that as within their paradigm of thinking he is wrong and they want to "help" him. However the result is still the same that it must be a stressful time for SP as he stands for what he believes.

I do wonder if SP has developed any new pastoral / ministerial relationships more in line with his thinking and that he is able to look to for counseling, prayer, and fellowship as his old crew abandons him and wishes for his church to abandon him. (I don't mean Elder Epley specifically because I don't think he had a personal relationship with SP but certainly his sentiment of wanting SP's church members to all leave is typical of the ultra con mindset and I am sure is being repeated many times over within those circles).

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by CC1

I can only imagine the pressure SP is under. Particularly if, as I suspect, some of his ultra con brethern have come to him to try and correct him. I don't blame them for doing that as within their paradigm of thinking he is wrong and they want to "help" him. However the result is still the same that it must be a stressful time for SP as he stands for what he believes.

I do wonder if SP has developed any new pastoral / ministerial relationships more in line with his thinking and that he is able to look to for counseling, prayer, and fellowship as his old crew abandons him and wishes for his church to abandon him. (I don't mean Elder Epley specifically because I don't think he had a personal relationship with SP but certainly his sentiment of wanting SP's church members to all leave is typical of the ultra con mindset and I am sure is being repeated many times over within those circles).

Our relationship has not been close but I have been a friend of the family for years. He is one of the most brilliant minds in Pentecost. If he doesn't change I do say without any remorse I hope everyone leaves and finds a good church. This is not personal but they need to be saved.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by CC1

LOL!! So you noticed that also.

How can anyone not notice I keep bringing that up with you.

Especially YOU.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

How can anyone not notice I keep bringing that up with you.

Especially YOU.

Do you not like/agree with the book or its author?

[n david]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Our relationship has not been close but I have been a friend of the family for years. He is one of the most brilliant minds in Pentecost. If he doesn't change I do say without any remorse I hope everyone leaves and finds a good church. This is not personal but they need to be saved.

More innuendo. What sin has he committed? Are the congregants not saved already? If not, how did they become unsaved?

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by n david

More innuendo. What sin has he committed? Are the congregants not saved already? If not, how did they become unsaved?

Give it a rest, the man has stated several times that he was not charging SP with moral failure. It's DOCTRINAL failure that Epley is posting about.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by CC1

I can only imagine the pressure SP is under. Particularly if, as I suspect, some of his ultra con brethern have come to him to try and correct him. I don't blame them for doing that as within their paradigm of thinking he is wrong and they want to "help" him. However the result is still the same that it must be a stressful time for SP as he stands for what he believes.

I do wonder if SP has developed any new pastoral / ministerial relationships more in line with his thinking and that he is able to look to for counseling, prayer, and fellowship as his old crew abandons him and wishes for his church to abandon him. (I don't mean Elder Epley specifically because I don't think he had a personal relationship with SP but certainly his sentiment of wanting SP's church members to all leave is typical of the ultra con mindset and I am sure is being repeated many times over within those circles).

Well, good thing he didn't change his eschatology because he would really be in trouble.



I don't know if anyone even considers this but, it isn't like a preacher wakes up one morning and says he is going to change something or move into a different direction. A minister who changes direction or changes what he believes usually does it over great contemplation, and most of all they count the cost. They know who they are going to lose, and who they are going to gain. While others huddle on forum bemoaning the fate of those who change what they once believed, the individuals themselves are usually further down the road than one could imagine.

Time proves all things, so let's pray for the best to come out no matter what ya'll believe. Pray for the best.

This is just my own thoughts, but I really don't think Brother Pixler is curled up in the fetal position crying himself to sleep.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by n david

More innuendo. What sin has he committed? Are the congregants not saved already? If not, how did they become unsaved?

Hey give it a rest already, and I promise not to ask CC1 again about his Wasmundt avatar.