The Friday night special lecture in Escondido met with disruption at closing time. The conclusion of this excellent lecture was literally torn asunder by one out spoken, over zealous person who would give vocal space to no one else. Many of the visitors walked out and the attending brothers and sisters’ hearts were crying —so affected were we by the outburst.
Prior to the meeting, handbills had been passed out to all townspeople, extending the invitation to come and hear Maurice Stewart extol the message of the Mid-East . . . and many came. There were even a few late corners standing in the hallway as regular members of the Escondido assembly, visiting brethren, and the hoped-for outflow of visitors filled the rows of chairs in the auditorium. All listened intently to the hour message (jam-packed with Scriptural references) as the speaker developed the crisis of the M.E. involvement affecting the world, using complete Bible records from the ‘seed-bed of beginnings’ in Genesis through the Apocalyptic Revelation.
Hardly had the sound of Bro. Morrie’s last words been spoken until the antagonist in the back row jumped to her feet, “Mr. Speaker, I have a question . . .” Then began a battery of question/statements rudely presented with no time allowed for answers. Our speaker remained unruffled, awaiting his opening in Christ-like composure, as it became obvious to all that the questions were unrelated to the message given. “Lady,” came a voice from behind this writer, “give someone else a chance. We didn’t come here to listen to you.”
“I was invited,” came her retort. “We’re told to try all spirits. When I’ve finished, he can answer.” Then came the loaded question, “Do you believe that Christ is God?”
“No,” replied the speaker, advantaging the opening and quickly quoting from Luke 2.
“That’s not right — Isaiah calls him God.”
Again Bro. Stewart in patience said, “You’ve gone to a good source, Isaiah 9:6 and the 5 titles of Christ. The mighty God there is El Gibbor, mighty warrior.”
“You’re a liar, a blasphemer — that’s THEOS. We study with a man who has known Greek 29 years . . . ” Again, vehemently, “Mighty God is Theos.”
Had not Brother Stewart spoken of Perplexity in his message? The presiding Brother interceded in the wisdom of Solomon, stating that on the promise to dismiss at 8:30 the meeting would therefore conclude. Then the prayer of dismissal, at which point many visitors left.
Personally we have never heard before such a bold disruptive spirit attempting to undermine the True word we have long been privileged to hear at our fellowships. This woman was more than an antagonist — she was a representative of an entire group wresting the Scriptures and forming that Antichrist of I John 2:22. We are forewarned that all things will worsen (2 Tim. 3:13) before Christ’s reappearing. Let us make it our regular prayer that the great Yahweh will continue to bless our meetings as we attempt to teach others the glorious truth.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One