When you stand with Matthew Henry, Albert Barnes, and John Calvin… you’re standing on solid ground. Meaghan Varela, Julie Anne Smith, and those with them have ruthlessly beat Christ’s church and His saints with never ending reviling accusations, some ugly, some criminal. It is like a circle of thugs all gathered around kicking and punching some poor victim cowering before them. Every time the victim tries to get up off the ground they just pour on more beatings. So the bystanders say to the victim just stay down there and let them beat you to death slowly; stop trying to get up; you’re just making them angrier; YOU are making it worse. Just stay down and take your beating, quit making trouble by trying to get up.
ALBERT BARNES COMMENTS ON 1 COR. 6
“Where a Christian is INJURED in his person, character, or property, he has a right to seek redress. Courts, are instituted for the protection and defense of the innocent and the peaceable against the fraudulent, the wicked, and the violent. And a Christian owes it to his country, to his family, and to himself, that the man who has injured him should receive the proper punishment. The peace and welfare of the community demand it. If a man murders my wife or child, I owe it to the laws and to my country, to justice and to God, to endeavor to have the law enforced. So if a man robs my property, or injures my character, I may owe it to OTHERS as well as to myself that the law in such a case should be executed, and the rights of others also be secured.”
JOHN CALVIN COMMENTS ON 1 COR. 6
“As for those who strictly condemn all legal contentions, let them realize that they therewith repudiate God’s holy ordinance, and one of the class of gifts that can be clean to the clean [Titus 1:15], unless, perchance, they wish to accuse Paul of a shameful act, since he both repelled the slanders of his accusers, exposing at the same time their craft and malice [Acts 24:12 ff.], and in court claimed for himself the privilege of Roman citizenship [Acts 16:37; 22:1, 25], and, when there was need, appealed from the unjust judge to the judgment seat of Caesar [Acts 25:10-11]… Such men should therefore understand that lawsuits are permissible if rightly used. There is right use, both for the plaintiff in suing and for the accused in defending himself, if the defendant presents himself on the appointed day and with such exception, as he can, defends himself without bitterness, but only with this intent, to defend what is his by right, and if on the other hand, the plaintiff, undeservedly oppressed either in his person or in his property, puts himself in the care of the magistrate, makes his complaint, and seeks what is fair and good.”
*This statement and the following video reflect the opinions of the author based upon the facts as understood by the author.
Scripture instructs believers “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”(Romans 12:18). Psalm 119:71 says “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes”. But becoming victims of slander or malicious gossip can be difficult to bear. The biblical point of view is that such attacks should not surprise us in this fallen world. While it is true that it is part of our human nature to respond to personal attacks with sadness, anger, or bitterness, these feelings are part of our fallen humanity. They are not fruits of the Holy Spirit. True Christians are called to bear our injuries with joy, patience, love, and gentleness. This kind of response is required of us because the Christian life is to imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Our Lord prayed for the forgiveness of those attacking Him (Luke 23:34). Beaverton Grace Bible Church (BGBC) has prayed for Julie Anne Smith, Meaghan Varela, and their online disciples. Our church has prayed for their repentance.
The attacks began in late December 2008. In November 2008, a man on staff at BGBC was fired. Meaghan Varela is, and remains a close personal friend of the man fired. On December 26, 2008, Pastor O’Neal sent an email to Tim Varela, Meaghan’s husband, urging him to cease visiting BGBC families with gifts, spreading gossip, and inviting BGBC members to leave the church. Less than one hour later, Meaghan called the Department of Human Services (DHS), making false accusations of child abuse against Pastor O’Neal and his family.
For nearly four years, Pastor Chuck O’Neal and his family, Matt and Dawn’s family, and Beaverton Grace Bible Church have suffered slander and persecution by Julie Anne Smith, Meaghan Varela, and sympathetic online scoffers. These ungodly men and women are brazen, audacious, and defiant. They are obstinately determined to destroy our pastor and church family.
The apostle Paul counseled the church in Corinth not to sue the brethren. As Christians, we are not to go to court against one another. But these are NOT brothers and sisters in Christ. “They went out from us, but they are NOT of us” (1 John 2:19). These self-righteous bloggers are apostate Christians, defectors from Christ’s Church. They are full of deceit and all fraud, and will not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord (Acts 13:9).
Pastor O’Neal and Elder Dale Weaver sought counsel from their peers and from other Bible-believing churches. As Christians we are commanded to proclaim the gospel and defend the faith. A church that tolerates sin corrupts its own testimony and makes its evangelism ineffective. It was after much prayer and biblical advisement that pastor reluctantly took legal action. For four years of unrelenting slander and lies, our pastor acquiesced, hoping and praying for the verbal and online attacks to cease. On March 1, 2012, Pastor Chuck O’Neal filed a lawsuit against Julie Anne Smith and three other former church members.
The book of Proverbs has much to say about fools. (A “fool” is NOT someone who is mentally deficient, but who is morally bankrupt.) Proverbs 29:11 advises “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back”. And Proverbs 26:12 asks “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him”. Proverbs 12:15 counsels “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise”. Proverbs 12:1 observes “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid”. Proverbs 4:19 admonishes “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble”. Sound like anyone you know? Proverbs 14:16 encourages believers saying, “A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self confident”. I think Proverbs 18:2 is most appropriate: “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart”. (Feel free to substitute the pronoun “her” for “his” in any of these biblical truths.)
When we die, each of us must give an account to God (Romans 14:12). For every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). And God will render to each one according to his deeds (Romans 2:6). The prophet Nahum warns “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked (Nahum 1:3).