September – 2000
To: Jim, Ray, Weyman, Nathan, Bill, Jim (My Son), This is letter #11
Brother Jim and Brother Ray, I would like to tell you about a bible tract, written by Brother Bob Thompson:
"Ten Reasons Why I Do Not Observe Christmas"
I had been working at J.PL. a few months, the end of December was coming to a close, and I didn’t want any of my fellow workers sending me any Christmas cards. So on the company bulletin board I thumb tack Bob’s tract. It stayed up on the board through the month of December and into the first week of January, then was gone, I didn’t know who had taken it down, and I didn’t much care, I didn’t get any cards, and no one said a word to me.
My Supervisor was a Japanese-American that had spent the Second World War in a Retention Camp some where in the States. We never talked about any of our experiences during the War. We took a liking to each other from the first day he hired me. I was the first Quality Assurance Inspector hired by JPL. He laid the ground rules out for me and turned me loose. I had no trouble with the engineers or the technicians, I started with a low key until I understood what they were trying to accomplish. We all worked together as a team, but this is not what I want to tell you about, so I will end this right here.
As I said the tract was gone and both my Supervisor and I were to report to our Managers Office. Our Manager was a Doctor in Chemical engineering; I had not met him before. My Supervisor (Jack) asked me what this was all about and I told him that I wasn’t sure, but that I think I knew, before I could tell him we were at the Managers Office.
The Doctor had me sit in a chair in front of his desk, and told Jack to sit clear across the room in another chair. Jack tried to find out what this meeting was all about and the Doctor just said to Jack, that he would handle it. Before I had gone into the office, I told My Lord that He would have to help me, because this was all going to be new for me.
The Doctor open up his desk drawer and took out Bob’s tract. He wanted to know if I had put this tract on the bulletin board? I told him yes and he began to tell what the bulletin board was for. I told him I understood what he was saying and I thank him. He then told me; that all those "thought provoking" things would have to be removed. I wasn’t sure what he meant, so I asked him if he meant the small cards I had on my wall above my desk, Heaven? Hell? Eternity? Where? He got very angry with me and said you know very well what I mean! I told him they would go.
He then said that the writings on my desk had to go too. I just sat there looking at him and not saying anything. I was lost for words and he could see that I was. Finally I said to him: Those writings on my desk are verses from the bible that I put on my desk every Monday morning, they are bible verses that I memorize through out the week, and they are the verses that get me through my day at work. Doctor, I don’t think you understand what you are asking me to do, those verses mean a lot to me, please believe me when I tell you they pull me through the day. He just sat there looking me with his hard eyes and said again that they had to go.
Jack spoke up and said: Billmeyer has never spoke to anyone first about what he believes, people have come up to him and asked him questions and he has answered them. The doctor interrupted Jack and told him he did not want to hear from him.
I told the doctor: That I would not remove the verses and that every Monday is when I usually put new verses up for my memorization through the week. He said he would give me twenty-four hours to change my mind and I just told him that my mind was already made up. He said he would check with personnel and that I should talk this over with my wife. He would get back with Jack and me on the next day. I got up from my chair and extended my hand to him, he would not take it, so I just reached over the desk and took his right hand and put it in mine. His hand was the coolest hand I had ever held.
I did talk it over with Sue and she felt that; if that was the stand I wanted to take, that she would stand with me. She told me if I lost my job, she knew that I would support her and the children even if I had to dig ditches. And I did assure her that I would be only too glad to do this. You have no idea how great this felt to have my wife with me. Yes I was scared; it did involve my wife and children.
The next day Jack asked me if sue and I had talked the problem over. I told him we had and that she was willing to stand with me. Jack just couldn’t believe this, so I asked him if he wanted to talk to Sue and he said yes! I dialed our home phone number, Sue answered the phone, I told her Jack wanted to talk to her, and handed the phone over to him. He could not believe what he was hearing; it was all too much for him.
Jack and I got our call to return to the doctor’s office and he was talking to himself all the way. I had told him that I did not want to lose my job, that I did enjoy working for him, but that I could not do with out the Lords words in my mind through the day. What I was working with, I needed to have my mind clear. And His word always cleared my mind. Jack tried to understand what I was saying, but he just shook his head in unbelief.
