Is exposing false teaching unloving?

Today we received a scathing email from someone who did not like our "attack" on the Jehovah's Witnesses. Below is the translation and my answer:

From: ... Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 10:48 PMTo: studiati@studiatibiblia.roSubject: intrebari
"Hello,
I also have a few questions:
What makes you think that you are right and the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong?
Why do you attack other religions?
Do you think this is what people need?
Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses not have a site like yours in which they attack others?
It seems, rather, that the truth is not from you by the way in which you express yourselves and even contradict yourselves in what you say.
I am sorry that you occupy yourselves in such, people need something refreshing not scandal. Jesus Christ said: "Come to me, you, who are weary and heaven laden and I will refresh you!"
It would be better if you would encourage people from the Bible not scare them more, because they have such a mound of problems.
True Christians must distinguish themselves from other through love. This, Jesus said, is the distinctive mark (of a Christian).
The fact that you occupy yourselves with the slander of other religions does not demonstrate that you are true Christians who distinguish yourselves from others through love. Jesus Christ did not waste time with this. And even when he was on earth, he did not occupy himself with discussions about Pharisees, although he condemned them a few times but he saught to teach people who were "scattered like sheep without a shepherd". Jesus had mercy on people and wanted to help them, telling them the truth from the Bible. He wanted to enlighten their minds, not put them in deeper darkness. Do what you want, but such you will not find those who seek the truth. Perhaps you will just draw those who love slander.

Here is my answer:
What makes you think that you are right and the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong? The Bible
Why do you attack other religions? This is a loaded questions, a fallacy. You must first demonstrate where and have we have attacked this religion. Give us the facts. We do not want to attack. Rather, we want to expose false doctrine, contrasting it with the Bible. This is a loving act.
Do you thinkg this is what people need? If they are deceive by false teaching, certainly. Would you refuze medicine for a patient?
Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses not have a site like yours in which they attack others? Again, this is a loaded question. However, you have not searched carefully for a site. Here the Jehovah's Witnesses attack (according to your definition) "the majority of religions," especially Catholicism: http://www.watchtower.org/m/kn37/article_01.htm

It is one thing to accuse us of attacking, slander and loving slander, but another to demonstrate how we have done so. Have we written something untrue? If you will show it to us and, after an examination, we find that we are wrong, we will change it. However, to expose a lie is not an attack. Do you think that true Chrisitans would allow serious false teaching to remain unchallenged? Where is the love in this? Not only is it an act of love, but we must do so according to Scriptures (2 Tim. 4.1-5). Read carefully: Was Paul not a true Christian and not demonstrate love when he wrote 2 Cor. 11.2-4 and Gal. 1.6-8 (Jehovah's Witnesses preach another Jesus http://www.watchtower.org/m/rq/article_03.htm - Jesus is eternal or created by God?); 2 Cor. 11.13-15; 1 Tim. 4.1-5; 2 Tim. 3.12? Peter was not a true Christian and did not demonstrate love when he wrote 2 Peter 2.1-3? John was not a true Christian and did not show love when he wrote 1 John 4.1 and 2 John 2.7-9? Jude was not a true Christian and did not show love when he wrote his epistle (verse 3). Even Jesus said that there will be false teachers (Matt. 7.15). People do not need the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses added to their "mound of problems".

Jesus did not talk about the Pharisees? Why did Jesus warn the 12 of their bad influence (Luke 12.1-3)? Is this slander? About whom was Jesus speaking concerning giving, praying and fasting (6.1-18) in order to be seen by men? Matthew 5.20. In fact, all of the sermon on the mount was a discussion on the teaching and behavior of the Pharisees and scribes. Was it slander for him to expose them?

It is evident that you have not carefully read our site in which we offer encouragement. The problem is that you misunderstand what it really means to love and show mercy.

We hope that you will search the Scriptures and check the facts more carefully before making accusations. This shows love as well.

Thank you for writing.
StudiatiBiblia

Icon or I can't

Ethan related to us Monday that two of his classmates were roughhousing the other day and accidentally knocked an icon of Mary with Jesus off the place it was standing and broke it. The teacher became upset and told the two boys that they will have to pay for it and that she would tell the Orthodox teacher, a priest, what happened. When the day came for Orthodox class, she told the teacher, who, in turn, became very upset and lectured the kids how important it is too respect the icons.

At some point, the Orthodox teacher asked Ethan if he had a Bible at home. Ethan said yes. Apparently, the teacher has noticed throughout the year Ethan's non-participation in the class.

Stephanie explained to the boys that the icon is a simple picture that really has no meaning, even though it does to Romanian Orthodox adherents. We just tell the boys that we "can't" participate in teh "veneration" (worship) of the icons, or as is often explained, the person it represents. I am in the process of writing a tract on this subject in which I explain that true icons are not an object, but the Christian who is made in the image of Christ (Rom. 8.29).

Icon or I can't?

I can't.

Three weeks ago, I hired an electrician to rewire the Hollands' apartment. That involves cutting into the concrete and plaster walls and removing the old wires and replacing them with better ones in plastic tubing. He is also adding light switches, outlets and another surprise or two the Hollands don't know about. Honestly, it is really a lot of work and very messy. I lost a week of work due to sickness.

