Quote:
Originally Posted by bookworm
This is the best example I can come up with for the existence of a "class system" in the LC. Not only are elders and their families a "privileged class" but people with money, or the potential to make money, are right in there too. The result is people like me looking longingly on the freedom of the "privileged class" and trying to figure out what class I was in, other than the lowest class of all..."single sister."
I believe Nell’s statements above ring very true regarding a “class system” in the LC. (Post #47 on this thread) This should not come as a shock to anyone as this is the situation in the fallen world among fallen human beings. However, it is the antithesis of what we were told the LC was and stood for. Many of us were young, idealistic college students who had “seen through the hypocrisy of fallen Christianity” and were eager for an opportunity to be absolute for the Lord and be a part of a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. We were sold a bill of goods by the LC leadership that assured us that we were giving ourselves for the building of the true church that the New Testament speaks about. In time, however, we were told we were a part of the Lord’s army and should follow orders without questioning, all for the sake of the building of the church. The peer pressure increased and we were put in a position of trying to please men as we vied with one another in being transformed for the building. In such circumstances abuse is inevitable because of fallen human nature—and no locality can claim exemption.
I, too, am happy for Hope that he and his family were able to experience a degree of freedom and that it occurred within the LC. But surely he would admit that the only reason he had such freedom was because of his place of leadership. It is a blessing that he and his family had some degree of protection, but I hope he would realize that for the majority (even in Dallas where I am my family were) this was not the case. Each person in the LC was there of his/her own volition and because of his/her own needs or good intentions. Therefore each person has his/her own perspective of how the dynamics of the LC played out. There is no need for him to “shoot the messenger” so to speak to defend his viewpoint on this forum.
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I have said several times that if the Anaheim leadership had been flawless in character and all the elders were kind and wise etc. I would have left. I was there for the same reason you were. It was for an ideal, a vision, which you have well described. But the direction and goal or vision changed over time. Many abuses also came in as there were some teachings that just opened the doors to the opposite of our ideal.
I am not sure when the change started for us in the USA but when I attended the first urgent national USA elders/co-workers meeting in January, 1974, I was inwardly nearly destroyed. But the deputy authority thing and the myths about WL etc caused me to seek to go on in Dallas according to the original motivation and assume we would be ok, but we had hit the so called slippery slope.
Here is your description of the slippery slope we went down, "We were sold a bill of goods by the LC leadership that assured us that we were giving ourselves for the building of the true church that the New Testament speaks about. In time, however, we were told we were a part of the Lord’s army and should follow orders without questioning, all for the sake of the building of the church. The peer pressure increased and we were put in a position of trying to please men as we vied with one another in being transformed for the building. In such circumstances abuse is inevitable because of fallen human nature—and no locality can claim exemption."
Nothing more to say.
Great utterance!! Thanks for the post.
You seem to indicate you were in Dallas. I am so sorry for the disappointment and discouragement I am sure you experienced. I am so sorry I was not of much help or use in steming the tide. I repent for my part in pushing you down the slippery slope.
In Christ Jesus there is hope for us all,
Hope, Don Rutledge