The doctor made us take the same chairs and he stood up behind his desk. I started to stand up and he told me to stay seated. He went over everything he had said the day before and asked me if I had talked to my wife. I told him I had and that she stood with me. He caught his breath and let it out, looked at me with a dumb-founded look, turned as white as a sheet and sat down. He didn’t say anything for a while got up and continued as through nothing had happened. He did talk with personnel and he knew what he had to do.
I thought he was going to fire me for insubordination. He said nothing for what seemed a long time. He sat down and leaned back in his chair. OK, you are going to take down those cards we talked about. You can leave your writings, but I warn you, I will read what you have written and if I don’t like them, I will tell you! I told him to please do that, I would be glad for him to do this. Both Jack and I left his office with our arms on each other’s shoulders. By the way - - - - I didn’t tell you that the doctor was Jewish. Months later he made me Chief Inspector. Both Jack and the doctor are gone now from this earth.
Some days later in the week, Jack said to me: "If I hadn’t been there, I would not have believed it!" I told Jack, that it was the Lord looking out for my family and me. He knew how much His word meant to me. And what a blessing His word was for me through out the week.
Brother Jim and Brother Ray, maybe you are wondering what this has to do with the marking to be avoided? Just this, when a minister of our Lord has placed his confidence in you, you build up a respect for him, and there is a love bond between you, this bond grows, as you get older. You read what he has written from the bible in the form of a tract, you listen to what he gives from the bible and you want to be part of his ministry. This bond is broken down when he gives something from the bible that is not true. Just like your doctrine on church discipline, which is not true, it is false! Please don’t turn me off, you think you know what you are doing is right, but it is wrong, real wrong!
I have another tract to talk about that was written by Brother Maurice Johnson called:
EIGHT KINDS OF DEATH
I was at the Naval Air Station in Maryland working for Douglas Aircraft as a Field and Service Representative. I was one of a crew of five that went along with a test aircraft from California. Our job was to keep the aircraft flying while the Navy put the plane through a series of flight tests. Again I will end it here, because this is not what I want to write about.
We brought along with us on this trip a Degree Electrical Engineer who happened to be a so-called Jehovah Witness. His job was to document any changes that were made to the aircraft, while the Navy was testing the plane. He found out that I was a Christian and came down heavy on me with his so-called Jehovah witness doctrine.
I asked him if he knew that the bible spoke about eight kinds of death, and that death in the bible was never an annihilation of being. He could not believe this, so every night I would go over Brother Maurice’s tract with my bible and write out one of the deaths for him, I would give him book, chapter, and verses.
He would take a whole week to study what I have given him (some times longer) and ask for another. This went on until I had given him all eight deaths. He became quite and not very talkative, but he always would say hello to me, never spend any time with me, but friendly just the same. The testing of the aircraft took me away from the office, so I was not able to see him or talk to him, as much as I would have liked too.
- DEATH by "the first man’s" disobedience.
- DEATH by Adam’s children sinning.
- DEATH by Christ’s obedience.
4) DEATH by "obeying" (submissively hearing) the gospel of Jesus Christ.
5) DEATH by disobeying "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus".
6) DEATH in sins, while they lived.
7) DEATH by "falling asleep" dying in the Lord
8) DEATH "in the lake of fire" is "the second death"
I heard no more from him, until I was told one day, the company had flown him back to California, because he had become so unpredictable in his work. Later I heard he had devoiced his wife with two children. And still later that he had committed suicide.
Brother Jim and Brother Ray sometimes the truth of God’s Word is so revealing, that a person must make their decision whether to accept God’s truth or to accept Satan’s lie. When a person believes in a false doctrine for so long it becomes a real part of them, that they cannot let go or do not want too. And when the truth of God’s Word comes along, it is hard for them to believe the truth, and to admit that all this time they were wrong! My so-called Jehovah Witness friend (yes he was my friend) was very proud and very strong in what he believed, but he believed a lie, that Satan had given him and did he chose death instead of Eternal Life? You know that our last enemy to be destroyed was death. Our Lord has the keys of Death and Hell; He now gives us (believers) the victory. .
