Rabbi Trimm to Pastor Fisher Concerning Evil Speech- An Open Letter

An Open Letter from Rabbi Trimm to Pastor Fisher Concerning Evil Speech
By
James Scott Trimm

Well its that time again, campaign season.  Its time for those negative political campaigns.  You know, those mailers that say:

“Do you know the real John Doe?
What kind of a man eats children?”

This week the Scott Fisher campaign has sunk to new lows, letting loose with a non-issue related negative smear campaign against Jonathan Stickland.   The sad thing is that Scott Fisher is the pastor of a local church! 

So as a Rabbi living in District 92, the following is my open letter to Pastor Scott Fisher:


Pastor Scott Fisher,

In regards to your non-issue related negative campaign against our State Representative Jonathan Stickland, I am very disappointed in your actions.  As a fellow clergyman let me say, shame on you!  As a pastor you should know better.  We have a term for such evil speech in Hebrew, we call it Lashon HaRa (“the Evil Tongue”).  As a pastor you should know well that Scriptures tell us “You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people” (Lev. 19:16-18). 

The person who commits Lashon Hara (evil speech) excuses their actions because their “tale bearing” is true, but we are prohibited from speaking evil of our brother, even if what we say about him is true.  In Revelation 12:10 we read “…the accuser of our brothers… who accused them day and night before our God.” (Rev. 12:10)  When Satan comes before the throne with accusation, there can be little doubt that the accusations he makes are true (he could not expect to mislead the All-Knowing One). But this does not make his accusations of our brothers a blessed testimony to the truth. 

As a pastor you know well that the Scriptures require a matter to be established by two or more witnesses (Deut. 19:15), by joining your voice with that of the Accuser before the throne, you have put himself in the undesirable position of serving as Satan’s collaborating witness.

I should hope you would never think of attacking Jonathan Stickland with a baseball bat, so why do you not think twice before attacking your fellow Christian with evil speech.  The Book of James warns:

[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
[9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
[10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
[11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
(James 3:8-12 KJV)

What should you have done with this negative information concerning your Christian brother Jonathan Stickland?  Scripture is again clear:

[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
(Matt. 18:15-17 KJV)

But did you take this information to Jonathan privately?  Perhaps if you had he would have told you what he has told myself and others:

“Anyone who knows my testimony, my family, friends, and many supporters, are aware that I smoked marijuana in high school and my early collegiate years. Let me even go a step further and say that during that time I wasted much of life, said and did things I wish I hadn't. But by the Grace of God my past sins are forgiven.” – Jonathan Stickland

To make matters worse, you know well that Jonathan spoke with you days after you announced you were running for his seat and the two of you entered a gentleman’s agreement to both run very positive campaigns, focused on your differences on the issues.  Did you ever have any intention of keeping your word in this regard?

Seriously Mr. Fisher, I ask you, Rabbi to Pastor: Do you bless the Creator with that mouth?  Do you preach the Scriptures with that mouth?  How can you possibly use that mouth to teach the Scriptures and praise Yahweh and then use that same mouth to curse your brother with evil speech? 

I can only imagine you have taken this desperate action, because you cannot hope to defeat Jonathan Stickland if you run on his actual record.

Jonathan has a 100% pro-life voting record with Texas Right to Life.  In endorsing him they said:

“Instead of being recognized as the champion for Life that he is, Stickland now faces an election battle against the Texas establishment machine, which recruited a Republican primary-challenger against him.”
 – Emily Kebodeaux , Texas Right to Life, Nov. 21, 2015

Stickland also has a rare A+ rating form Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and is easily the most conservative legislator in the Texas House.   In fact, even the Dallas Observer has said:

"Considering Stickland's bona fides, it's hard to see much room for Fisher to attack the state representative from the right." (Oct. 2nd 2015)

So it appears that you have instead resorted to mud slinging.  Shame on you!  In the end you have done more to out yourself as a tale bearer than you have done any real harm to the repentant sinner and conservative hero Jonathan Stickland.

Rabbi James Scott Trimm