Christian Research Dispensary
1999-2000 Book & Tape Catalog

All right, it is easy for us (in an age of ranting and raving) to be drawn to invective, whether in casual conversation, or in our writing.

Ranting is a trap the enemy would love to engage us in, for it gives them ammunition (in the media) to paint us as madmen, cases for their Jewish psychiatrists, or even vermin to be relegated to gulags.

At this stage of the Babylonian game (directed by Yahovah Himself), we need first to humble ourselves before our Creator. Job, the righteous but afflicted servant of Yahovah, challenged his distractors:

Yes, the enemy is a conjurer (magician) with words, but the simple fact is, most Christians have lost the ability (and courage) to make such a peremptory challenge as Job did. Remember the words of our Savior when faced by Pharisaical entrapment: "...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (the accused)" (John 8:7, KJV).

Perhaps if we were not so guilty, we might take courage and address those who trespass against us, even as King Jesus Christ did. We can do this in many ways, but one of the most effective is the EARNEST LETTER. Noah Webster defines "earnest" as to be "ardent in pursuit of an object; eager to obtain; having a longing desire; warmly engaged or incited." The object we are in pursuit of is truth and justice, which are fixed in YHVH-God=s Law.

We need to write more earnest letter to our public servants (not rulers), and to newspaper/magazine editors, regarding local, national and world issues, imparting our Christian wisdom in such a way that ranting and raving is silenced (although, at first, we may incite a great deal of it!).

Let us keep in mind the following rules:

1) DO WRITE! Qui tacet consentire videtur (He who is silent appears to consent). If you do not impart the wisdom YHVH-God has granted you, how on earth can you complain of the wrong about you?

2) KNOW BY WHAT AUTHORITY YOU SPEAK. The adversary will expect you to submit, either to them, or to someone, or something. "YHVH-Elohiym hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season..." (Isaiah 50:4). To whom do you submit?

3) BE SURE WHAT YOU SAY IS FIRM, AND BEFITTING THE CHARACTER OF KING JESUS CHRIST. "The words of the wise are as goads (pointed instruments), and as nails deeply fastened, which are arranged by workmen and given from one master builder." (Ecclesiastes 12:11, Lamsa).

4) BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. In a "fast food" society, attention spans have dropped to milliseconds (!), so you must drive your points home quickly and succinctly. A friend tells me the THREE 7's: "Seven seconds, seven words or less, and seventh-grade reading level." All right, this is fine for bumper stickers, etc., but you get the idea. Brevity also opens the playing field open for stimulation of thought, inviting participation.

5) STAY ON POINT! Don't drift from subject to subject, which causes confusion (Babylon's province). State your goal, premise or purpose, and let dialogue proceed.

6) KEEP IT SIMPLE, BUT EXACT. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11, KJV). Leave no doubt about what you mean. Simple, monosyllabic words are fine, but sometimes you need to be more descriptive. The complexity of English allows this. Use a good dictionary and thesaurus. Avoid slang like the Plague, for it is largely the import of non-Israelite aliens, part of a "melting pot" philosophy. Read "Toward More Picturesque Speech" and "How to Improve Your Word Power" in the Reader's Digest. Expand your vocabulary!

7) READ WHAT YOU WRITE ALOUD (to yourself, or others). Does it sound like something you would comprehend if you were reading it for the first time? If it doesn't sound right, it probably could be rewritten for better effectiveness.

8) EDIT, RE-WRITE, EDIT...This may be done several times. Each time, you may find errors in grammar, punctuation, phrasing, or you may simply want to add something you forgot.

9) WRITE IN THE ACTIVE VOICE, AND IN THE FIRST PERSON (when possible). People are interested in what is going on NOW. Sad to say, they tend to disregard History, but you may bring History up-to-date for them by drawing parallels, sharing anecdotes, etc. Always make the Bible and the History of our Israel people the birthplace of what happens today.

10) DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Not much can salvage your letter or essay if you haven't researched your subject. Determine which materials are pertinent to what you are trying to prove or describe. Maintain your own personal note system. Some use 3" X 5" cards, while other use note pads or notebooks. Carefully record quotations and their sources. Footnote where necessary, and in letters to editors, either imbed the source in the text (i.e. - "The Cucamonga Chronicle of 12-1-93 noted..."), or list it in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase.

Be skeptical of second and third-hand sources. In doctrinal matters, you should be able to document strictly from Scripture. [Regarding the Israel "Identity" message, this can be done, but the historical record makes a clearer picture. Should you need any help in this regard, feel free to ask Christian Research for books or other source material.]

Learn how to use the Reader's Guide to Periodicals, the Book Indices and Microfiche files at your local public library. If unfamiliar with these, your librarian will help you. Of course, public libraries are increasingly of limited usefulness on Bible-related subjects, patriotism and revisionist history, but there is still a wealth of knowledge there, so don't count it out! Watch out for library close-outs or discards with which to start (or build) your own private library.

11) IDENTIFY YOUR AUDIENCE, AND IDENTIFY WITH THEM. To whom are you writing? What are their main concerns, passions, prejudices? This is one of the cardinal rules of public speaking, as well. Find common ground on which you may initiate your discourse. If there is none, why on earth are you writing?

12) AVOID AD HOMINEM (personal) ATTACKS. We are admonished to "hate the sin and not the sinner." This is often difficult, but realize that truth TRANSFORMS persons while it DESTROYS falsehood. Give it time to germinate. YHVH-God always carries out His judgment in His time, and at His good pleasure. Remember: Meaning gets lost when you start screaming or name-calling. Men will guard their character (if seemingly non-existent) at all costs!

13) ALWAYS SIGN YOUR LETTER and provide a phone number or address where the editor, or other reader, may contact you regarding changes, deletions, condensation, or comments. Often--and this is especially true of large daily newspapers--they will condense or change your letter without your approval. If so, make sure the paper states this discretion in its policy. If you are close enough, call the editor (by title and name, if you remember), and request to approve (or disapprove) "their version."

14) COUNTERING OPPOSITION. If discussing a sensitive topic, you will encounter opposition, either from a reluctant (or hostile) editor or, if your letter is printed, from a misinformed or programmed public. Some cities have a resident heckler who seems to have carte blanche response privileges whenever a Christian or "right wing" letter is printed. Remember that THREE is a stable number in editorial writing, and you can usually get the "last word" if your counter-response is on-point and refutes the heckler with logic and reason. If your adversary occasionally makes a valid point, say so (This is quite disarming. Matthew 5:25), but always be equitable in your arguments, "heaping coals of fire" on the adversary's head (Proverbs 25:21-22).

Christian Research
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