Brother Jim and Brother Ray don’t let this false doctrine become a part of you so that when you see (I was blind but now I see) the truth in God’s Word you can’t let this false doctrine go! Please believe me when I say: False Doctrines do eat away at your very heart and mind! Don’t let Satan take over the rule (obey them that have the rule over you) of you! Satan would like to divide Christians from our Lord. Satan would like to divide us from other believers in Christ. Satan would like to divide ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ from believers in our Lord and Saviour. Satan would like nothing better than to do away with the Body of Christ, but we all are safe in Jesus Christ.
I have another letter that I wish you to read: All the letters that I have put in my letters to you, were received at my home in 1985 – 1987 when I was in Florida on the Space Program. After I had written my sixth letter to you, my wife handed me some letters that had turned brown in spots and said you should read these letters. All of the letters were like time capsules for me to be opened in the year 2000.
December 17, 1985
My Dear Christian Brethren,
Greetings to all of you in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We send our love to you and want you to know that we have been praying daily for all of you.
My heart is heavy at this moment - - - heavy, because the Lord’s holy and wonderful name is attached to one of the saddest series of actions, which I ever witnessed in all my years as a Christian. By now I imagine most of you have heard that your leaders have chosen to continue in the course that they have followed for quite some time and have added my name to a rapidly growing list. This list is made up of those whom they have "handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that our spirits may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus". The more common term has been referred to as "marked to be avoided".
Perhaps you have not been aware that this is, in fact, what they have been doing – "handing men over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh". Perhaps you didn’t realize that "marking" is the most serious step any Christian could ever take. I would challenge you to do some in-depth Bible Study regarding this all-important subject. Sometime ago it began to dawn on me that in my "standing" with all the markings carried out by these men, what I was actually doing was handing these "marked" brothers over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that their spirits might be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus. Believe me, if it was really a godly marking then I was ready to do just that. Yet, the more I studied both the Word, as well as different of the markings, I came to some terrifying conclusions. The main conclusion I drew was that if these markings were, in fact, not handled in a godly manner, then not only was I sinning in backing such actions, but I was also a part of causing division in the Body of Christ.
I had to resolve this serious discrepancy in my own heart and mind. I don’t know about you, but I have learned to take very seriously the fact that I will have to give an account to the Lord for my actions (Rom.14: 12). Furthermore, I realized that I couldn’t ignore the problem and hope it would go away. If I was "standing" with something, I was also standing against something else. That is, in essence what Jesus meant when He said in Matt. 12:30, "He who is not with me is against me". I knew that I’d better be on the right side - - - no matter where anyone else was. Not only is it distasteful to God, but also to me that He would consider me to be a lukewarm Christian. I want to either be hot or cold. My challenge to you is that you would refuse to be lukewarm. At some point you will be forced to take a stand - - - the problem cannot be ignored indefinitely.
In order to encourage you to "prove all things" I have included a list of questions, which have been very helpful in sorting out the whole matter of marking and submitting to leadership. May the Lord give you wisdom as you seek His mind in what you are faced with.
Again, we love you dearly. You are precious to our hearts. I told the men who led out in having me "handed over to Satan" that I loved them and longed for the day when once again we could truly fellowship in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. But there will have to be brokenness and contriteness before God for the hurt that has been caused in so many lives through these actions. Can we pray that there would be a renewal of the Holy Spirit among us? May God be with you during this important time in your life.
Hidden in Christ,
Signed (I left out our Brothers name on purpose)
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED REGARDING "MARKINGS"
- What is the purpose for "Marking"?
- When you "Mark" a man (brother in Christ), why are you "handing that man (brother in Christ) over to Satan for the destruction (death) of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus"? 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:20
- What are the proper steps to be taken before marking a person (brother in Christ) to be avoided (handing a man (brother in Christ) over to Satan) according to your understanding of the scriptures?
a)
b)
c)
d)
- If a man (brother in Christ) has sin in his life is he carnal or spiritual?
- Can a carnal man (brother in Christ) consistently make correct judgments and at the same time show mercy?
Please read Matthew 7:1-5. Can a man (brother in Christ) with a plank in his eye help get a speck out of his brother’s (in Christ) eye?
Also read 2 Sam. 12 Chapter. Compare David’s judgment of Nathan’s story with God’s judgment of David.
- Can a carnal man (brother in Christ) restore a brother (in Christ) in a spirit of meekness? Gal. 6:1
- Is it an option or a requirement for a brother (in Christ) to be in a spiritual condition in order to be involved in restoration?
