A Diseased Tree Offered Me Its Fruit

Rotten fruit? No, thanks.

Looks like a limp dick, doesn’t it? (Photo by Patti Black on Unsplash)

Throughout February, I’m showing some love by offering a yearly subscription for only $30. Return the love by upgrading (this is the last week to do this). I plan to offer another deal next month, but it won’t be as good as this one.

I don’t often encounter douchebags on Substack, but… the other day, I did. This was in response to a video I recorded with Laggy (the comment was on his version of the video). I thought about tagging the guy in case anyone wanted to block him, but he has only 149 subscribers (bless his heart).

The ironic part is, I’ve been on Substack for over a year, I have thousands of followers, and one of the only (maybe the only, I can’t remember) negative comments I’ve received was from someone claiming to be a Christian.

The reason I say claiming is that the Bible teaches that you will “know them by their fruit [actions]” (Matthew 7:20). Read on, and you’ll see what kind of fruit he produces.

His profile says, “Jesus is King! The media divides us with fear, hate, and labels. Be nice and educate yourself. God is love, light, and life.”

Sounds positive and loving, right? Read this guy’s comments, and you get a different story. You actually see the fear, hate, and labels he appears to condemn from the media. Instead of being nice and educating himself, he berates and spouts ignorance. Instead of shining God’s “love, light, and life,” he attempts to drag others into hate, darkness, and death.

I know many Christians who are loving and truly embody the Spirit of God, but this guy isn’t one of them. As I said earlier, my goal isn’t to exact revenge by getting people to block him.

Is Substack a supportive community? If so, subscribe to me instead.

I’ll reference a quote attributed to George Herbert, 17th-century poet:

Living well is the best revenge.

If I actually get more paid subscribers from this, it will be worth enduring the pointless vitriol his vile mouth spews out.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).

What’s also sad is that he posts his own combative and negative comments to other people’s posts as if they’re badges of honor. He brags about being blocked by many Substack creators, including CEO Chris Best and other high-ranking Substack employees.

Gee, I wonder why they would block an upstanding, Jesus-loving guy. Sorry, but I know Jesus, and He wouldn’t approve of your mouth.

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).

It brings me no joy to say that this guy and others like him are no better than diseased trees. They have miserable lives, and they’ll offer their rotten fruit, wanting to bring others down to their level of sickness.

Do you know what I did differently after my interaction with him?

Nothing.

I had a fun Valentine’s weekend with my best friend, I went live the following week with Sturg Writes It Down for a fun episode of “Tuesdays with Two Gays,” and I had an awesome chat with Ginger Cook (GC)! I continue writing humorous articles, trying to bring a bit of happiness into people’s lives. In my publication, Ellrich Unraveling, I’m still posting fictional stories and poetry to entertain, evoke emotion, and make readers think.

I’m still gay and happy with my life, because I don’t eat rotten fruit.

His disease will continue to harm him, and after this article, hopefully, it will have a more positive impact on me.

Throughout February (the end of this week!), I’m offering a yearly subscription for only $30.

Either way, I love you and appreciate any support you’re willing or able to offer.

If you enjoy fiction and or poetry, please subscribe to my new publication, Ellrich Unraveling (also 50% off through the end of February for yearly subscriptions)!

Thanks!