As is usually the case on this site, the comments in these posts are often more interesting than the original posts, so I recommend you to scan through them. There are quite a lot, so I wanted to highlight a few that got my attention.
This came in from Albert Lance on Friday night, after NewSpring’s announcement, though I’ve blanked out a few of the details for obvious reasons.
The owner of this blog:
JAMES DUNCAN
999 Xxxxx Xxx
Anderson, South Carolina 29621(864)-999-9999
Such friendly folk.
This was one of the first responses to my argument that Noble has created a culture of hate that tolerates attacks on people like me.
You are truly a psychopath. You claim to be a Christian. I don’t believe it says anywhere in the Bible that you are to spend all your time and energy trying to destroy others. Do you not ever tell anyone about the Gospel? It’s idiots like you who give Christians a bad name and cause nonbelievers to stay far away from church. I attend NewSpring. We are obviously doing God work. Otherise, we would not be experiencing such a strong attack from Satan (James Duncan). God will deal with you for trying to crucify His people. You are a pitiful excuse for a human being. I do have to say, though, the more people who read your blog, the more people find Jesus by way of NewSpring.
I’m not sure that really helps your church, Candy, though Maxwell and friends might be encouraged to know that they weren’t alone.
This one I might just frame somewhere.
JD. I’m praying for you. I have been out in the wastelands with my Christianity until a month or so ago when I found your blog. Since then I have had a thirst for the word that is unparalleled (just so that I can provide an argument to what I believe and voice my opinions here.)!!!!!!
Thanks, Simon. That’s what this site is all about, so it’s encouraging to hear reports like yours.
Finally, for all the commentators who preface their comments with “if this is true,” it might help you to read this comment from my wife’s best friend, which she submitted unsolicited by us.
I want to post on here but I’m a single mother and I’m not sure if it’s safe to add my two cents for fear of what NS might do to me! You think I’m joking? Those thoughts went through my mind – however Dr. Duncan’s wife is my best friend. I have known her since we were teenagers – and I have known James from their first date – I was in their wedding and his wife and I were roommates. I have known about this terrible thing that has been taking place since this summer.
James’ account is completely accurate – our heart broke when they were not able to bring their son home from the hospital and he was adopted to the NS pastor instead. I live in another state and came to stay with James’ wife when he went to New Zealand – this account is real and truthful. All along James and especially his wife have examined their motives, and have meticulously tried to follow God’s wisdom in dealing with conflict. They have been treated shamefully by the staff of NS – but still have forgiven them.
When James’ wife realized that the information about the adoption would be public – she worried about the adopted parents of the child and wanted to make sure that they were not afraid that they had any ill will towards them. She especially wanted to make sure that this child knew how much they were loved and wanted and never would have to feel any shame or pain from this situation. These are real people – If anyone from NS ever reads this post – I wish they would understand the full gravity of what they have done. James may disagree with your doctrine, but he would never attack your family or threaten you children.
Because I can attest that these events are completely accurate, it is unbelievable to me that Perry Noble and his staff would further victimize this family in their misleading press release. It’s a bit like saying, ya – the guy shouldn’t have raped that women – but did you she what she was wearing? Blaming the victim is never a smart move. I hope that people at NS will lovingly and rightly so demand transparency from their leaders and will consider anything less a breech of covenant relationship. In regards to the money – it was never about money – James wanted nothing more than to meet with these guys and work it out. Now they have to move houses, upgrade security (have you seen some of the responses to this post?) and wait to be able to adopt again. They have lost financially, a sense of security, and their child.
But more importantly unless this type of behavior has a consequence to it, it will continue – they are right to agree with the lawyer to discuss compensation – I know that lawyers can be down and dirty, but to turn that around and for Perry Noble to act like they are greedily seeking compensation is deceitful and disgusting – especially after all that they’ve been through. Since NS people keep on pointing to the fruit of all the people who are changed as proof of their legitimacy – how come no one is concerned about the bad fruit that has been produced? From the hateful posts here and the people who perpetrated this harrassment and the leaders who encouraged and took part – THAT is the fruit of the leadership as well – it goes both ways.
I’ve said it a couple of times now, an di’ll say it again. press on, remain faithful, fight the good fight…meditate on Hebrews 11, and trust all the more in Christ and his righteousness. It is our only hope. Be prepared…I have a feeling there is much that will come later on. It’s Perry’s church…he won’t stand by and do nothing. Let us hope and pray that in the midst of such wickedness as we have seen at Newspring, that God would be gracious and grant repentance…not just in this episode, but in all the things that are unbiblical at Newspring and many chruches in our country.
Paul,
If I were you, I’d be very, very careful about deeming a place where thousands of people have accepted Christ over the last few years as “wicked” and “unbiblical.”
That’s a very dangerous use of words.
Albert
Why don’t you post your address? That’s a very dangerous use of a comment section.
Albert,
so, let me get this straight. We should not call out Newspring in their sin, call them to repentance, and seek restoration because there has been good i.e. people coming to salvation. We need to remember what happened with Achan and his sin in the O.T., and Annanias and Saphira in the N.T. God is holy, and we are to be holy. Sin in the camp is serious, deadly business. I think that Newspring ought to be on their knees thanking God for his grace that he has saved people despite the ungodliness in the church as a whole and it’s leadership (not every single person there because I am sure there are good people there).
@AlbertLance if these are the sorts of “salvations” produced then I would be very weary of their believing.
Everyone who keeps toting the goodness of NS seems to always point to Perry Noble or NS as the ones who have saved people. I guess I missed that Hermaneutic butI was always taught that GOD is the only one responsible for all aspects of Salvation from beginning to end…
In addition Mr. Lance, let’s call a spade a spade. Galatians 1:6-10. Paul calls false teachers anathema. Those are strong words too… was he wrong? you but one answer… nope
If its sin its sin. The supposed good of a situation can never outweigh the sin of a situation. One sin taints all other intentions.
Like any profession of faith in any church I would caution you sir to watch those folks who are what we typically consider a new believer. See if the persist in the faith. See if they grow in holiness and righteousness and if they do then you can count their number as being among those who are saved. As the parable of the soils teaches us, there are those who are saved truly and those who are false converts…
Time will tell which is which and I have no reason to doubt that those professing Christ at NS are truly saved, but all I’m saying is that time will tell…
NS owes this man and his family–big time. Publicly and financially. If the shoe was on the other foot, I doubt NS would back down. Keep on pressing Dr. D. Expose them for what they are. to me–hyprocrits
This is just business as usual for Newspring. What’s worse is that the members just keep letting it happen. These leaders need to be held accountable. It’s up to you Newspring Members are you up to the task? I hope so, this has gone on for too long. Ask questsions, demand answers. I am sure you will get no where. I am sadly speaking from experience.
Say James, regarding being called a psychopath, I have had the mental illness (OCD in specific) thing leveled at me too, twice in the past month or so. Once by my own sister who claims to be a Christian. Welcome to the club!
I wonder how these types can’t see that they’re doing exactly what the current administration has done by labeling conservative Christians who insist on objective Biblical truth as unstable mentally, threats to the country and other people, etc…