Yesterday, I wrote about a magazine article that had recently come out about me...
It wasn't a bad piece, and it has some positive parts. Nevertheless, because of what was written, it's probably best for me to comment on it further. And for the next few journal entries I may do so.
Leave it to Madison Avenue, however, to create images of people, albeit false images.
In the article titled, "The Devil in David Berkowitz," the subheading said, in part, ". . . A growing flock of renegade Christians believe he's an apostle of the Lord." This is ridiculous!
The writer, as it turned out, based this idea on three friends of mine: MaryAnn and her husband, Jimmy, and MaryAnn's sister, Jeannie. I've known these people for approximately two years.
It was shortly after our first visit, though, when MaryAnn suddenly decided within herself that I was an "apostle." She somehow managed to convince her husband and sister of it, too. And when MaryAnn later shared this with me, I immediately discounted the idea and I kindly, but bluntly, told her so. I also said that I am not into seeking titles, and I am terribly afraid when any Christian is placed upon a pedestal by someone.
In any event, MaryAnn, especially, continued to think of me along this line. I was not happy about it, either, and I would always tell her so whenever she'd broach the subject. Yet at the same time, I believed that MaryAnn meant no harm by saying this, and that it was simply her way of trying to encourage me.
Unfortunately, however, when MaryAnn first met me with the journalist, and she began to give him personal information about me without my knowledge or permission, her belief about my being an apostle was of course one of the things she told him. And as one might expect from the secular media, they would run wild with it. "David Berkowitz is an apostle sent by God!"
But what this Madison Avenue based article did not say, I will now say in my behalf. Other than MaryAnn, Jimmy and Jeannie, out of the few dozen Christian friends I have, a small number who visit me on occasion, but most of whom my only contact with is via letters, not a single one of them has ever viewed me as such. And if the implications brought forth in the article were not so serious, such a claim would actually be comical.
I've never founded a church. I have no followers. And none of my friends, other than these three well-meaning but misguided souls, have ever tried to tag me with such a title.
In addition, I do not lead a "flock of renegade Christians." Other than MaryAnn, Jeannie and Jimmy, who do not attend a local church (which I think is a big mistake on their part), most of my other friends are members of congregations, and they attend church regularly. While a few are, for various reasons, still seeking a good church to join.
But I have absolutely never told or encouraged anyone to stop attending a church and to follow me instead, as the article seemed to portray. The media, it seems, works wonders with distortions, and such twistings of the truth are to be expected.
D.B.
P.S. See my journal entry "Betrayal" for more about this matter.
Leave it to Madison Avenue, however, to create images of people, albeit false images.
In the article titled, "The Devil in David Berkowitz," the subheading said, in part, ". . . A growing flock of renegade Christians believe he's an apostle of the Lord." This is ridiculous!
The writer, as it turned out, based this idea on three friends of mine: MaryAnn and her husband, Jimmy, and MaryAnn's sister, Jeannie. I've known these people for approximately two years.
It was shortly after our first visit, though, when MaryAnn suddenly decided within herself that I was an "apostle." She somehow managed to convince her husband and sister of it, too. And when MaryAnn later shared this with me, I immediately discounted the idea and I kindly, but bluntly, told her so. I also said that I am not into seeking titles, and I am terribly afraid when any Christian is placed upon a pedestal by someone.
In any event, MaryAnn, especially, continued to think of me along this line. I was not happy about it, either, and I would always tell her so whenever she'd broach the subject. Yet at the same time, I believed that MaryAnn meant no harm by saying this, and that it was simply her way of trying to encourage me.
Unfortunately, however, when MaryAnn first met me with the journalist, and she began to give him personal information about me without my knowledge or permission, her belief about my being an apostle was of course one of the things she told him. And as one might expect from the secular media, they would run wild with it. "David Berkowitz is an apostle sent by God!"
But what this Madison Avenue based article did not say, I will now say in my behalf. Other than MaryAnn, Jimmy and Jeannie, out of the few dozen Christian friends I have, a small number who visit me on occasion, but most of whom my only contact with is via letters, not a single one of them has ever viewed me as such. And if the implications brought forth in the article were not so serious, such a claim would actually be comical.
I've never founded a church. I have no followers. And none of my friends, other than these three well-meaning but misguided souls, have ever tried to tag me with such a title.
In addition, I do not lead a "flock of renegade Christians." Other than MaryAnn, Jeannie and Jimmy, who do not attend a local church (which I think is a big mistake on their part), most of my other friends are members of congregations, and they attend church regularly. While a few are, for various reasons, still seeking a good church to join.
But I have absolutely never told or encouraged anyone to stop attending a church and to follow me instead, as the article seemed to portray. The media, it seems, works wonders with distortions, and such twistings of the truth are to be expected.
D.B.
P.S. See my journal entry "Betrayal" for more about this matter.
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