Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
Thanks for the input Zeek.
I guess what I would like to see is people to address what aron wrote in the opening post of the thread. I think it's a good starter for a discussion of what could be gained from our Local Church experience. I am fully aware that there are many out there that think there is nothing to be learned or gained, and maybe this thread is not for them.
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Right-- Yes that was a good opening post. I have already cited one teaching, that of "taking Christ as your person" which I find worthwhile. But, I also learned to avoid certain kinds of leaders, groups and group behavior. A few years ago I became interested in Tai Chi and started going to a Tai Chi class. I still think Tai Chi is an excellent form of exercise. The classes were given by the local Tai Chi Society. At every class the teacher gave a pitch for what the society. They were prosletyzing and it had a familar cult-like ring to it. I dropped the course. I think Taoism is great, but I'm not interested in joining a Taoist cult.
It seems like everybody is trying to pitch their thing. I feel that I have already paid my dues in that regard by sitting through too many LC meeting watching WL's talking head on TV. I don't want to follow anybody. I don't think I need to be preached to or at. I don't need to hear another sermon.
I should have known better before I "joined" the local church. I feel like part of me, inside, did know better yet I went though it for 13 years. That was long enough...too long.
By some measures Jesus and his followers were a cult. The pejorative meaning of the term grew to prominance after the Jim Jones tragedy. But in some of the stories Jesus sounds like he was a reluctant savior. That would make him an atypical cult leader. They seem only too happy to be messiahs.