Quote:
Originally Posted by QOTSA
The LC was a perfect example of patriarchy to me. The dress codes, rules on interacting with members of the opposite sex, rules on speaking in the meetings, and the entire leadership of LC...
The objectification of women, intolerance and hatred against the LGBTQ communities, intolerance against other faith groups or Christian groups... Just unbelievable.
It is quite liberating to be out of the LC and live like a normal person again. Well, normality is overrated. Everyone is weird and quirky in their own ways.
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Though it has been years, it is liberating to be out of the LC and live like a normal person. Though I'd say normality is underrated. Local churches stressed uniformity and not individualism. To be normal is to express to uniqueness we all possess as individuals.
The LC is not only patriarchal, it is a hierarchy towards women and men alike. "Know your role"! Not only that, but a system where brothers flourish with hypocrisy, double-standards etc. As long as a brother can stand up, speak, and parrot the ministry, his conduct, behavior, and manner of life can be excused with a simple "he's a good brother".
A brother might have a concern, a consideration. "That's not your place brother." Ideas and suggestions should come from fellowship. In other words tell-owship from the top down.
Women and men there's unspoken rules and unspoken codes. In relating to the opposite gender, in manner of dress, etc. As a man I've appreciated the liberty I've had with congregations I've met with since leaving the local churches. I can wear hoodies if I want to. I can wear levi's if I want to. I can wear shorts if I want to. No more do I feel compelled by the dark slacks, white shirt, and tie of the local churches. When I was single, I cannot tell you how many Sunday afternoons headaches was the norm. I count it as stress.
Intolerance towards other Christian groups. Not just privately, but publicly it was normal to use Lord's Day prophesying meeting as a platform to belittle and ridicule non-LC/LSM Christian congregations. I heard in the Church in Bellevue, I heard it in the Church in Renton, and I heard it in the Church in San Bernardino. By no means was it a one off or random. Those occasions I felt as the sole person feeling outrage having the meeting for this type of platform. It seemed by the vocal Amens, to belittle non-LC/LSM congregations was something to be celebrated. Don't you know these other congregations are part of the body of Christ too?
Hatred against the LGBTQ communities - not just one time or two times in the Bible, but if I recall 7 times it says to love our neighbor as ourselves. That's not a statement with conditions. Same applies to any distinctive features or traits that stand out for people to treat you with prejudice.
Something I have considered many times ever since I first became a father; what if it was my child who is lesbian or gay? I would not love them any less.