Josh Duggar Ripped for 'Lifestyle of Evil' in Scathing Letter From In-Law
“[Josh Duggar] has been shown to be a fraud,” Michael Seewald wrote about the former reality star on Monday in a blog that has Duggar detractors breathing similarly condemning fire and brimstone. (Photo: Getty Images).
Another Duggar relative is speaking out against Josh Duggar, currently in a faith-based rehab for treatment following his admission that he cheated on his wife, Anna, and is addicted to pornography (a claim he since removed from his apology note on the family website).
STORY: Mom Ignites a Movement With Viral Open Letter to Anna Duggar
Josh’s sister Jessa Seewald’s father-in-law, Michael Seewald, took to his blog Monday to blast the father of four, 27, as a “pretender” for living “a covert and extensive lifestyle of evil,” and bringing “shame on God’s holy name and the Christian faith.”
STORY: Mom’s Letter to Anna Duggar Stirs Passionate Debate
Jessa Duggar’s husband, Ben Seewald, with his father, Michael Seewald. (Photo: Seewald Family/Instagram)
Though Seewald admits he doesn’t know the former Family Research Council lobbyist intimately, he still condemns the reality star. “By his hypocrisy, he blasphemed the name of God,” declared the Hot Springs Arkansas father of seven. “[Josh] claimed to be a Christian, but by his deeds he has suggested otherwise. With the name of God on his lips he lived a covert and extensive lifestyle of evil. While proudly saying things like, ‘Our family is like the epitome of conservative values,’ he was looking at porn and soliciting affairs.”
The thing that is most “hurtful,” though, according to the devout dad, “is that he was a loud voice endorsing Christian ethics and he has been shown to be a fraud. I am profoundly grieved that he attained such a platform only to bring shame on God’s holy name and the Christian faith.” (Seewald didn’t respond to Yahoo Parenting’s request for comment.)
That’s not to say that Seewald isn’t still willing to forgive Josh — as the Duggar family previously said they had following the news that Josh molested five young women as a teen. “As wicked as Josh has been, and any other sinner, forgiveness can still be obtained,” Seewald proclaims. “The consequences of Josh’s sins will be with him the rest of his life, but by true repentance and faith in Christ, he may have eternal life.”
Commenters on Seewald’s blog and on the news stories it spawned are less forgiving — of Josh Duggar and Seewald, for that matter. “He is basically saying cheating is worse than victimizing minors?!” wrote one respondent of the blogger, who received many supportive comments as well criticism. “His whole essay reeks about being morally superior to non believers,” fumed another. “He should realize that within Christian churches, Josh situation isn’t unique. Many so-called ‘Christians’ are cheating on their spouses, going to strip clubs, and viewing online adult material. He should go and clean up his own church before he starts to tell non believers about ‘God’s wrath burning against them.’" Another individual was even scornful of Seewald’s liberal quoting from scripture in the piece. “The Bible is good to beat people over the head with, isn’t it?”
In contrast, the commenters writing in to address Josh’s “mistakes” have been mostly united in condemnation of the disgraced dad. “Josh has repeatedly preached one thing and done another, and he has put Anna’s health at risk on top of it all,” fumed one remarker. Adds another: “I hope he gets true help and therapy.” Confessing that he “also stood behind Josh after the first revelation,” yet another reader responded: “This second one has really made a negative impact on how some of the public see Christians. It is unfortunate that his entire family is paying for what he did… I hope Anna receives the love and support she deserves.”
Josh’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, recently confessed that they’re reeling from the pain their son has caused. They also admitted that they know they’re not the only ones. After all, they said, Josh “brought great insult to the values and faith we hold dear.“
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