Co-Worker/Member Letter - July 19, 1961
Yet, when our Lord and Master and leader Jesus Christ PUTS HIS CHURCH TO THE TEST, a very large portion of us seem to FAIL HIM. We, like carnal Israelites of old, do not want to OBEY His orders. We gripe and "murmur" and complain and criticize, and want to go contrary to HIS way, even as carnal ancient Israel. But, IF we are really IN God's own Church, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE GIFT OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT----we have had our carnality CHANGED---we have been graciously given, by God's mercy and loving grace, a NEW NATURE---A NEW ATTITUDE AND SPIRIT---one of willing and eager submission and cooperation, instead of the spirit of rebellion, independence, and criticism.
I am thoroughly discouraged, and I'm going to tell you WHY---and if some of you---yes, MANY of you---do not WAKE UP, and REPENT, I say to you on Christ's authority that He is about to spue you out of His mouth, and your end will be the lake of fire! I am not going to soft-pedal or mince words. God commands me, as His minister, to cry ALOUD and show you who profess to be HIS PEOPLE your sins, lest you fall under HIS TERRIBLE CONDEMNATION! I do not propose to minimize this, because MANY OF YOU PROFESSING BRETHREN ARE IN DANGER OF THE FINAL HELL FIRE JESUS SAID SO MUCH ABOUT!
I am heartsick and grieved at heart. Some of you whom God has called to be my real HELPERS in His work make yourselves,instead, my biggest discouragement.
This is being caused by TWO current experiences.
1) On June 19---just a month ago---our office in Pasadena sent you in the western third of the United State a long letter about the Feast of Tabernacles being held---for brethren of this western part of the country---at a new place JESUS CHRIST has designated for us---a magnificent, exciting, breath-takingly beautiful place---Squaw Valley.
YET IT IS NOW REPORTED TO ME THAT MANY OF YOU SEEM TO BE COMPLAINING, AND PLANNING TO REBEL AGAINST YOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND GO TO GLADEWATER, TEXAS, IN SPITE OF US!
Brethren some of you---and apparently MANY of you---need to go to a private place of prayer, and beg the Christ who died for you and granted you the gift of His Holy Spirit to HAVE MERCY ON YOU and FORGIVE YOU! Some of you are showing a wrong rebellious uncooperative and selfish spirit. Some of you are putting the visiting with unconverted relatives ahead of obedience to CHRIST, and cooperation with His CHURCH!