Posted by:
Dragoon
(
)
Date: April 24, 2011 04:22PM
Hi, faboo.
I havn't had the occasion to discuss the "God says so" defense
with TBM family but it often comes up in the occasional conversation with other TBMs. When they use the line ""We know it hasn't been tainted because our prophets have been ordained by God himself!", (or similar) this MAY help:
I would respond by pointing out the times those "ordained" have made miscues, as in the Mark Hoffman case, Joseph's obvious lies and his "Quakers on the moon" hokum, and B.Young's "death-on-the-spot" for racially mixed-marriage philosophy, etc., etc.
They'll usally respond with something like "Well, they ARE men, after all, and are subject to mistakes.", to which I might respond, "How do you tell the difference between when they are speaking "for God" and when they're just giving out their personal opinions, and if it's as hard for you to tell the difference as it was for me, then you can't be absolutely certain they ALWAYS speak for God, can you, and if
you can't be certain, why follow them? You might be just as well off listening to Joel Osteen or Pat Robertson--or better yet, your OWN intuition and brain. Your JUST as smart and JUST as "inspired" as ANY of those guys and have as much right to God's direction as they--or that they CLAIM to have."
This is the point at which they usually switch gears and start with personal attacks on you and your "lack of faith" or "why are you attacking my beliefs"?, etc.--which is EASY to respond to, and the conversation usually ends because they've run out of legit points. They may try to end it with, "It doesn't matter to me really, because I CHOOSE to follow them, in spite of all your logic and reason." I finish by saying "God bless you, then, as you go your way. Are we still friends? I hope so, even though we disagree. At least you now know why I choose NOT to follow them."
Try that approach next time--it MIGHT work...
It's nothing if not entertaining...