Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Let's face it, not many congregations even let their attendants speak, so the LC practice should be applauded. What was more concerning was the lack of spiritual substance listening to so many popups. Kind of like the difference between listening to popcorn pop vs. the smell of a hearty turkey dinner.
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My take on letting everyone speak is that it is mainly appealing to those who actually stand up and speak. And that is because you get kudos for doing it. A kind of approval that strokes the ego.
As for the preference for the regular open forum, I believe there are places for it, but a general meeting is typically not that place. We like it as Americans partly because it appeals to our sense of self-government (even if we don't recognize it that way). I still assert that there is nothing the scripture that provides for open mic time in the meeting. And I know that some disagree with me on it. But even 1 Cor 14 (in my opinion) does not provide for it despite everything Lee said about that particular verse.
I can't simply applaud the LRC practice for 2 reasons. First, as stated above, I do not see any directive in that direction in scripture, therefore no preference for it. Second, too much of the effect of the practice was me feeling good about myself and my experience and getting strokes for it. And when you look at the whole system of the LRC that ensnares its membership, that is one of the perks that makes you think it is superior, and that makes you think you are superior.
Besides, no matter how much of the Bible you read, to the extent that those testimonies were or are a part of the discussion of doctrine and Biblical truth, there should be something other than the repetition of a singular position with no alternate considered, even if for the purpose of proving it wrong. If we assume that everyone is going to say only things that support the premises of the underlying message (whether spoken or written) then it is pointless. It is just a way to reinforce a position without any reflection on the merits of the position. And feel good about doing it just because you did it, not because it was right.