We received this note on August 12, 2011 in response to To Hutterites Everywhere:
Hi Victor. It would be nice if you actually cared or even prayed for us Hutterites. But I really do think you just have a bad jealousy problem and some deep spiritual needs that you need to correct. Where there is life there is hope, so I will continue praying for you. In Christ
Ben gross
Victor’s reply:
Greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Ben, yours and mine!
What makes you assume I’m not praying for you and all Hutterites? I happen to have compassion for them and have had it for years, but you won’t see it, because you prefer your sins to God’s truth and righteousness.
Why are you assuming I’m against you, or that there’s something wrong with me personally, just because I tell you the wrongs you should repent of, for your good? Believe me, I see the horrible spiritual condition of Hutterites, and I see absolutely nothing to be jealous about!
Have not other men of God done as I do – told people their sins? Did they have psychological problems, as well? Here, for one example of many in Scripture, is what God told Isaiah to do for His people Israel:
Isaiah 58:1-2 MKJV
(1) Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a ram’s horn, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.
(2) Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and one who did not forget the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in drawing near to God.
God sent the prophets forth to counsel and warn the people where and how they were going wrong. Would you fault Him for it? Would you tell God it would be nice if He prayed for you?
He sent Isaiah to tell the people their transgressions, of which there were many, so that they might turn from their sins and live, instead of die. Would you criticize Isaiah for it? Have you felt like praying for Isaiah? Did he have a “jealousy problem” or “deep spiritual needs”?
How about Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Samuel, Hosea, Elijah, Malachi, Jonah, and so many others?
So why react as you do toward me? Repent of your sins, Ben, you and all Hutterites. You are contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ, to His thoughts and ways, to His will and the Scriptures.
Your ways can only bring death. Can’t you see that? We spell it out for your sakes. If you don’t see it, why not? Is it not because you and your people are in gross darkness? Of course, it is! Your ways are entirely unacceptable to God, and we are appointed by Him to tell you so for your sakes, at our expense.
Are you the only ones we speak about on our site? You can easily see we speak out against all sin and false religion, not just that of Hutterites. We have no particular personal grievance with Hutterites or anyone else, but we do come against sin, for Christ’s sake.
Oh, Ben, if you only knew the life you could have in Christ Jesus if you came out of idolatrous religion and came to know Him in reality, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth!
Who but God knows whether, if you earnestly pray for me with sincerity and genuine goodwill, as you say you will, God will give you understanding and salvation? That would be wonderful! Then you would be filled with joy and thankfulness toward God, like Zacchaeus, instead of resentment and grief toward Him and me, as with the Pharisees.
Ask me questions, and Lord willing, I will answer, gladly. More importantly, seek the Lord while He can be found.
Victor
Ben’s reply:
http://www.aquatechnology.net/victorhafichuk.html
Ben gross
Victor’s response:
Hi Ben,
There’s much more where that came from, published against us. Are you running this by me just to see what I have to say about it, or are you trying to use it as evidence against us? We have no end of enemies, even as the Lord foretold: “You shall be hated by all men for My sake and the Gospel’s.”
Does their opposition to us make them right? Do you simply take the word of unproven witnesses and liars to justify yourself? Are you that dishonest and unjust? Should I expect more from Hutterites? Have you examined Shaparenko’s charges against us at aquatechnology.net? Do you honestly know he is speaking the truth about us?
If Shaparenko speaks lies, you partner with a false witness, against the Lord’s command: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Why would you do such a thing, Ben, if not because you’re exactly where we have said you are – in darkness and sin?
For a full and honest report of both sides, with proof of Shaparenko’s falsehood and evil, check out Gene Shaparenko – A Pygmy Acts Like King Kong.
By the way, Ben, the Grander Water Revitalization technology that Gene condemned us for, as an ungodly heathen invention, is something the Hutterites introduced us to, strongly urging us to obtain it for our farm. We asked the Lord what to do, and He told us to get the Grander equipment, “the sooner the better.” We did, and are very thankful for all the benefits we have received. We are also thankful for the Hutterites sharing this wonderful technology with us.
Is it not your time to learn you don’t have the relationship with God you think to have, and acknowledge it?
Victor
Another (?) Benjamin Gross writes to us, using the name “Mr. Smith” (there are as many Hutterites named “Smith” as there are Catholic priests named “Cohen”):
I’m wonder who you are, and where you got your information from? How many colonies did you go to in order to come up with some of the stuff that you wrote. And most importantly I want to know why you felt the need to do this? Are you a ex-hutterite, or are you just a outsider who felt the need to put your thought on paper?
Mr. Smith
Paul’s reply:
Benjamin, if you read our Hutterite entries carefully, you will find most of your answers, and all the important ones.
