Written by Saw the Light

Pink Truth received an email from a sales director who quoted Scripture in an attempt to discredit the work that is being done here.

From: Mary Kay Sales Director
Date: Apr 9, 2007 4:58 PM
Subject: There's TRUTH in the Word

As a Sales Director I have never been disillusioned by the company or my mentors. What has consistently disappointed me is a handful of ungrateful Consultants with an overdeveloped sense of self-entitlement.

It is obvious that a great deal of time, energy, and emotion is spent maintaining this site. The bitterness that overflows from these pages and manifests itself into a website such as this is proof that the enemy is hard at work.

Acts 8:21-23 (New International Version)
21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

For those that are still Consultants and/or Directors yet choose to perpetuate this website:

James 1:5-8 (New International Version)
5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Although I'm sure that my comments will be met with the same tired & twisted responses as all the others, there's really no need, as I won't be checking back.

2 Corinthians 12:20 (New International Version)
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

This website will only have a significant impact on those that thrive in this type of atmosphere.

Proverbs 24:8-9 (New Living Translation)
8 A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker. 9 The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.

I spoke with my pastor, who helped me sort it all out with this email:

Oh dear, oh dear. Where do I begin with this mixed up soul? Even Satan can quote Scripture and sound "enlightened" as he tempted Eve and later attempted to tempt the Christ.

This tactic has been used to manipulate people ever since there was Scripture to quote. The most important thing to remember when quoting Scripture is its context (which this soul obviously doesn't get). It's interesting that the Scriptures used in this post aren't related to Jesus or His church, as the context (for all but Proverbs) necessitates. It's about the church, not Mary Kay or any other human-made enterprise.

Jesus himself said (to Jewish leaders–remember: context): "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40)

Acts 8:21-23 is in the context of Peter the Apostle dealing with Simon the Sorcerer. Simon wanted the power to pass on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit like the apostles had. He offered Peter money for this gift, which he could use to prove he was somebody great and to earn more profit. A paraphrase of Acts 8:20, Peter basically says "to hell with you and your money, because you thought you could bribe God for His gift." So the warning this poster gives about bitterness and being captive to sin in this context would apply to those who are looking to earn a profit under the guise of Christian spirituality. That sounds like more than one MLM I know, not the abused who are looking to leave. So those leaving Mary Kay, take heart. This Scripture speaks to you with encouragement.

James 1:5-8 is in the context of James writing to Christians who are being harshly persecuted for their faith. Many of the warnings in this book are to those who are rich and who think that wealth will save them. And when I say "rich" I am meaning everyone in America who earns above the poverty level. In the eyes of James, all of us are very rich (we have computers and Internet, don't we?). And yet the harshest warnings in this book are against those who follow the world's wisdom and those who make their money on the backs of poor people denied their wages. While there are certainly godly people with money, most people are corrupted by money. And most riches come from the poorly paid labor of the poor and innocent. Those of us who delight in chocolate or coffee or diamonds, for instance, should consider that most of these come on the backs of slave labor in this world even today, and God will vindicate these people sooner or later. Sobering, isn't it? So, again, if you are using this website for healing and ministry, take heart: James would applaud you. If you are looking for financial gain, well, he would preach at you.

Now 2 Cor. 12:20 as used in this post would be laughable if not so sad. Does this person really mean to come visit the forum members and do everything for the forum members' "strengthening" as "dear friends" (read the verse right before this one)? That is what Paul meant when he wrote this to the Corinthian church (again, not a business). Paul dearly loved this church and had been planning to visit them. But some false teachers stole in among them and began to challenge Paul's authority and his life-changing message. Paul's concern in the quoted verse is that the false teachers are stirring up the factions and dividing the people. To compare these false teachers to the people running this forum is to say that Mary Kay is the church and the truth for which Christ died. Sounds to me like a false God.

It is typical for people who are steeped within a tradition– whether Christian or business or even one's one family–to defend their beliefs no matter how irrational or creepy they sound to the outside. Abused wives often defend their husbands. Abused Christians often defend their dysfunctional church. And people making money by the group they're in are often blinded to what powers are really at work (regardless of the great intentions with which said groups were begun). The KKK have long held that God and Scripture were on their side. So did Hitler. Does that make it so?

Here's a Scripture for all of us. While wanting to make an honest living that blesses others is a good thing, watch out (here Paul is instructing the young minister, Timothy, in 1 Timothy 6):

4 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.