- If one of the purposes of marking is that the brother (in Christ) being dealt with might be ashamed, will he be truly ashamed of his behavior if he is witnessing carnal behavior in the life of the one attempting to restore him?
- Does God recognize a marking (handing a man (brother in Christ) over to Satan) as valid if the procedures laid out for him in His Word are not clearly followed by the one(s) attempting restoration?
- If God’s procedures are not followed is there a possibility that the person (brother in Christ) might be provoked rather than ashamed?
- What should be done if the procedures are not followed?
- Should I follow leadership and counsel by brethren, in "standing with" a marking (handing a man (brother in Christ) over to Satan), when God doesn’t recognize the marking?
- If a marking is not of the Lord will it bring unity or division between Christian brothers?
- Does God hold you accountable when you "stand with the brethren" in a wrong decision or are you absolved of all responsibility? Please read 1 Tim. 5:22
- What should you do if you do not get scriptural answers to your inquiry of a particular marking and you believe that the leaders are causing division by insisting on unqualified allegiance to the marking?
- Where does God’s Word state that we are to give unqualified obedience to a leader in the church? (Note: There is vest difference between elders (scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe and do - - -) in Israel who were to be obeyed right or wrong (Matt. 23:1-4), and men in the church who were (are) required to fulfill a very specific list of scriptural qualifications). 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9
- Romans 16:17 tells us to watch out for those who cause divisions: followers or leaders?
- Do you know what the dictionary meaning for extortioner is? Please check.
- Have you ever observed this characteristic and attitude in any of these men?
- If you believe in obeying leadership right or wrong, what do you tell a person (a brother in Christ) in a denomination to do with his leaders?
Scriptures I have used in my study
Deut. 19:15-21 - - - -Matt. 5:23 - - - -Matt. 18:15-22 - - - - Rom. 16:17-19 - - - -1 Cor. 5:1-13 - - - -1 Cor. 14:40 - - - -2 Thess. 3:6-15 - - - -1 Tim. 1:20 - - - -1 Tim. 3:1-9 & Titus 1:3-9 - - - -1 Tim. 5:19-22 - - - -Titus 3:10 - - - -Hebrews 13:17.
I will not make any comments on this letter, I believe our Brother in Christ has opened up his heart and laid it bear for all to see and read. All believers in Christ can understand what he has written here. This is no little matter and it does affect the lives of all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ
Handing A Brother Or Sister Over To Satan
The apostle Paul is talking about spiritual gifts, given by the Spirit of God in 1 Cor. 12:1-11. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Please drop down to verse 10, in this verse you will find: "to another discerning of spirits," this is one of seven gifts given out by the Holy Spirit in verses 7 through 11.
- Brother Jim and Brother Ray
, I do believe that both Peter and Paul had the gift of discernment when looking into Christian Lives. Let me show you what I am saying:The apostle Peter with the gift of discernment
In Acts 2:1-11 we read, but a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife sold a possession and kept back part of the price, his wife was also privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles feet.
And Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back a part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
- Brother Jim and Brother Ray
what I am going to give you now: "is handing a brother over for the "INSTANT" destruction (cutting off) of the flesh".And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the spirit (his spirit, I believed he died, and not fainted): And great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
- Brother Jim and Brother Ray
, Peter is going to hand her "over for the "INSTANT" destruction (cutting off) of the flesh".Then Peter said unto her: How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them, which buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Than fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the spirit (her spirit, she died): And the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people - - - -.
- "THAT" Brother Jim and Brother Ray, is the gift of discernment and the handing of someone over to Satan for "INSTANT" destruction (cutting off) of the flesh!
I do not believe that any man today has the gift of discernment or the authority to hand someone (a brother or sister in Christ) over for the "INSTANT" destruction (cutting off) of the flesh as Peter did here.
- Brother Jim and Brother Ray
, what had this man and his wife done, for Peter to take this action of turning them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh? "They had agreed together to lie and temp the Holy Spirit in their heart."Brother Jim and Brother Ray, is this what you want to happen to your brother’s or sister’s Christian life, to end this way? Or is it that you want them to go down spiritually and slowly drown in sin? If this is what you want, in either case it is not happening, God is not letting this take place in any of their lives.
The apostle Paul with the gift of discernment
Acts 13:3-12: The Holy Spirit said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Syprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their ministry.