However, this is not the purpose of this post. The electrician's name is Radu. He is married with a ten-month-old son. He works as an elecrician at a gas company here in Iasi. He had fixed a problem at the Hollands back in October or November last year. When he finished the work, I gave him a children's Bible storybook.

Over the course of these three weeks, I have been able to establish a pretty good relationship with him. He often borrows a truck to transport the things we need for the work. He once drive me home with some items. It was then that we gave him two or three bags of children's clothes that our own have outgrown. He was happy to receive them and we were happy to get rid of them. His wife is a nurse at a local cardiology hospital, but is on a two-year leave. (Mothers are given a maternity leave of two years here and given support of about $200 during this time to help with the raising of the child. I found that interesting.)


He told Stephanie that all of the nationalities he has worked for, and he's worked for many, we are by far the easiest and most pleasant to work for. He told me once over the phone that I was very 'simpatic', which means agreeable or pleasant.

Radu is Orthodox and observes the more usual Orthodox holidays.We have been discussing off and on religious subjects. He often asks questions such as when our children were baptized (after a discussion on the use of "godparents"), if the name "Jesus Christ" is a pleonasm (or a deliberate redundancy for rhetorical effect. That is, he thought that "Jesus" and "Christ" had the same meaning. I explained to him what they mean; he had never heard the explanation before. Some the obvious questions include of what church I am a part, whether we have a priest for services. We have these discussion on his breaks. The drill he uses is quite heavy, especially when drilling over his head; so, he takes them often.

While he works, I usually do some writing. On his break, he will often ask me what I am writing. On one occasion, I was writing an article for Apa Vie on the "Lost Tomb of Jesus". This time was probably the first that I was able to talk with him at length on a religious subject. I explain to him my answer on the subject.

I will plan to offer to study with him after the work is complete and to invite him to our home for a meal. I ask that you pray for him, especially that he will accept the offer, and for me, that I can guide him toward the study of the Scriptures and only the Scriptures.

I think all the debris and the loud drilling noise has been worth it, not to mention helping the Hollands out before they return.

Dumnezeu sa te binecuvanteze (May God bless you).
Eric

Ethan's Birthday Party

Today is Ethan's 8th birthday. We invited all of his class to a party at McDonald's where they have a tram car converted into a play area for birthday parties. La multi ani, Ethan!

Update on Costel

I reported last week that Costel lost all his fingers on his left hand. They were actually pulled off his hand by a machine at work. The doctors were able to restore all but his thumb and pinky. Although well intentioned, his coworkers had mistakenly put the fingers on ice, which probably caused frostbite. He saw his fingers before they wrapped to leave the hospital and found them in bad condition. It is possible that he could lose them all. The doctor told him that he could take a toe from a foot and place it on his hand to use for gripping. We don't know for sure if he will do this.

Costel is now on medical leave from work. The company he works for has been good to pay for his care. He really wants to work but will probably not be able. I am not sure at this time what kind of disability he will be eligible for. Some of you have expressed a desire to help him financially. I will let you know in the coming weeks how things are going to turn out. The prayers he will need are for his emotional and mental strength since he will possibly suffer a form of grief for his loss. Please pray for his financial outcome, whether he will be able to work, or get on disability. Please pray for us as we support him in all his needs.

He told us some good came from his time in the hospital. For the last three days, he was able to keep an ongoing religious discussion with a priest who entered the hospital with a hand injury. The priest took his phone number, and Costel hopes that he will find him when he returns Monday.

Once Costel was reading the Romanian version of Making the Most of Life by Leroy Brownlow when someone else asked what he was reading. (Costel had five other roommates in his hospital hall). He had Fortify Your Faith by Wayne Jackson on hand and gave it to the gentleman.

Costel has a gentleness about him that makes him a good personal evangelist. The most important part of evangelism is learning how to listen and listen well. I think Costel does this.

Prayers for Costel

I just got off the phone with Costel Lefter about some difficult news. Yesterday, he had an accident at work in which he lost his fingers on his left hand. He's been in the hospital since 3 p.m. yesterday. As far as I understand, the doctors have reattached the fingers and I think he awaits more surgery. They probably won't know at this point if he will be able to use them again. He's got a long haul ahead. I don't have to tell you to pray for him. Please check back for updates.

Where are we going next?

My family and I went to Bucharest this past weekend. At the start of our train ride, Ethan and I were seated away from Stephanie, Nathaniel and Hannah. A group of about six of what appeared to be Rroma (gypsies) were riding a short distance home to the next town. They talked a bit loudly, and we were a bit uncomfortable at first--until they began to talk and even laugh with us. They saw Ethan's hair and asked if we were Germans, and I answered that we were not but offered no more information. Then one asked where we are from and how we came to know Romanian. I told him that we are the US and that we have been in Romania since 2000. They asked if Ethan liked it here or in America better. Ethan said that he didn't know because it was hard to choose. He said that he likes both. Toward the end of their ride, the man with whom we talked the most asked Ethan directly, without my translating for Ethan, what his name is. Ethan understood and answered.

The other day Ethan asked Stephanie, "What country are we going to after we leave Romania?" Nathaniel spoke up and said "Africa." Ethan said "No, China". Stephanie and I agree that if there is anything that the Lord has accomplished here in Romania, it is planting into our children's heart the heart of a missionary and love for lost souls. We pray that they never loose this desire for the Lord's mission.