Judge Creates War

Just as in the days of old when the judicial system gave us slavery and brought on the civil war, Judge Jim Fun in Beaverton, Oregon has created a war – brother against brother – instead of upholding the law of peace.

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.   (1 Peter 3:10-11)

It’s a sad day when a judge justifies, indeed encourages, slander. In fact, Judge Fun has done more than that – he’s authorized it.

In his ruling dismissing Grace Bible Church’s lawsuit against former parishioner Julie Anne Smith for defamation, Judge Fun actually authorized her to slander:

“(Pastor Chuck O’Neal) has the right to govern his congregation in the manner in which he chooses, and defendant Julie Anne Smith is authorized by law to express her disagreement with his performance of those activities.”

Never mind that this woman reportedly harassed this pastor, his family and his church for three years. Never mind that she labeled them a “cult” simply because she claimed they were a legalistic church.

Could it be that Ms. Smith simply chose not to live Scripture out in her daily life and therefore be transformed? After all, the only thing that counts is a new creation (Galatians 6:15).

Ms. Smith declared that she felt shunned by current church members. Could it be that those members wished not to associate with someone who publicly slandered them? Perhaps these believers decided to obey the Bible.

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.   (1 Corinthians 5:11)

It seems to me that Ms. Smith joined and left the church on her own free will. That doesn’t sound like a cult to me. It sounds more like a witch-hunt at the hands and mouth of a former member – and now a judge.

Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. (Amos 5:15a)