Why The Slandering of My Character Gives Me So Much Joy
Really, I have much to do this morning but another correspondence came in, one of many this week (and the week is yet young), that goes something like this: “I was talking to someone who is warning me about you. What really happened at Clearcreek Chapel? Why did they bring you up on church discipline? Did you commit adultery or something like that? It’s alright if you did, just tell me so I will be ready when people discuss you.”
This is the game played by the Protestant Resurgent Church. Many of the congregants are not fully boiled yet so they can’t be told the elders have God’s very authority and can excommunicate someone for anything deemed sin by them—the cardinal one being; questioning their authority. So, they just excommunicate someone publically for say, not loving his wife like Christ loves the church, whisper: the standard is the perfection of the law, not love.
Therefore, EVERYONE under the condemnation of the law (see, “Protestant”) is guilty of everything under the law all of the time. This is why Mark Dever et al say that you are technically in the discipline batter’s box the day you join the church. You are fodder for discipline at all times, so keep your mouth shut and put your temple tax in the plate. Verily, ahhhhmen.
Hence, this actually makes the elders look gracious as the parishioners are left to their assumptions that the husband did something not even named among the Gentiles. Pretty slick: they look above the fray of gossip while avoiding the truth about the authority they claim and leaving the congregation to their own imaginations resulting in the ultimate character assassination. That’s a lot of heavy work accomplished in one sitting. Perhaps we should complement their efficiency.
But this is all good news for me, and I write this post full of joy. Please, if you have heard something bad about me, do share. I know that it goes on a lot behind closed doors, but how is one to be encouraged if you only talk of him secretly? Look, I know that your bundle of encouragement probably pales to what is out there, viz, I tried to murder the Clearcreek elders, I committed adultery, I moved to Indiana to hide from the IRS (this accusation was presented by an elder that owed the IRS over $100,000 and had his assets frozen), I am a drunkard, I abandoned my family, presumably with my mistress and left no forwarding address or money to live on, etc., etc., etc., but do tell anyway. Just ask the guy who shared last week by telephone how hard I was laughing.
The Bible states plainly that laughter is good for the bones. Why deprive me of such joy? When I began this ministry, it was founded on my first morsel of truth obtained as a recovering Protestant: the Spirit only uses truth, and eventually, the hammer of truth will start making a dent. Seek truth, truth, truth, and leave the results to the Spirit. This is what kept me going when only 20 people were coming to my blog per day. The standard was one, so 20 was pretty good to me. Since then, views range from 150 to 800, and we have hit 2000 on at least one day. We still haven’t figured out what the trends are, but the higher numbers used to be event-driven, but that is no longer the case. BUT…NOTHING spells e-f-f-e-c-t-i-v-e-n-e-s-s like slander. I will take the slander over numbers any day.
Nevertheless, let me make the vetting of these various and sundry accusations very simple. Several formidable evangelicals who know the Clearcreek Chapel elders personally not only fellowshipped with me after the fact, but invited me to participate in their ministries. Why? They know the discipline was totally bogus. One of these men, a former associate pastor at Clearcreek Chapel, even tried to get Peacemaker Ministries involved in the situation. In addition, and again, after the fact, some of these ministries shared very sensitive inside information with me concerning ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) that would be gut-wrenching if made public. That clearly speaks to trust.
So obviously, it doesn’t add up. But, I can go public with this stuff at any given time. However, again, this wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying as the slander.
Slander is confirmation that truth is a big problem for them. Nothing is more satisfying than to see the wild animals of falsehood cornered with the truth and lashing out in desperation.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Yes, slander is part and parcel of Protestant/Calvinist/Reformed cultdom, Paul, and their calling God the author of sin is slander of the highest degree, and saying that the Paris attacks, Belgian attacks, the Sandy Hook slaughter, or 9/11 were God’s will and for His glory is more than just slander: it’s blasphemy. Let them slander you, Paul; it’s their time they are wasting, but your conclusion is correct: It is confirmation that the truth is a big problem for them. A HUGE problem.
The latest thing (they always have a “thing,” don’t they? That’s the Gnostic way, I suppose) I have heard from the Calvinist cult, the spiritually dangerous and noxious “Gospel” Coalition this time round, is that the stone put in front of Jesus’ grave needed to be rolled away, not to let Jesus out, but to let us in! It boggles the mind eternally. What blasphemy; what lies; what imagination! What delusion! I take that statement as slander too.
