Letter to Mr. Tkach from Jules Dervaes
Copyright © Jules Dervaes
September 22, 1986
Dear Mr. Tkach,
The October ’86 issue of The PLAIN TRUTH contained a rather astonishing article written by you. In your personal column you wrote glowingly about Mrs. Nancy Reagan’s battle to curb drug abuse. I very much agree with what you said. You extol her strong stand and her continuing efforts in fighting against an extremely serious problem that is ravaging our people—especially the youth. You state:
Stern talk indeed! Mrs. Reagan left no one in doubt about where she stood. Some issues are too important to be influenced by party politics and temporary popularity.
But, to be frank, Mr. Tkach, you have left me in doubt about where you stand. The issues that I have raised in my letters to you are too important to have been influenced by church politics and one’s own temporary popularity. Your silence on these problems is in marked contrast to Mrs. Reagan’s outspokenness. In fact, even though you applaud her, all the while you do not imitate her; for you write:
It is what we do, not what we say we believe, that shows what we really think. … Mrs. Reagan had the courage to challenge every one of us to examine what we really believe-and then prove it!
It is this proof that is missing in your own actions. There hasn’t been any response coming from your office. And so, the question can be raised: What do you really believe?
From your writing, it seems that you do understand about the “adult double standards” that teenagers do pick up on. That you can readily spot in the world, but how about in the Church? We adults also pick up on the double standards. Just one instance of this is the working wives at headquarters. Doesn’t Matthew 7:3-5 apply to the Church?
From your position it is fairly safe to speak out against drug abuse. It is an obvious evil that God hates. But what He hates the most is hypocrisy. This lesson of the Gospels should be evident to all. So, where is the courage that you yourself wrote about? What about Ecclesiastes 9:10?
There is a remarkable statement by Mrs. Reagan to which you gave affirmation by quoting it in your article. Mrs. Reagan believes:
You do have the responsibility to put your conscience and principles on the line. You have the responsibility to be intolerant of drug abuse anywhere, anytime, by anybody. You have the responsibility of forcing the issue to the point of making others uncomfortable and yourself unpopular.
How deeply do YOU really believe this? How much do I believe in these words? So much so that I am putting my principles on the line, Mr. Tkach. And I do have the responsibility to be intolerant of SIN (not JUST drug abuse) anywhere, anytime, by ANYBODY. It is my responsibility to force this issue to the point of making you uncomfortable and myself unpopular. However, will you support me in this action?
I would much prefer it if you would handle this situation; but, if you won’t, I still have my responsibility to do what I must do. The truth will have to be spoken and soon. I can use your own words to underscore the issue: “All of us want to be right, but few are willing to do what we should to make things right.” I am going to DO what I should to MAKE things right. I sincerely regret that you have neither responded to my concerns nor encouraged me in my circumstances.
I have taken this to you because I know that you are the legitimately appointed PHYSICAL head of this, the TRUE Church of God. And I firmly believe that God is IN CHARGE. (And He is ALWAYS in charge even in the Laodicean Church.) However, this does NOT mean in any way that what you do is IPSO FACTO right.
It is my understanding that I have a personal responsibility before God and that I am to let NO MAN take my crown. Therefore, if you do not choose to help me in this duty, then I will have to do it without your assistance. There will come a time for the moment of decision when the plain truth can NOT be hidden any longer.
Please consider these pertinent scriptures:
(Matthew 7:12) In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 5:23) Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
(Luke 17:1) Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.
(Matthew 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does he will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
(John 18:23) “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”
(Ezekiel 13:13) Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. So I will spend my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
(I Corinthians 3:12) If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
(Zechariah 3:6) The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “…If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.”
[NOTE: IF…, THEN…]
It has been said that “if” is the biggest two-letter word in our language. I pray that you WILL walk in God’s ways. I plead with you to truly consider the “sheep” that are under your care. Finally, 1 John 3:10:
Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother.
In Christian love,
Jules Dervaes