CS,
I’m not sure why you gave an example of a crazy story from India etc, to justify the alleged comments of a supposed Shliach.
1. You can just say you wouldn’t say something crazy like that.
2. You don’t agree at all with such sentiment.
3. No Shliach you know would ever say otherwise think that.
To make up a possible context to justify it is ludicrous. Let’s say a bitter guy come to my Chabad House and said those things, how can I tell him “better be frei than not believe the Rebbe is Moshiach”. Firstly, that’s not true, and you don’t think it is either, so why justify it?
Secondly, I’ve had open conversations with the kinds of non frum Israelis that visit India and such places, none of them believe the Rebbe is Moshiach, even if they take Chabads free food. Food is the way to the heart, not the brain:)
And this “Israeli Shliach not under Merkos” business, don’t make a fake story complete with fake characters to find a justification. The wacko Israelis with yellow flags and Yechi Yarmulkes in India (besides for Mumbai and Bangalore, which are real normal Shluchim) aren’t “Israeli Shluchim” they’re Israelis who self identify as Shluchim. You can’t be a Shliach “not under Merkos” it’s like being a US Marine not affiliated with the army. Every Shliach is under Merkos, if he’s not, he’s not a Shliach.
To make it clear, such a statement is disgusting, and I don’t know any Lubavitch who would say such a thing. CS, you took the bait, someone makes up a ridiculous story, hoping you’ll justify it, and you did.