It’s been almost a year since I wrote THESE posts. I didn’t think they would be earth-shattering or cause any kind of stir, but I was wrong. I received several emails and private messages which corrected my error. I lost some friends on Facebook- some explained why they unfriended me, some didn’t. The original thread on Facebook had over 100 comments, some of them telling me that I really WAS a heretic, and they could fellowship with me no longer. One person told me my dad would be disappointed. My mother is not a confrontational person. I’m sure she wonders how in the world she ever had a child like me – outspoken, opinionated, and obnoxious. She has never mentioned any of the drama to me, but I think she reads my blog so she is aware. She wrote in my birthday card this year that my dad would be proud of me, and that she was proud of me. She underlined “proud”. If that isn’t an example of grace, then I don’t know what is.

The months rolled by. I tried explaining more of my position by writing THIS series. I don’t know if it really helped. In total, I lost about ten Facebook friends, but I gained 30 new ones. And I even got a few comments from people saying things like “I am reading and studying my Bible more since I read your posts.” Or, “Your posts were funny and they helped me.” That is a blessing to hear, and that’s what I was aiming for from the start.

But there was one extremely interesting observation:

In one year, I’ve had lots of negative feedback on my posts through email, Facebook, and comments here. I’ve heard more than one snippy sentence against the Doctrines of Grace made from pulpits, and more than one sermon against this historical Baptist position. I hear through the “grapevine” that other preachers talk about my husband in private, and sometimes in public, and boy, are they angry! But here’s the part worth noting: they don’t care enough to call. They don’t bother to drop by for a face-to-face conversation with us in love, in fear for our souls. This shows me that either they do not genuinely care about us or they don’t think it’s such a big deal after all. Either way, all of that negativity is instantly brought into perspective. If you love someone, you try to protect them, and help them, you don’t just talk about them. It’s easy to stand up and preach to those who agree with you, getting “amens” from the crowd; it’s a lot harder to look into the eyes of someone you care about and listen.

I’m only trying to stand for truth, for the Bible, and most of all, for salvation by grace alone through Christ alone. I trust the Lord to correct my error, not people who hide behind the Internet. I am on the Lord’s side, therefore, they that be with me are more than they that be with them. (2 Kings 6:16) I designed the image in this post as the wallpaper for my laptop when all the comments exploded. It has helped me to be reminded of just Who is with me.

May God show mercy and grace to my critics just as He has shown it to me.

With love,