Both Frank Walton and J.P. Holding have used what I have come to call the “Brood of Vipers” defense when someone tells them that their tactics are not Christian. Essentially, it goes a little like this:

I say:

I realize now that Frank has never fully risen above the evil he seeks to defend Christianity from. Not only does Frank fall short of answering any of the charges of the RRS make against Christianity, but he also reposts their God-denigrating material with only a few weak ad hominem attacks as a reply.

Referring to Sapient by his real name, or pointing out “enhancements” to Kelly in a derogatory way are not answers to the RRS. They only serve as more ammunition the Squad can utilize to attack Christianity. It makes us all look like hypocrites.

Walton’s “Brood of Vipers” reply: “I won’t apologize for using rather extreme words. When Jesus called the Pharisees and Scribes a brood of vipers was that sinful?”

J.P. Holding has a lengthy discussion of the “Brood of Vipers” defense here.

The purpose of this post is not to attack Frank Walton again. As Brian Sapient has stated, Frank’s tactics speak for themselves and I don’t need to delve any further. What I am doing with this post is to consider the “Brood of Vipers” defense itself, and whether it is a valid defense for conducting a ministry in the fashion that Walton does and Holding did once upon a time. Read the rest of this entry »