Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Debelak
The protection I am suggesting is two-fold:
1) a matter of emphasis: focus on believers learning their spirit and getting rooted in the Word – rather than focusing on the group assuming the individuals will fair just fine; The practical result of this may well entail Christians working together, but each individual has had to go through the process of checking with their indwelling Lord – rather than going along with the group, which is often too easy to do.
2) While Christians will work together and in groups, the initiation of “agendas” or any other “agency” is through direct commission from God to an individual (or several people, but to each one individually). That is, leave “the work” out of the assembly – though they may reinforce each other. If no individuals have such a direct commission – that’s a good red flag that perhaps it isn’t something that should be done. Often, “workers” who are “full-time” end up manufacturing projects...
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Peter, I definitely agree with the dangers you have cited. They are very real. Whereas you seem to identify the source in some "group agency," I like to place the responsibility on leaders, especially those who become abusive, placing their own empires above the needs of the "littlest of My brethren."
Your "protections" constantly place the group focus on the care and well-being of the individual believers, rather than assuming that all personal needs will automatically be met by "clocking in" to ministry service. We exited from a program of top-down management, always looking for new ways to keep the rank and file occupied lest they slow down and think about their relationship with Jesus. There never was the thought, "
what is the Lord doing in the saints?" How is the Great Shepherd leading the flock?
We boasted how we were the true church of Jesus, when actually we existed only to support a man's ministry. Having aggressive workers ruling the church is incompatible with Jesus' pattern to leave the 99, and seek the lost one. When did the saints have the liberty to follow the Lord within? We were constantly warned of the dangers of "
mis-interpretting" the Shepherd's voice. But how great is that danger compared to that of not ever learning to know His voice? How can the the believers learn to follow the Lord when leaders train them to only trust "maximum" brother?