I received a letter the other day from a man I do not know.  It was four pages long and seemed to be somewhat of form letter personally addressed to me.  He was going on and on about the fact that some are preaching we “must give up our rights… as our rights have been nailed to the cross.”  He went on to say how he was challenging those “authorities” who teach this “misleading” doctrine in question as to, “the severity of the judgment these authorities will ultimately face for so deceiving them in His Name…”

Perhaps you also receive letters like these.  I have no idea where he got my name or why he wants to pick a fight with me.  In his next to last paragraph he then throws out this challenge, “Therefore: I will give one thousand dollars to the first person, or group of people who can sit down with me face to face and respectfully present…irrefutable scriptures…give written proof…detailing precisely what rights they are talking about…”  Wanna make a quick thousand bucks?  In other words, “I know I am right and will throw out a financial challenge to prove I am right.”  Really?  Does this person actually deserve my time to respond to him?  Don’t answer that question, I will.  No.  But I thought it all presented a great example for us as to what not to do and how not to respond.

But, if I did respond, here is what I would (like) say:

Dear Mr. Antagonist,

 Regarding your letter…   I have no idea who you are or why you sent it to me.  I have no idea what “rights” you are talking about.  I have no idea who the “authorities” are that you are referencing.  Unfortunately these types of responses, letters, challenges on doctrine, etc. only breed contention and dissension, of which we are warned to stay away from (Proverbs 10:12; 17:19; Galatians 5:19-21; II Timothy 2:23, 24).  I have a suggestion.  Why don’t you use your time to stop fighting the saved and start winning the lost?  And, while you’re mulling over that question, ask yourself this question, “Do I want to be right or do I want to be in relationship with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?”

 Sincerely wrong in more areas than I am right,

 Steve Prokopchak

 Just sayin’…