Here’s a link: (you may remove it; it is offensive and super anti-biblical, no surprise, seeing who the author is)
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/our-faith-is-historically-verifiable-or-its-nothing
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What Paul is experiencing is nothing new. Such behavior is well documented in the book of Acts. I encourage you to read each of the passages I’ve cited below. Please take note of several points:
1> Persecution comes mostly from the religious leaders because the true gospel is a threat to their orthodoxy and authority.
2> Paul and the other apostles “reason” out of the scriptures. They use reason and persuasion to make their case.
3> When the religious authorities have no answer to refute the Apostles’ arguments they resort to slander (and violence in extreme cases!)
So you see, the response of elders and pastors today is no different than that of the Jewish religious establishment when their orthodoxy is brought under scrutiny.
“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.” ~ Acts 2:12-13
“And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up [and spoke]…And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and [speaking evil against Paul and Barnabas]…But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.” ~ Acts 13:15-50
“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren…to use them despitefully, and to stone them” ~ Acts 14:1-2, 5
“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.” ~ Acts 14:19
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” ~ Acts 17:1-5
“But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.” ~ Acts 17:13
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And…Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized…And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat” ~ Acts 18:4-12
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Andy, those are great passages; thanks. They remind me of Matthew 23, in which Jesus denounces the Scribes and Pharisees for their dishonest reasoning. Has anything changed? The modern-day Pharisees (Calvinists) still do this, as well as the things you’ve pointed out. Many “churches” give its followers sheets and lectures on “How to defend Calvinism.” Yes, I know, it’s sicker than Ebola, but, hey, anything to protect their doctrine and what goes with it (money, man worship, etc.).
Oh, make no mistake; you are right: it’s about authority (which they don’t have but crave) and their man-made doctrine, which they must preserve at all costs, otherwise their little boat sinks and all their worldly treasures with it.
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My husband was terminated from ABWE. He was questioning the translation work in Bangladesh and was told he was not a translator so how could he question it? We finally realised for many reasons we could no longer stay with ABWE and submitted a resignation to only later find out through our home church we were terminated for insubordination. Sully your name so people will turn on you. These organisations and churches think they own you.
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Hi Pam. Time to totally rethink “church.” I will be praying for you. God has something more than we can even imagine for this present day. It is grounded in the truth, not the traditions of men.
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I should add I was terminated as well.
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And I am sure you got a severance package like Rob Turner did, especially since you only asked questions and didn’t have a ten-year affair with someone who is non-churched and totally off limits as far as information goes.
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It is refreshing for a wife to find out that her dear husband is being slandered by the great, all-powerful Calvinists. Standing alone on the side of truth for years is a lonely stand.And for years, Paul was alone in his stand. But guess what? He married me, and as my sons say, “Don’t mess with da Mama.” But seriously, now, we have others standing with us, challenging, questioning, and even defying the false gospel being forced upon church members. My favorite illustration of Christ’s is the one in Matthew about the houses built on the sand and rock. Just remember, which one stood strong, and which one fell with a mighty crash. Truth will stand. Our mission is all about truth. There is such freedom in knowing and living the truth. Try it. You’ll like it. Susan Proud to be a Dohse
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Susan, I hope it’s refreshing to you too knowing that others support Paul (and you) in his stance against Calvinism and all its lies. Calvinists may think they are great and all powerful; in reality, they are part of a vicious, anti-Christian cult, and I say that with a clear conscience. It’s my prayer and wish that that philosophical movement disintegrate; it has destroyed thousands of lives since it was “discovered.” It deserves no merit for existence, and there is nothing good about it or its evil doctrines of damnation.
It’s so good to hear that you two are such a formidable team, supporting each other so unreservedly. Yes, in the end it’s all about truth: Jesus Christ and the true gospel, and souls for God.
Please keep on fighting and keep on praying for the innocent ones in that cult (there are always innocent ones, as Satan is such an expert in posing as an angel of the light), that they may be set free and embrace the gift of salvation.
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This is Susan commenting on your comment. Thank you so much for your encouragement. It is so edifying to hear from friends who “get it.” I think the most discouraging has been watching Paul prepare for months for this past conference, investing not only his time, but his entire pay checks to deliver the truth to those who need to hear it and learn from it to have local pastors warn their members that they will be in danger of church discipline if anyone “associates with the likes of Paul and Susan Dohse.” John, we will not cease to teach the truth about New ( or Old) Calvinism. Only death or the return of Christ will keep us from keeping on. But fellow believers, such as you, who encourage us, give us the fuel to pick up the sword and fight for truth. You are loved and appreciated. Susan, proud to be a Dohse
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