Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
They've become convinced that by serving this man, they are serving God. That's how they rationalize it.
Of course, serious objective reflection will bring to mind the dangers in this mindset. But they are scared to death of defying Lee, being convinced that unquestioning loyalty to Lee is what God wants. Quite insidious and difficult to break, because it's not an intellectual position, it's a deep-seeded and irrational emotional position. Aka, a stronghold.
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In many ways, living in greater Cleveland helped to deliver many of us from this spiritual stronghold. TC helped to expose the false loyalty to a man, and would direct us to the Lord. But at the same time, he gave WL a pass on all his wrongdoings, saying that WL was his "spiritual father," and whatever mistakes WL made were "none of his business." I agree with this saying within proper boundaries, which definitely were violated on a regular basis when your so-called "spiritual father" becomes abusive towards your "spiritual brothers."
May of TC's loyal followers never were delivered, however, from serving man. When I finally reached the point where my three elders were all TC loyalists, placing TC's wants and whims and tantrums above the church, that was my tipping point. For them it seems almost impossible to make the distinction between man-pleasing and God-pleasing.