Sunday School #3 - Challenging

Judge Mangum demanded that what Venessa Mills taught her children be "challenged" in the real world. Well, he is already getting what he asked for. They haven't even started public school yet, but here's a sample of the kind of challenge they can expect from the "real world." These comments were posted to this blog anonymously within the last few days:

"I can tell you where her parents are. They're on Mr. Mills side, because they know the woman has fallen off the deep end, and you, Robyn, your partly the cause of this whole thing, how do you feel that you have broken up what was a good marriage? If you feel so bad for her, why don't you take her in and take care of her, your the one that caused this whole thing. I can tell you this, there's a one way ticket staight to hell waiting for you."

"Why don't you just shut your mouth!! Haven't you done enough damage to these people, you've ruined their marraige for Gods sake, mind your own business. 20 years from now, you'll be nowhere to be found, but what was once a very happy marriage will have nothing to show for it, but two lonely people and some kids that had there parents taken away from them by you. Like I said, there's a one way ticket to hell waiting for you in the future, and I would be happy to be the one to give it to you and wave by by."

It's not hard to see why whoever wrote this is hiding behind anonymity. But, if you know who sent these messages, then you have a moral duty to let us know. Anyone writing messages like this should immediately step forward and send us their names and contact information. Venessa Mills and her children have a right to be fully aware of who is "supporting" them with such loving accusations and invective. It's only fair that Venessa be allowed to respond appropriately and prepare her children for the increasing turmoil that is to come. 

Judge Mangum has opened the door and declared a free-for-all in "challenging" - or, more accurately, condemning - Venessa Mills' Christian beliefs and her church (and, apparently, anyone associated with her). This is only one small example of what the "real world" has to offer.

And what is it that Judge Mangum felt had to be "challenged?" As this is Sunday, let's take a look at some of the terrifying "religious rhetoric" that Venessa teaches her children from the Bible. Let's take a look at the beliefs that have caused her to be accused of having "fallen off the deep end." Here's just a small sample:

• Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
  
• James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds
  
• Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
  
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
  
• Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
  
• Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
  
• Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
  
• Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
  
• 2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
  
• Matthew 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
  
• Matthew 5:33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
  
• Matthew 5:37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
  
• Matthew 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
  
• Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
  
• Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
  
• Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
  
• Matthew 10:37-38 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
  
• Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
  
• John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
  
• John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  
• Titus 2:5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
  
• Titus 3:2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
  
• Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
  
• Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
  
• James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
  
• James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
  
• James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right
  
• James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
  
• James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
  

Some people would prefer to focus on some of the more offensive Scriptures in an attempt to twist and pervert what Venessa truly believes. But Venessa reads and believes in the whole Bible, and she believes and teaches her children the scriptures above just as strongly as any others. She does not pick and choose. She does not quote scriptures or teachings out of context in a deliberate attempt to mislead and misrepresent Christianity. Those who do such things can claim that the Bible says "there is no God" - and they would be correct. But only those who take the time to look at the bigger picture will discover the truth.

The teaching represented by the Scriptures above is what Judge Mangum thinks needs to be "challenged." Are you a Christian? Do you believe in these verses? Do you teach them to your children? Perhaps Judge Mangum and his fellow judges will soon demand that you be challenged too.

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