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... not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but scripture is very clear that God does hold each of us accountable for failing to properly teach one another. And that requires that we each study all that we can, because, while we must teach one another, we must also be entirely correct. First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. This is no excuse for failing to teach others, though. If the beam in your eye inhibits you, then you are not excused from teaching; you are commanded to rid yourself of the beam, and then to help your neigbor. And this leads me to cast a withering glare upon all my critics. Why? Because, as they condemn my forthrightness, as they rebuke my rebukes, they fail to recognize that they are making of themselves the very sort who failed me so often in my youth. It was only men like Sargeant Story, Bishop Wendel Oliver Brock, Major Lawrence Hanson, and my own father, who set for me examples of sober-mindedness, obedience, diligence, devotion, and duty, who really changed me for the better. And that is what I really needed. That was Christlike love. That was charity. And I am forever grateful to them for it. And I remember them in my prayers. Even they could have done better, but they, too, needed the help of those around them, and those around us all were too permissive, too fearful, too distracted, too unsure, like Coriantumr vis-a-vis Captain Moroni. And many more actually undermined my growth, and the efforts of those who would have helped me more, because they believe in, and teach a false god, a false christ, instead of the true Son of Man. They taught by word and deed a doctrine of anything goes, we're all forgiven, don't judge, don't even compare. NONSENSE! |