Chapter 16: Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

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Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

You were already taught on page 547 some key aspects of what the

Bible teaches about naming evildoers. Paul writes in Ephesians chapter five, “it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” Paul is talking about “the fruitless deeds of darkness” and he admonishes us to “expose these evil deeds.” Some churches teach us to “hide” the evil so that

the Church will not be embarrassed. Yet this is not biblically correct. Here are some additional Bible verses you need to be aware of so that you do not support church evil by turning your back and ignoring sin in the Church. If you talk about evil in private, you are engaged in gossip. Also, the sin will

not get addressed when only a few people know about it. Think of how many priest molestations could have been prevented if the first molestation was made extremely public. When you can understand this simple fact, you will understand Paul’s teaching to Timothy below. Going completely public is a warning to others not to sin. Give evildoers no hidden sanctuary.

Rebuke Publicly So Others Take Warning!

“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder [or pastor]

unless it is brought by two or three witnesses [or is obvious and documented in publicly available records]. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others [senior church officials] may take warning.” 1 Tim. 5:19-20 NIV

In the above teaching, it is obvious that a strong public witness needs to be made against any church official that is guilty of serious sin [evil]. I have added the comment that the verse obviously is meant to include any

pastor who is guilty and also where obvious records exist that document the evil activity. In the case of William Neal Matthews, Minnesota state records document his theft of Solid Rock Church in Elk River, MN and the matter is not open to whether or not he did it. There are those who know the details

of the theft and those who don’t. I will explain how he stole the church in a moment. Christians who refuse to go public are actually supporters of evil. Everyone who hid a priest’s molestation enabled that priest to continue it. If you think it is evil to expose such evil, you are ignorant of the Bible. It is not evil to simply obey what the word of God tells us to do. It is righteous.