I dont know if any of the old H20 'ers will remember this, but, about 18 months ago, I submitted a post about my new-found JW elder pal, the famous Dub-in-the-Pub, what a grand fellow he was and how I wasn't going to tell him I was DF'd because I didn’t believe in enabling DF’ing habits and, anyhow, I was not guilty of any of the forbidden activities listed in 1 Corinthians 4. 11. So there.
Basically Paul says stay away from loose living persons, grasping persons, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, swindlers. Now, actually, I’m fairly OK with that, Paul seems to be advising avoidance of the sort of people that I can happily live without. So far so good, but the final decision rests with me, not some kangaroo court in a Kingdom Hall.
So, over the last year or so, I have got to know Mister DIB quite well. OK, he’s an elder but maybe he’s just misguided, after all he came to the New Years Eve party, he’s also quite a socialite and enjoys his beer. An all round Good Egg.
However, I now find that this highly respected fellow is not quite everything he seems. Nothing too bad really – or is that right, how does he stand on Paul’s list?
He brought illegal hooch to my birthday party and spiked some of my guest’s drinks.
He sometimes drinks himself insensible in various taverns.
He has a reputation for driving when drunk.
He is being investigated by the DSS for making fraudulent benefit claims.
Now, apart from being able to overlook the drinking to insensibility, ( I don’t, but heck, no-one’s perfect) I find the other 3 things totally anathema. People could have been made extremely ill from drinking illegal poteen, people will be harmed if he drives under the influence of alcohol, I also detest people who steal from the rest of us by making fraudulent benefit claims.
On the basis’ that I have outlined I have decided to curtail my association with him
Now, that’s my own private decision, nothing to do with anyone else telling me who I can or can’t associate with. How strange, though, that he should be an elder.
Such irony!
Englishman.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be....