Non-compliance to stupid ideas or perspectives that my dad thought might hurt more than help was a family trait of ours even in the Presbyterian Church. If my dad was not about to do something he felt was stupid or harmful, ill advised or just plain wrong he would say "I'll take that under advisement", which meant "NO".
It was a phrase he used often when the doc would want to put him on some new meds. "I'll take that under advisement" and his doc of decades knew exactly what that meant. Dad and mom died at just under 100.
Once he was warned by the Doc he had an extra heartbeat and the doc was concerned. "At 90 Doc, don't worry about it. You never know when you're going to need and extra one." "Ok Fred...."
In the 70's I took two Voyager Canoe loads of SEP kids on a long week paddle and camp ordeal. I was not in charge but we put up on an island for the Sabbath. It was HOT!!!! No Swimming on God's Sabbath was the expected behavior. Did I say it was HOT!!!??? So there we sat, in the woods or on the beach rejoicing in God's Sabbath. When I had had enough, I said "Let's all take a swim."
We all did. Even those that felt they could not based on the expectations of others. We saved the Sabbath with that swim. Nothing more came of it. Except no one died of heat stroke miles from help and I was not one to trust in divine healing back then for such things.
Once Dave Pack was chiding the men in Spokesmen's Club for not memorizing their scripture cards. Dad, who was an Elder in WCG raised his hand and gave Dave a bit of an overview on how much the men worked during the week and perhaps they didn't have the time he did. "I'll speak to you in the hall Mr. Diehl during the break." said Dave. "No you won't" said dad. lol And it never came up again.
Dave even told my brother in law, who was very good at not being pushed around by anyone, when the new minister ordained him a deacon after Dave left, "Ron, if I had thought you were Deacon material (He was common sense Elder material) , I would have ordained you." To which Ron replied, "Well Dave...(Ron knew Dave wanted to be called Mr. Pack), if I didn't think you had shit for brains I give a damn what you thought." Sweet!!!!!
I inherited a good a few good genes from Dad. I won't belabor the point of my personal choices but simply put, my kids got their immunizations in the 70's and yes, the church and friends knew. I did not expect them to do what I would not. I made it clear when they came for excused from immunizations form that this was their choice and did they really believe it as an adult or were they going along to get along?
I took members to professional counseling sessions, to mental health facilities and to the ER and hospital whenever needed. I tried in vain to do so with some who were suffering needlessly in Jesus name and they ended up resenting me but you can't win in this case of doing what you personally believe as opposed to group think and the decrees of higher ups.
I was told to cancel our very successful Sr Prom in Kentucky where hundreds of really good kids showed up and had a wonderful experience because some kids somewhere fornicated and "we weren't having them anymore." Really? Um...sorry. No. Our prom will go on and it did. It never came up again.
I recall a fine young guy in Club who, under Gerald Weston, before I showed up, had not spoken up during table topics. Gerald had him stand up and told him to stand on one leg and sing the National Anthem for the violation. Tim said "No Sir. That's disrespectful to the Anthem." and sat down. Yay Tim! Nothing more came of that.
The best moment I ever heard of had to be when the rather countrified good ol' boy song leader got up after Joe Tkach Sr's "Screw the Sabbath" sermon in Big Sandy. It was the tape sent out the next week locally. He got up to lead the last hymn and said.....and said...."Well now...wasn't that the biggest load of shit you ever heard. Let's all rise, take our hymn books and sing to the real God!"
That's a classic!
Finally, one woman in Greenville, testing me I suspect after my first sermon there, told me her husband that morning had reminded her that he was the King of the home and she was nothing. I thought she was kidding but she wasn't. I asked her what she said. "I told him then that made him the King of Nothing." Excellent!!!! I told her "good job."
That same day, women must have gotten together to test me replacing GW it seemed and asked me what a woman should do about Biblical questions they had as they were told they had to be quiet in church and if they had questions to ask their husbands. She continued to ask, "What if my husband is idiot and can't answer questions?" I said, "then ask me or go find a good book." She smiled and said "I like you Mr. Diehl."
I'd like to offer up some suggestions that the real men and women Lurkers here on Banned can and should use when confronted by Deacons, Elders, Pastors, Apostles or Zerubbabel's who rule over them.
"Thanks for your concern. NO."
"I'll take that under advisement"
"That makes me uncomfortable."
"I'm sorry you feel that way. No"
"It's really none of your business what I do or think about that."
"That's the most stupid thing I've heard all week."
"And you really believe that?"
"You're on drugs aren't you?"
"Think what you like and leave me out of it."
"Do what you like and leave me out of it."
"And you think that's talking about you in the Bible?"
"Hell no..."
"You're kidding right?"
"That's fine for you but not so fine for me"
"Believe what you want. Just don't expect me to ."
"It's none of your business."
"Get the tree out of your own eye before you come to me with that."
"You got to be kiddin'?"
"Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"I'll decide what's best for me and my family, not you."
"I'll give what I choose to give."
"I'm busy that weekend."
"I'm too tired to go to Club"
"I'm too tired to go to Bible Study and besides, they are shallow and boring."
"That was the most stupid sermon you ever gave. You can't prove that!"
"I ain't sayin 'amen' to that!!"
"My children aren't your children to raise."
"I'm sorry you feel that way. How can we make that better."
"Oh we can't unless I comply? Well if I didn't think you had shit for brains I'd care about that."
"Yes sir...I heard you. No sir is what I said."
"Sorry, not giving anymore for your airport."
"Sorry, not giving anymore for your buildings, ponds, fish and ducks."
"That's fine. Then me an my family will find another church."
....and so on.
The greatest WCG members, aside from those as well who actually lived their faith in a balanced and humble way, were those who spoke up. I would say my best friend, who stuck by me all these years until his untimely death last year , Gary Benjamin of Findlay, Ohio exemplified that quality that taught me how to embrace it even back in the 70's. Gary was a self made man. The first words out of his mouth , as a deacon who came to help this 23 year old kid minister move into our first house right along the railroad tracks in Findlay were...."So...this is where my tithes are going..." I glared at him and wondered what the hell that was all about. But that was Gary. He never changed nor would I want him to. He gave me hell at times and was my friend. He helped me find the voice of my father. He spoke his mind and I didn't mind and grew to admire the gutsy "that's just how it is and just how I think" personality he embraced.
He was a rather hard and cold person at times. It had to do with upbringing and baggage I'm sure. Finally he got bounced out of the deaconship he had for decades by Ron Weinland, who he thought was a jerk and we know he was right. I came for an anniversary visit where all the deacons were brought up front and honored. But not Gary. He sat quietly musing just in front of me and watched them praised and get their awards blah blah.... I took a piece of notebook paper and made him a Certificate of Appreciation to the best and most honest deacon I knew and passed it to him from behind. He read the torn piece of paper. Turned around with the only tear I ever saw in his eyes and said..."Thank ya..." Gary always said "Thank ya...." He taught me how to speak up even it makes my lips quiver....