We’ve been to several colonies, and several colonies have visited with us. But collecting a volume of information hasn’t been the way we’ve established our understanding, and it’s not how we know what we’re talking about. Instead, we speak by the revelation and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He has given us for the sake of the Hutterites, because He is also their Lord and Savior.
Another Benjamin Gross just wrote us, asking similar questions. I enclose our correspondence with him.
Paul Cohen
“Mr. Smith’s” response:
Thank you for replying to my first email, you did a very good job of not answering my questions. My first question was “again” who are YOU? Where are you from? What was your motivation for writing this paper?
Mr. Smith
Paul’s reply:
Our websites, which are both readily available to you, tell in some depth who we are and where we are from. (Read Our Testimonies, for example, and see Harvest Haven.)
The reply I sent you tells you our motivation for writing, quite directly and explicitly, if you really cared to know.
So who are you, “Mr. Smith,” demanding answers that are already at your disposal, while not openly declaring who you are and what your specific complaints are?
Do you have anything of substance to say? We have provided you with plenty of substance, and you have provided us with none. We are prepared to answer you further, Lord willing, but this business of hiding yourself while complaining, with your eyes closed and your hands over your ears, isn’t going to get you anywhere with God or man, except in greater trouble and turmoil.
Paul Cohen
“Mr. Smith’s” response:
The only way to describe what you are doing is childish, pathetic, and deeply troubled. I hope you may find the truth, and pease one of these days.
Mr. Smith
Victor’s reply:
“Mr. Smith,”
Are we childish?
Children are instructed to never give their names to complete strangers. We speak openly, identifying ourselves to all, friend and foe. We know in Whom we believe and aren’t afraid of strangers. But you, being in “childish” fear, withhold your name, though we have honestly identified ourselves and proclaimed our purpose.
Children lie to protect themselves and conceal their doings, “Mr. Smith.”
Children often don’t know enough to answer questions or discuss important issues intelligently. It is often impossible to have a two-way learned conversation with them.
They don’t have the attention span to stick to the issues at hand.
They are prone to argue rather than to get to the meat of the matter and discuss it. Children are very selfish, “Mr. Smith.”
And they throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way.
Are we pathetic?
We speak openly, rebuking sin and error that destroy people, while you stand anonymously in defense of sin and error.
We speak, offering substance, particularly Biblical substance, while, thus far, you have offered not a shred of substance, nothing at all!
So who is pathetic?
Are we deeply troubled?
We know the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the One Who delivers from all troublings and troubles. Yet, He is grieved with many. While He is grieved, yes, “deeply troubled” about the spiritual state of individuals and society as a whole, we are deeply troubled with Him.
He is hurting, “Mr. Smith,” while you continue to drive the spikes into His hands. For that, yes, we are deeply troubled, and with Him, we feel your vicious lashes and cruel piercings. But we love Him, and He loves us and you, too. Therefore, we speak, while you resent it and try your best to shut us up. How pathetic is that?
And you suggest you have truth and peace, Ben? You know that isn’t true at all. You are the one who is pitiful and desolate – a victim of sin and of your choice to please men with your religious ways, inner and outer, rather than to please God; to preserve your life, rather than to deny yourself and take up the cross; to keep your life, rather than to lose it for His sake.
I would say those are the true marks of being childish, pathetic, and deeply troubled, “Mr. Smith,” aka “Anonymous.” Here is the Scripture speaking very specifically of Benjamin John Gross or whoever uses his email address for his own purposes:
John 3:19-21 MSG
(19) This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God.
(20) Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure.
(21) But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.
We would be glad to produce those verses for you in German. Would you prefer that, in order to give you the feeling you may be more pleasing to God if you read in your mother tongue, while the rest of the world doesn’t do as well as you because it doesn’t pray, sing, and read the Bible in German?
Come to the Light – Jesus Christ, “Mr. Smith.” Begin to serve Him Who makes all things manifest, rather than serving the prince of this world and of darkness, who determines to dress his children in chains of darkness, as black as the blackest of nights.
Victor
Other Responses to “To Hutterites Everywhere”:
- Josh Gross wrote: Ur a fucking freak man the devil will take uPaul’s reply: How could that happen, Josh, when Jesus Christ has delivered us from the Devil into God’s hand? Not only that, but we now rule with Christ, and take Satan’s unlawful possessions away from him. Does that threaten you? [END… More responses below]
Angry Kleinsasser A
Paul Kleinsasser, a Hutterite from Manitoba, writes us to complain about our writing. In fact, he says God will punish us for what we say about Hutterites. But only informed by his religious indoctrination and unthinking emotional response, Paul is punishing himself by rejecting the truth.
Angry Kleinsasser B
A few months after Paul Kleinsasser wrote us, Tim Kleinsasser, from another Hutterite colony, phoned us, quite worked up. Here is the summary of that call plus two follow-ups, where we try to reason with Tim.