And when they had gone through the isle Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Than Saul, (who also is called Paul) filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtilty, and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right way of the Lord? (This is the gift of discernment!)
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately (not sometime later) there fell on him a mist and darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. (This is turning someone over to Satan for the destruction flesh!)
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at THE DOCTRINE OF THE LORD. .
The apostle Paul again with the gift of discernment
1 Corinthians 5:2-5: The apostle Paul is saying - - - -that he that hath done this deed might be taken away (more than just remove) from among you.
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit (his inner spirit), have judge already (gift of discernment) (1), as though I were present (2), concerning him that hath done this deed (3).
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together (1), and (with) my spirit (2), with the power (3) of our Lord Jesus Christ:
To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit (of man) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (This is not a figure of speech!)
- There are two things that apostle Paul wanted to take place: (1) the instant removal of the man’s body, the destruction of the man’s flesh, have him done away with and (2) that the man’s spirit to be saved in the day of our Lord. Is this what you really want done Brother Jim and Brother Ray to your brother’s and sister’s in the Lord?
Matthew 10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The apostle Peter again with the gift of discernment.
Acts 8:18-24; and when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money. Saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands; he may receive the Holy Spirit.
- Brother Jim and Brother Ray
, I would like you both to notice very carefully what Peter is saying here, because this is the gift of discernment and in order for you or anyone to hand someone over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, you must have this gift to look as it were into someone’s heart! Do you know of anyone having this gift today?But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Then answered Simon, and said: Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things, which thou hast spoken, come upon me.
Only someone with the gift of discernment could be of any help to Simon.
In Galatians 5:1-11 "the apostle Paul is telling about the liberty that all believers have in Jesus Christ and for them not to become entangled in the yoke of bondage under the Law. Some believing Jews where pressing for the believers to be circumcised, thereby mixing Law with Grace. If they were circumcised the apostle Paul is saying Christ would profit you nothing. You would be a debtor to keep the whole law and that Christ would become of no effect to you, you who are justified by the Law, you are fallen from Grace." - - - - For we through the Spirit (Holy Spirit), wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh in love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not from Him that calleth you. A little leaven (mixing Law with Grace) leaveneth (ruins) the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross-ceased.
I would they were even cut off which trouble you. (Hand them over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh) Why is it that the apostle Paul could no longer to this? Did this cease when God stopped dealing (set aside) with Israel, because of their unbelief? Yes it did! It was part of the signs and wonders for Israel that their Messiah had come. Today no one has the gift of discernment and no one can turn a believer in Christ over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, because we are not under the Law but under Grace (undeserved goodness).
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word (LOVE), even this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Brother Jim, Brother Ray, the discipline in our Lord Jesus Christ’s Body must be done God’s way in which He has written in His Word. Just as our physical bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made and contains within it self it’s own discipline. And so has our ALL MIGHTY GOD seen to it the His body of believers here on earth, have clear and easy to understand instruction on the way to discipline it’s members. "It is written!"
Today at the hospital I met a Christian from Jamaica. Who had accepted our Lord in his teens. He wanted everyone to know that he was a Christian and he was not one bit ashamed to tell you. He had a joy that filled the hospital room with his deep, clipping voice. He was thrilled to hear that I too was a Christian and we had fellowship while I lay on a type of bed, while he gave me an EKG. Don’t you talk, he said while the machine is running, just you lay perfectly still, and I will do the talking, and you just do the listening. Your body tells me you been through a lot with all these scares, but I bet the Lord was with you through it all. Oh the love of Jesus, that we don’t deserve and for the forgiveness of sins that He gives, which we don’t deserve, my soul does rejoice in God My Saviour.
If we could see beyond today If we could know beyond today.
As God can see; As God doth know,
If all the clouds should roll away, Why dearest treasures pass away,
The shadows flee, And tears must flow,
O’er present grief’s we would not fret, And why the darkness leads to light,
Each sorrow we should soon forget, Why dreary paths will soon be bright!
For many joys are waiting yet, Some day life’s wrongs will be made right,
For you and me. Faith tells me so.If we could see, if we could know,
We often say,
But God in love a veil doth throw
Across our way;
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more;
He leads us till this life is o’er.
Trust and obey.I remain your brother in Christ