Rev. Martindale said this in a Bible teaching in the Sunday Teaching Service:
| "I'd be proud to kill those ba______ in the name of the US of A."
"(religious people have) idiotic brains" "I'll guaran-d___-tee it's a d___ daimon devil spirit" "your cheap-a__ deals" "go fa__ in a space suit" "knock the c___ out of" ("The Fundamentals of Prevailing: Obey!" STS #1899, Oct. 26, 1997) |
This kind of language is typical of Martindale, president of TWI, in public teachings. In fact, one follower of TWI said that her young children learned the "f-word" from Martindale. Even when he is not using profanity, he often yells or barks at his own devout followers. In private, Martindale's profanity is even more extreme. Profanity is the most severe when he and other leaders "confront" and "third stage" followers they feel are weak or disobedient. ("Third-staged" means that leaders gather Wayers around the weak person and yell at, criticize and badger them for their perceived weaknesses.)
What does the Word of God say about how believers should talk?
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs." (Ephesians 4:29)
"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (Eph. 5:4)
"...you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.... no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness." (James 3:1,8,9)
Would you call Martindale's language wholesome, clean and good? Would you copy this list of Martindale's phrases, give it to your children and say, "here's good wholesome language-- learn every one of them?" Would you want your spouse, children or parents to talk to you this way? Would you like your school to teach your children to include all these in their essays and talk to their teachers this way? Do you like it when your boss talks to you this way? What would happen if your clients heard you use this language repeatedly? Would you like to hear this language from newscasters, or read it in news magazines?
Martindale consistently uses language which is unwholesome (KJV- corrupt), obscene (KJV- filthy), coarse, and often cruses people. In a May 4, 1997 teaching Martindale condemned some children who called their classmates "Wayfers," (while admitting that the teachers forbade it), yet repeatedly used much more crass insults for his critics during the same talk. He won't tolerate the mildest of insults from others, even though he constantly uses profanity against others.
Martindale rationalizes his filthy mouth by saying that he just gets angry at the adversary. But he confuses righteous anger with lack of self control and obscenity. It is fully possible, and godly, to express anger without violating God's Word by using corrupt, coarse and filthy language. For example, Jesus Christ expressed anger in the temple, but quoted Scripture rather than using profanity.
Plainly, Martindale does not meet the high standards God's Word sets for believers, and certainly not for teachers. He blatantly disobeys God's commands about using wholesome speech. He lacks maturity of character and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), especially kindness, gentleness and self control.
How does he get by with such blatant sin? He promotes himself as "the Man of God for our day and time" and as "Joshua" who leads his people into the Promised Land, and is one of only three Trustees who control all aspects of TWI. As such, he makes himself be accountable to no one and intimidates all who think of challenging his behavior. In effect, he has placed himself above God's Word, freeing himself to violate it at will.
God warns us, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" Those who listen to Martindale's teaching are virtually asking for him to corrupt their good character. It would be wiser to find teachers who will both speak and live God's Word.
Dr. John Juedes, C. 2000
Return to The Way Today Menu