In outward appearance he is an impressive man.
“From the sole of his
foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him” (2 Sam
14:25).
At his annual haircut, his sheared locks were sold for two
hundred shekels (2 Sam 14:26)!
Looks, however, can be deceiving.
Embittered by the mistreatment of his sister Tamar, he murdered his
brother Ammon. He tries to take the reins of justice and authority out
of rightful hands and into his own.
Both the cause and the means are
unjust. Despite the leniency David extended to Absalom after his
treachery, Absalom sets out to undermine the authority of his father and
king.
He despises the fifth commandment.
He does so by sowing discord
among the Israelites and casting doubt on his father’s decision.
The
rebellious son sets himself up as an alternative ruler and judge.
“So
Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Sam 15:6).
Perhaps
David was thinking of his rebellious son and his mob when he wrote in
Psalm 35:12:
"They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my
soul."
Absalom dies in disgrace, his swelled head with its flowing
locks
caught in the branches of a terebinth tree (2 Sam 18:9, 14-15).
Even the apostle is hitting out at Bob Thiel. Bob and James have a deep seated disgust with each other. Both call each other false teachers and other kindly Christian things.
I think there are several threads converging on this.
1) Bob has made very many enemies in the general COG clergy including
LCG; and COGWA may want him defanged. Larry Salyer may want to take
note and keep his head down for a quid pro quo request from LCG.
2) The LCG leaders may think that Bob has too much influence among
the brethren [not the elders who dislike him] and are moving to cut him
down a few notches.
3) Enough of the LCG elders are finally so fed up with Bob’s
presenting his personal speculations contrary to LCG teachings, as fact,
and are pushing for action. Bob is seen as a kind of Absalom.
4) In his personal circle Rod has made it clear that he is not comfortable with Bob and his blog.
All these things are adding up, and Bob’s monumental conceit is
preventing him from taking it and saying that most certainly people
should prove all things. Bob just cannot take being questioned.
Please forgive me for laying this out openly but I have had long
dealings with Bob in personal correspondance and in his wilfull bearing
of false witness against me. I am well aware of the nature of this man
and it is NOT godly by any stretch.
If he gets the boot from LCG no one else will likely take him [maybe Dave Pack].
It is my prayer and mny hope that Bob will repent
and turn to God, and away from his fascination with catholicism and
paganism. James
