... We can "find" whatever we want to if we're suspicious enough.
The "belt of truth" .... perhaps a study of the "belt of truth" would eradicate all those pesky suspicions and faulty interpretations.
There is no deception or error, only for those suspicious enough and blood-thirsty enough to imagine them. ...
As mentioned, hearing what "I" heard was greatly distressing, and as far as I'm concerned there were "little foxes" throughout the sermons. I feel sure RC didn't realize it, IMO he has some delusions, but I heard those contradictions and delusions. Further, I heard far deeper problems and deception. Unfortunately, we don't always know when we are deceived, I don't think he is aware that he is. While he is, he has a church full of people who want to look up to him as pastor/teacher, and the deception is hitting them too, they are all being defiled by the deception. That is what makes this so distressing, amongst other things. While RC talks about this belt of truth, I believe he is saying "ignore the truth where it deals with me and mine." There is written truth (Word), there is also truth around us -- as in TOD and all of the other facts.
As a note... It is nitpicking, and wasn't my concern when listening (there were far more concerning things), but since you brought it up, the "belt of truth" makes for catchy sermon words (speakers must use these), but the scripture referred to is "having your loins girt about with truth." The loins are not at the waist where you wear a belt, they are at the "loin" (near the generative organs). Thus, IMO, the more correct analogy/interpretation would be "girdle of truth." IMO, the analogy of putting a belt around the waist so that you can hang a sword from it or hold your pants up (as he quipped) is flawed and, maybe, a little fox. The analogy, IMO, is "girdling" and you can see loin girdling in suits of armor (which may be "mail" extending to cover the hips/loin) and
in football attire -- this is not a belt at the waist.
Point one: he states, "your concern is not about the person next to you"
Check out Genesis 4: 9-11 Am I my brother's keeper. Check out 1st John 5:16, which talks about asking (and may or may not be applicable, but is worthy of consideration) sometimes "seeing" is not seeing the whole thing with your eyes, but with the understanding (as in "son how did you injure your arm," as in learning the time frame of death and "the story.") Oh, we do have a concern about the person next to us in many cases - we must or we are unwise. In fact, he points out repeatedly someone not coming to "church" that day because they are mowing their lawn, isn't that the "person next to" us and just how important is that when there are numerous church services to attend? He points out, "those cheating on taxes, better correct that, those who are gossiping, your going to have to correct that."
I am gobsmacked by the bait/switch tactics used, the error and the deception. Where is this pastor, father-in-law, grandfather's concern about "the murderer" on the loose and correcting that? OH, but just maybe he doesn't think that the murderer is on the loose, but knows that they have already been jailed?
In my estimation, RC has contradicted himself within his sermon, unless it is only he who can take note of the "next person." I see this somewhat like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel (Matthew 23:24).
Point two: he says something like, "the enemy wants to take the things that are wrong to feed your mind... your wife said this, your wife said that, you can't even entertain those for a moment or it will take you or convince you."
Accordingly, the enemy is the father of lies, it is the lie that he wants to feed your mind -- not the "wrong" -- which is a contortion of the truth and a problematic statement (a little fox). A "wrong" is one thing, a "lie" is another. Thus, you do not shy from entertaining to learn the truth, you do so by exposing the lie, defeating it with truth. You approach your wife to learn what she says and if her story conflicts with the person who said something -- you do what you can to sort it out, bring them together if need be. Expose the lie AND expose the "spin" (which he talks about.) Sadly, there have been opportunities for RC to expose the truth, the lie, the spin and that has not been undertaken. Not exposing the "spin" is a spin within itself. IF a wrong rears its head, we must deal with it and a "murder" is a very strong wrong that MUST be dealt with.
For someone who speaks of the "belt of truth" -- IMO, he is saying, "Bury your head in the sand, do not seek and expose the lie via exposing the truth."
He later says something like, "I have to believe in the truth, you better get squeaky clean in the truth, you better be a person of righteousness, you better be a person of integrity..."
Well, unfortunately and very sadly, I don't see squeaky clean in the truth or integrity here.
Point three: from my notes, he says,
>>word separates ... we've gone through a season where we have literally had to turn off the television ... because of the spin on everything. I don't need that. I know the truth. Why would I watch the news when I know it before they did, why would I watch the news.
Mentions a president asked if he watched the news, then quips about the president saying, "Why would I watch the news when I knew it before they do?"
I know what the truth is, why would I watch the news (said as if the president speaking). States something to the effect of "just between me and you anyway." The armor is for me and you individually.<<
The above is a MAJOR problem. He KNOWS the truth, he states it. Then he says, "just between me and you anyway." Oh no...no no no no no. This murder was a crime against all of society, this is not a "confess it to dad, then we let it go" and play a charade of "not guilty" in the courtroom -- to the further harm of all of society. And about that armor, it is to stand "for" righteousness, NOT against it.
Perhaps his "knowing the truth" is why he has done nothing to set up a reward fund to find the murderer?
As far as him saying that he told his pastor he feels like he is giving a black eye to the church and his pastor telling him "You stop it right there" (as if his pastor was saying, "Oh you are okay dude" -- and I would like to sit down and have a talk with "his" pastor.) Well, it was CC who ignited the black eye that was immediately evident, but there is more that may have come before in "setting CC up for his actions" (childhood training which was out of order, but CC had the opportunity to learn the truth) and there is more that is "continuing his actions" (his pleading not guilty, when guilt is obvious.) IMO, this has gone from giving the church a black eye to bludgeoning it (and this has ONLY begun, we haven't started with the trial yet) because there are specific members of "the church" within the Coleman family who actually refuse to look at the TRUTH, though attempting to teach about it, preferring deception, delusion and error. This is downright frightening and heartbreaking.
There are three beautiful bodies in the grave, their blood is calling out to God for justice. I hear NOTHING in the sermons deal with calling out for this justice, I hear all manner of "leave it alone" and "don't look at others" (yet with contradiction, grass mowing, sheesh) -- which to me, speaks volumes -- and that is volumes of error, delusion and deception. I am seriously concerned about RC and everyone in that church who sits under his teaching.
