[UntoHim]

Nor worries NeitherFirstnorLast - Ranting is allowed around these parts.

Good topic. We've covered it in some depth here a while back, but we can revisit this topic again.

Your points about the "C word" are well taken. It's a loaded to term to be sure, especially as it may apply to what are known as "Christian cults". I know, I know, the word cult still stings just as much when we slap the term "Christian" on the front. But when it comes to highly aberrant groups, such as the Local Church, the terms "sect" or "group" or "movement" don't seem to fit the bill in my view. When the term sect is used, it congers up more of the benign notion of "denomination", same with the term movement. There is no doubt the the Local Church is a sect or a movement, but do these terms really describe what we know about the Local Church's real situation? In the past people have said the LC is "a sect with some cultic tendencies" - a description that I have no problem with. Could one turn this around and say that the LC is "a Christian cult with some positives"? It there a big difference between the two? I don't know but I'm willing to hash it out with all of you out there.

The only ground rules I would suggest is the we respect each others opinions regarding this matter. I'm sure we can all agree that the use of the "C word" is not an element of the common faith. But yes, it can be a very sharp instrument to hurt. It may also open up some old wounds for us former members. For example, I was in the LC back in the Jim Jones/Peoples' Temple days. My family was very worried, very concerned for me. Now we all know that Witness Lee was no Jim Jones. There was no talk of moving to South America to a commune or any such thing. But just because the term cult was applied to the Peoples' Temple (very much deserved) does this mean that they term cult should ONLY be applied to such extreme groups with such extreme leaders? I would say not. Yes, compared to the Peoples' Temple the Local Church was/is quite benign, and compared to Jim Jones Witness Lee was a good Christian leader, but if we only use the two extremes to define what is and what is not a cult, then I think we have narrowed the definition too much.

Just my two cents worth for now.