That means, we shouldn’t make assumptions about people we don’t know. But what people say, do, write, are tangible. We can “trust” that because it’s real. What we can’t trust are our own assumptions about people, their motives, and so on.

Of course, in many ways this ministry has done the opposite. We put trust in people because of claims and suggestions and assumptions (or not trust them for the same reasons).

We can trust in what people say and do–but we don’t have to believe them.

The fact that Ben is “trying on” a multi-faceted postmodern identity is apparent, and I can beleive he is expressing himself and seeing what works/what doesn’t. I like that.

And what would happen if we actually took people at what they said and did?

I also like your comments, If you say no, it’s done. If people say no to Bible study or meetings or whatever, ok. accept it. Marionetting people in positions can sometimees work to help them come to God, but only in an Isaac sort of way (ie. in spite of everything we do wrong, it comes out right) and this is very rarely a good story.

I also trust people when they communicate to me instead of communicating to others about me.

Also, trust is built when people respond to criticism instead of smiling and nervously laughing and saying nothing.

Maybe I am too trusting of others, but generally I like to trust others unless they have shown me otherwise, especially those who claim to believe in Jesus. I know that trust isn’t easy to earn though very easy to lose. Having a change of opinion, however, even deviating greatly from tradition or the status quo, doesn’t seem to me to be a reason to say you don’t trust someone. Which points out the lack of personal relationships with others, despite years of “co-working” together.

Also, I need to brace myself to eventually hear some people say that I love ubfriends because I love being praised and “exalted” for blogging and doing nothing, while I refuse and reject real discipleship training and humbleness training in ubf.

Don’t we all need some relief from ubf? Oh wait, they mean money.

Relief from UBF

But I don’t trust those people who don’t trust Ben. I don’t trust them because they won’t be up front and honest about why they don’t trust him. They don’t trust Ben because Ben follows his conscience rather than the ubf party line.

I have a VERY difficult time trusting anyone at ubf.

However I CAN trust Dr. Ben, WestLoop and our ubfriends :)

So when someone shares that I am “doing Satan’s work”, it stings. I can tell from experience making absurd claims like that hurts way worse than being told your ministry has problems. When I was Mr. UBF, I was hurt by what Chris and others said, but it was a mild pain, like that of a surgeon’s knife. I healed quickly and was better off for hearing what ex-members said. But the vicious rumor mill at ubf is just dreadful to bear; the ubf rumor mill is so un-Christ-like and far more like the sin of gossip than anything we’ve ever shared on this blog.

Like you, I just shake it off… haters gonna hate, breakers gonna break, fakers gonna fake…