David C.Pack vs A Sabbath Test
Timeline of Events
"A Lesson in Statesmanship "
The Email that appears below was sent by Dennis Fischer to Mr. David C. Pack in response to Mr. Pack's Email accusing Fischer of catching himself in a lie. Furthermore, Mr. Pack offered a blistering attack against Mr. Fischer, his co-author, Art Braidic, and Blow the Trumpet.
~~~
June 29, 2005
Dear Dave,
"THE WRITERS OF OUR PUBLICATIONS"
I’m writing in response to an email you sent me last week in which you challenged my association with Blow the Trumpet and my belief that the practice of buying and selling on the Sabbath just might be the defining issue of this era of God’s Church—and a “vital truth” His people must come to accept. Additionally, you stated that I caught myself in a lie when writing to you and intimated that I was attempting to create something (discord) in your group that simply isn’t there. Finally, I would like to share a piece of information you may find interesting.
I realize that in your note you “directed” me to terminate all communication with you. However, your directive was totally inappropriate. What you did was hurl a stream of accusations at me and then order me to stay silent. In essence, you wanted to scream like a child throwing a tantrum and then demand to have the last word on this issue. Well, Dave, I live in a world of adults. And in that world things aren’t done that way.
Let me begin by saying that while my respect for you has diminished somewhat, I still believe you are genuinely striving to do a good work and that you have made a great contribution to the cause of God’s Kingdom. I do not say these words lightly nor am I trying to ingratiate myself to you or the Restored Church of God. Those who know me know better than to draw such a conclusion.
With that said, I want you to know how struck I was by the absence of civility in your note. I do not say this because it was directed at me, but rather because of the immense fear and rage your words carried. I’m sure you would disagree with my assessment, but that is how it came across and I am not one who is easily offended in such things. Perhaps your response was borne out of some personal experience or perhaps out of training—I just don’t know. What I can say is that your words lacked statesmanship—a skill you would be well advised to cultivate.
With respect to your conclusions regarding Blow the Trumpet, I would suspect that you arrived at them after several minutes of analysis. I believe that is about the same amount of time it took the disciples to conclude that a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name was an enemy of God’s work (Mk. 9:38).
Well, if you’re really interested, Blow the Trumpet is a work that has literally saved lives and we can document that claim. Our page on abortion American Holocaust is one of the most visited on the Internet today and has moved countless mothers to choose life for their precious unborn children. Furthermore, our video, “The Great Massacre” has been watched by virtually thousands of people desperately searching for moral clarity on this issue. This video, which I co-produced, has been sought out by numerous pro-life groups and we were even contacted by one of the premier pro-family leaders in the country requesting to use it in a television special on abortion.
My point here is not to brag about Blow the Trumpet or its mission. What I am attempting to do is let you know that we are engaged in a good work—one that is bearing fruit. The fact that you are unable to see it is only evidence of a problem in discernment not a problem of engagement.
Quite frankly, our work is unique in that it does not require us to manipulate God’s people into choosing sides and fighting one another. Furthermore, we are not grandstanding and trying to persuade people that we are God’s “special group.” For the most part, we are invisible and we like it that way for now. The point here is that Blow the Trumpet cries out to this world as opposed to crying out at God’s Church. If you ask me, it is not us that brings shame on God’s people, it is those who scatter them (Jer. 23, Ezk. 34).
Additionally, our correspondence with our nation’s President is not some gimmick, nor is it the ramblings of religious fanatics pretending to be something they are not. Our words are real and so is our warning. Dave, in case you haven’t noticed, our nation is in horrible shape and the problem isn’t Social Security reform or senate filibusters. America is now engaged in a great cultural war and it is losing. Today our children are taught that values are relative and that God is irrelevant. The danger of this national ideology is mind-boggling! If Thomas Jefferson is right, our nation is staggering toward a slavery of the worst kind. He once spoke eloquently about freedom and a sure-fire way to lose it.
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God?”
Today, we are living in a country that is doing just that. We have removed God from our national landscape and shoved Him into a corner. I don’t know what God is telling you, but He has told us that it is time to speak. Therefore, if you are offended because we feel compelled to sound an alarm and warn the most powerful nation on earth, that is your problem. Personally, I think you should ask yourself why you aren’t doing it.
This now brings me to my next point. When I wrote to you stating that I had been referred to your article on A Sabbath Test by some of your members, I misspoke. However the error you characterized as a lie was simply an honest mistake. First, I was led to your essay by one member of your group. Secondly, we have been contacted by dozens claiming to have some sort of association with your organization. These contacts have come over the last few months. I simply assumed they were led to it by your article. I had no idea you had just posted it and quite frankly it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. You may wish to construe this as some plot to undermine the integrity of the Restored Church of God, but it was no such thing. Dave, this might come as a surprise to you, but I have nothing against you or the fine people who have chosen to be a part of your community of faith. The only thing I can say to your assessment of what happened is that you need a hobby. You are working too hard.
Finally, with respect to the subject of dining out on the Sabbath I am absolutely convinced that you need to revisit this issue before it is too late. Furthermore, this discussion is growing within God’s Church, despite what you may think. Additionally, your article only serves to fuel the debate. For that I am thankful.
And now the information of interest: Dave, Blow the Trumpet has just published a rebuttal to your essay. It can be found under the title David C. Pack vs. A Sabbath Test, which appears on our website. We tried to be respectful in regards to the image we used when formatting our response, but the words, which repeatedly mention you by name, are blunt to say the least. Personally, I think you owe it to yourself and those who helped you write your article to read our response. Whether you will or not is another kind of “test”—a test of courage.
Sincerely,
Dennis
P.S. Don’t you long for the time when all of God’s people will be united under a common faith again? I long for that time. And I long to share it with you, my friend.
RELATED LINKS
