Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Denominations don't hide the fact that they oversee their member churches. With that oversight comes numerous inherent controls and consequent loss of local freedom.
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And with the granting of that reduction in freedom, you have a covering of spiritual wisdom that reaches far beyond the whole that any one assembly can muster. There is always a trade-off.
If I want my assembly to be entirely independent in all ways, I now am at the mercy of our own limited resources to sift through what external input, if any, we think is worthy of consideration, or must create it all ourselves.
And looking at the results of most entirely independent groups, or very small denominations like the LRC, I actually think there are benefits to being part of a larger group that might outweigh the loss of freedom. And in many cases, what is the actual freedom lost? Is it real and meaningful? Or is it marginal and/or a strawman to beat on? (Not saying you, but our thoughts in general, and those of the serious "leave me alone" mindset in particular.)