Photo by Tanner Dedmon / Managing Editor
The following is an unedited letter to the editor in response to a recently published article, written by the preacher mentioned in the article. This does not reflect the views or opinions of MTSU Sidelines or MTSU. For more information or to respond to the letter, email Editor-in-Chief Sarah Grace Taylor at editor@mtsuisdelines.com
My name is John E. McGlone IV, and I would like to share our perspectives on the false allegations levied against us and our ministry by the students of Middle Tennessee State University and by an article written by the MTSU Sidelines managing editor Tanner Dedmon entitled, “MTSU students respond to preacher at Student Union free speech zone”.
Firstly, I am amazed by the language/behaviors of the students at your fine university when we came to speak. We traveled to the University communicate through preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the epicenter or our true religion. You really should be ashamed of yourselves. You are adults now, time to reason out your worldviews without the school yard threats and vile speech. We offered a microphone as a courtesy to the student body that you might be heard, yet your fellow students didn’t have enough class to allow your questions.
In the following paragraphs I will show you in written form how your accusations are inconsistent with the Bible. I hope this will help the students of MTSU understand that we are being logical in light of what God has written. You may not like what we have preached, but I think if you will examine this article carefully you will understand the why of our preaching much better than you did while we were there.
Accused of Name Calling, Guilty as Charged
We are accused of calling people names, which many of you suppose is unloving to the hearers. Ask yourselves, “Did Jesus call people names?” In the Bible we see words used like; whoremongers, whores, bastards, dogs, swine, etc. If God inspired all of the verses in the Bible, then He wrote those as well. Jesus used these words directly as well, why would anyone think that using harsh words is a sin? Here are some references from our source document on name calling and harsh words; 2 Pet 2:22, Prov 23:27, Isa 57:3. There are multitudes of these types of words and name calling in the Bible. But in our ‘politically’ correct culture you can’t even speak the truth to someone without them being offended, especially if it concerns sinners or sin. But, the Bible says it is a wise man who receives correction.
Why Name Calling?
Now, that we have established that name calling was/is used in the Bible, we must establish the motive to see if it is loving to warn sinners to turn from what they are being called. Jesus says in
Rev 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent.”
Prov 27:5-6 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
It is loving to warn people both of their sin and God’s judgment to come. In fact, I assert it is required of believers to do so. In
John 16:8 we see Jesus explaining to His disciples that He must go away by His death, burial, resurrection, and then ascension in order for the Holy Spirit to come to them and convict the world of; sin, righteousness and judgment to come through them. Keep in mind that we generally preach against sins. We remain in that mode unless someone professes or confesses particular sins from their heart by what they say. When someone does that, we are obligated to direct the message to them specifically. As I often say in the open air, “If the shoe fits Cinderella, wear it. If not, then don’t apply it to yourself.”
Prov 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. KJV
Judge Not?
The false accusation of students that we are not supposed to ‘judge’. Jesus taught we are not to judge hypocritically. To judge drunkards, after I got drunk last night is a perfect example of hypocrisy. The Bible instructs believers to judge; themselves, fruits of others, the spirits, temporally, and finally with Christ eternally. Primarily, when we preach we bring temporal, yet biblical judgment upon things that students say or promote. We make these judgments of their sin known that they may flee the wrath of God to come. Ironically, the students made judgments all day long about us, our methods, and our souls which of course is hypocrisy if they can ‘judge’ all the while saying we can’t. Our judgments are based on what God has said, theirs on arbitrary opinions or experiences. Matt 7:1-5, 1 Cor 2:15, 6:2-5, John 7:24 Rom 2:1-5
Do Black Lives Really Matter?
We’ve been falsely accused of being racist. In fact, from the article which is aforementioned, ““The other day, he said that black folks were going to Hell because we weren’t made in God’s image,” said White.” I can only say as Jesus did, “Do you have ears to hear?” This is plainly just a bold faced lie. What I said was, “God makes all humans in His image. He is very creative and makes all colors of birds, flowers, etc and He does so with human beings as well.”
We love every color of every human being because God commands us to do so. They have great value as He has taught, why wouldn’t we agree? One of the main points of confusion came when we had questions for the crowd about #BLM. If the Black Lives Matters movement was consistent then they would be protesting at every Planned Parenthood abortuary in our country, but they aren’t. Do black baby’s lives matter? To see the infanticide going on in our country with your generation go to: www.abortionno.org What about all the black on black murders that are happening in our neighborhoods? When will Americans actually think out their lifestyles and views in light of the truth of Jesus Christ?
To Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ
For true Christians on campus, we have a few things for you:
1. Jesus said you would be hated by all for His name sake. Does your experience line up with what He said? Matt 10:22, 24:9,
Mark 13:13, Luke 21:7
2. If you are ‘friends’ with the world, you are His enemy. Jam 4:4
3. If you are lukewarm, you are in danger of becoming Jesus vomit on Judgment day. Rev 3:16
4. If you don’t warn the wicked, their blood is on your hands. Ezekiel 3:18-19
Did you open your Bibles yet to see if these things are so? Are you a Berean who is willing to test what they have seen and heard against what God has said? I hope so as your soul and those around you depends on your proper understanding and holy living.
1Tim 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Conclusions and Contact
In conclusion, we love you all. Whether you are a believer or not, if you would like to contact our ministry please go to: www.JesusPreacher.com
If you would like to understand more about open air preaching and why it is the primary biblical method of evangelism please check this link: www.JesusPreacher.com/openairpreaching/
If you’d like to review some videos I am uploading from our visit there, please go here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktsghV2_iE&list=PLgtUKaptlLpR4z09jUsn9oR0tUWJDMCVY
Thank you to the editorial staff for their quick response to my request to address the original article.
MTSU was certainly blessed by receiving a message of repentance last week from these preachers of righteousness. This is not an opportunity all campuses get; for truly these men cannot be everywhere at once. I would like to encourage all the students to follow Bro. John McGlones link to video footage and compare what was “supposedly said” to what Bro. John states was actually said. Also for you believers to study out the scriptures as Bro. John laid them out for you and examine for yourself the biblical approach of evangelism.
It is now that the Church needs to come out from amongst the unbelievers, band together in unity, live holy, upright, practice righteousness, go to the highways and the hedges while compelling the lost to repentance and life in Christ Jesus.
Amen Saint Quentin!