OK gang, I have received the following email. Originally sent March 15, then again on the March 16 and yet again on March 17 (with only the email subject line changed).
IS THIS A JOKE? WHAT SHOULD I DO HERE?
Woe to you if you don't reply.
My name is S. I was baptized 3.5 years ago, plus another year of Bible study, so one could say that i was in the truth for almost 5 years.
I am originally from one of the ex Soviet countries but my family fled from there when i was but a little boy, to one of the EU countries, where I lived for 13 years.
This is not for the weak-hearted. Before the truth I was an atheist paedophile without a hint of conscience. When I found out that God existed I decided that I should change, so I prayed to God that he helps me. Now I realize that he didn't.
According to the John 14:13,14 { also John 15:16, 16:23,24, } ANYTHING I ask for ( anything means everything, even if it is for personal gain ) I shall definitely receive.
Guess what I asked for. Obviously to be rid of this taint. Not to be sexually attracted to children anymore. Because I am attracted to them with a psychological illness which makes me unable to control myself even now that I am in the truthand have a well developed conscience.
According to 1 Corinthians 6:11 the ex-homosexuals in Korinthos were cleansed, but I guess that doesn't apply to paedophiles, just like I've seen other things applying on them but not paedophiles. For example: I've read several autobiographies of some brothers ex-homosexuals who are now married, have a familly and live a normal christian life and are sometimes elders. Nothing about paedophiles. They prayed too and for some reason their request was granted. And here comes the worst of them all: The Watchtower issue for 1/1/1997. Whoever wrote the article there, was clearly based on personal emotions instead of the scriptures, as it is unscriptural. It stated that I no longer can have any privileges in the congregation not even be an auxiliary pioneer. Can you imagine on how sorry I was that I shared my secret with an elder? Now I can no longer even carry microphones around the Kingdom Hall. And instead of one, at least 7 elders and 4 circuit overseers know about me ( and I am very much concerned about the "at least" part ). Many of these elders now don't want to have anything to do with me, as they are overwhelmed with emotions instead of reasoning, since many of them have families. And whenever I am accidentally near a child they look at me as if I am raping it in front of them. The only biblical verse that the article was based on was 1Timothy 3:7 that a christian must have a fine testimony on the outside. It claims that if a person has a reputation on the outside of being a paedophile then he is not suitable for any privileges.
1) That is a big "IF" ! Doesn't really apply in my case because I was never caught and none of my victims ever lived long enough to tell the tale. So what happens if not?
2) Gods forgiveness is absolute about the life prior to someone finding the truth and nowhere does it say that there are exceptions. ( look at the case of Paul, 1Timothy 1:13, Remember that he used to hunt christians for a living )
3) Even cases of Gods servants who were fluent in the Law and yet have heavily sinned were not striped of their privileges.( Manasseh and David. When God forgave them he didn't say that "OK you're forgiven and you may now go and live on as plain Jews", but instantly gave them back their crown ).
God has failed to prove that I am wrong about the article and about John 14:13,14 and therefore i can safely assume that God has LIED to me and is unworthy of his name.
If you do decide to answer this, and therefore hopefully keep me in the truth, I will need to chain you to this responsibility, so i will need to know your name and your position in bethel. My phone number is + 38044 [rest of phone number deleted by Quotes] You might have to try several times as I am the only one in my family who speaks any English.
One last thing: you may easilly guess what I will do if I no longer have to restrain myself because of the truth, since I am not sexually attracted to adults.
[deleted]@yahoo.com (but I would prefer via telephone)
I have deleted the phone number, but the first part (38044) Means country code Ukraine, city code Kiev.
I don't like the implied threat in the closing sentence, but don't know what to do. I have not replied yet. Suggestions?
~Quotes, of the "prefers his Kiev in the Chicken variety" class