“Pastor” Mark Dever’s “Trademark Cross”
Dear Sir,
Matt Schmucker
Matt Schmucker
525 A Street NE | Washington, DC 20002
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Dear Matt,
I have contemplated [no pun intended] your email and have sorted through many thoughts in regard to it. I have also consulted the coalition. A decision has been made.
My first thought was Peter’s imperative to obey every ordinance of man; and the fact is, T4G has copyrighted an image of our Lord’s gospel and paid good money for it to maximize marketing effect. Since I am not a New Calvinist, I will go ahead and “leap from the imperative to the command” without contemplating the indicative first. I hope that’s ok with you.
Another consideration was the fact that you could sue me because after I gave my life to Christ, I moved beyond the cross and shared it with other people only, and have not preached the gospel to myself every day. And as your friend Michael Horton has said, if we are saved by the gospel, “and move on to something else” we lose sanctification and justification both (Christless Christianity p.62). So, it wouldn’t be like taking another believer to court, right? Or is that to be taken literally? Does that mean the same thing in its “gospel context”?
However, since New Calvinists believe that any sin is fodder for church discipline (like non-attendance x256), and have authority over anyone who says “that Jesus is the Christ,” it occurred to me that Capitol Hill’s elders could bring me up on church discipline for believing a false gospel. Is that why you guys call it “redemptive church discipline”? And with the authority to declare me an unbeliever whether I am or not, well geez, that’s really scary. I bet you guys have a tight ship around there.
Now Matt, is this the first step of church discipline? I’m repenting, but do I have to get elder approval on that? Let me know.
Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
Paul M. Dohse Sr.
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Dear Sir, You have presumed much in your email like who my friends are and whether or not I have contemplated a lawsuit. I mentioned none of that and have simply asked you to stop using a design that you did not pay for and is trademark protected. Will you stop using it or not? I think that requires a simple answer, sir. I would appreciate a timely response. Sincerely, Matt Schmucker * * * * *Matt Schmucker** *Vice President, Together for the Gospel 525 A Street NE | Washington, DC 20002 ___________________________________________________________________________ Matt, You can call me "Paul." However, I commend you for respecting the elderly. You misunderstand, I said, "I'm repenting." I wasn't talking about "deep repentance" which would take a long time. Please interpret my email literally. We have changed the "logo." We have "repented." Not "deep repentance," I have no idea what "species of idol" caused me to do what I did. For crying out loud, it took John Piper eight months to find his. I have honored your request, but on the other hand, since I didn't do it the way David Powlison teaches, this change of heart may not be "real and lasting change." Maybe you could have him email me to give some advice on "reorienting the desires of my heart" [Matt, if you read this here, have him suggest which "X-Ray" questions I should ask myself as well]. Geez Matt, cut me a break, I'm tryin' to do the work here! I'm trying to "get used to my sanctification." paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
The only thing that you demonstrated in this exchange is your in general lack of respect and rudeness towards people.
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Scott,
It seems like you would practice at least some of the morsels of truth that Powlison teaches (when he does, which is not often); specifically, speech like, “you always….” “you never….” should be avoided. Here, you have judged me as one who is generally disrespectful and rude to people. I am not going to defend myself to you, but I will say this:I don’t respect antinomian heretics. You can take that to the bank.
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This is hilarious and so typical. Can’t you imagine Paul demanding such with….. say….someone using the fish logo he was using to identify his ministry. It is all so vain and ridiculous. Mars Hill recently did the same thing with a ittle church in Calif who had a simliar logo to theirs. Such little men with such big egos.
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This reminds me of when Groucho Marx wrote the letter to Warner Brothers Legal Department after they asked the Marx Brothers to refrain from titling their new movie, “A Night in Casablanca. ” A favorite part of the letter from Groucho to Warner Brothers follows:
“You claim that you own Casablanca and that no one else can use that name without permission. What about “Warner Brothers”? Do you own that too? You probably have the right to use the name Warner, but what about the name Brothers? Professionally, we were brothers long before you were…”
All I can say after reading your similar exchange is that I am dismayed at how “legalistic” some of these New Calvinists can be. Oh, the irony.
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Reblogged this on Paul's Passing Thoughts.
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I feel something just sour in the pit of my stomach when I read exchanges like the one above. They have drifted so far from God’s purpose. How can they be so blind to it? I know, I know…these are rhetorical questions. Churches are more concerned with protecting their “brand” than they are with protecting the truth. It breaks my heart.
“If ye love me, keep (τηρεω – tay-reh-oh, observe, remember, treasure) my commandments.” ~ John 14:15
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Couldn’t you have cut him a break, Paul? After all, with a name like “Schmucker,” he has to be good!
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SMG,
I did cut him a break; it was very difficult not to make hay with the name thing going on.
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Paul,
That guy so deserved that.
But I’m not sure what he was so pissed about. In SGM they loved it when you talked that kind of crap to them. SGMese.
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It is all a business. And there is big money it it, too. The question we ought to be asking is why people throw money at these guys?
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Wow! Just wow! That’s all I can muster for a “now” trademarked cross. I guess churches all over the world better start ripping those crosses down before T4G comes after them.
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They are businessmen, obviously. They are running a business. You are infringing on their business, in their minds.
The same issue used to bother me with copyrighted worship songs. “I wrote this song, everyone has to make sure I get the kickbacks somehow”. What is this, Billboard magazine? It’s a worship song. Wouldn’t you want it used to glorify the Lord freely, especially if you claim that the Lord gave it to you? Yes, the workman is worthy of his wages. But a copyright contract is not workman’s wages. It is modern-day “church business”, very foreign to the Book of Acts.
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