Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Okay, well look at the track record. How does an LRC member deal with the sins of local leadership? Let's say he goes to the elders and accuses them of sin. They reply, "We disagree. You are rebelling against the one true eldership of this city. We quarantine you!" If the member believes the LRC model, he has no recourse but either to submit or be a spiritual vagabond.
Of course, he can go find other fellowship in that city, but then that means he doesn't believe in the LRC model.
My point was if you believe the LRC model, the elders have the upper hand because you can't vote with your feet--which is another practical reason the model is suspect.
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What about BM, the elder in Irving who worked in the LSM.
I think it is the teaching on Deputy Authority which is more often abused in this way.
Based on the reaction to PL I doubt JI, AK, JS, etc. would have had any qualms about dealing with a similarly sinful elder in their locality. Even if the offense was brought to their attention by some other member of the Body.
Another very sinister teaching is the idea of "one ministry". Based on this if you were to stand up in a meeting and say "hey, what is the Biblical basis for 'one church one city' because I don't think our practice is scriptural". I could see that getting you a quick ticket out of the LRC, but it would be based on the "one ministry", the elders would talk to this person and explain that speaking "differently" is not tolerated. They would then assume "deputy authority" as the basis for disciplining this person. Ultimately, the issue is not that you disagreed with "one church one city" but that you told someone else in the church your doubts. Hence, spreading poison and teaching differently, etc.