[aron]

I guess another way to put my problem with the theological presentation of the Liites is that it fronts an idea that I find problematic, even moreso than the question of whether the "persons" of the Godhead can be conflated. Arguments can be made both for Jesus as the Father, and not, and have been, and unfortunately will be continued.

In some sense I allowed myself to weigh in on a subject with no real resolution simply to point out that there are other ways to understand the words of scripture than what "the ministry" has presented us with. This challenges the ministry itself, and not merely its cognitive output. Because the ministry loves to be first. The ministry is the alpha and omega, and once it has pronounced "this equals that" in the holy word, then the matter is supposedly settled. So for little old me or you to question the supposed "last word" on the Bible is taken as an affront to God Himself and the divinely arranged chain of authority.

But I see this supposedly divinely mandated organizational hierarchy as merely the latest example of "Diotrephes loves to be first." Remember when all the disciples were arguing over which of them were greatest? If Jesus had not intervened, surely it would have either resolved into one Alpha Dog and the rest being subservient, or it would have broken them up into factions. Jesus stopped it quick, and would also have us do that here, so I think. Anyone who insists on the last word in the ongoing conversation is revealing their source, and it isn't God.

So I simply put my opinion against that of Lee, to counter "the ministry" on the Network Norwich and Norfolk website, not because I felt my premises to be inherently superior to those of Lee, but to say, "Not so fast." There are other possibilities besides his conclusion.

And I would ask, Why would we buy into such a system? Obviously we know Lee's motive: "Diotrephes loves to be first". But why would we allow Diotrephes to dominate the assembly? I think for 2 reasons. First because it relieves us the hard chore of thinking for ourselves. Lee has spoken and that is it. Easy. Comfortable. No uncertainty. God has spoken through His oracle. Secondly, those with ambition now have a pathway. So sycophants and lackeys and yes-men now have a center, and a focus for themselves. Ironic that the ones who most loudly and repeatedly castigated the "ambition" of people like MR now are the spokesmen of the system. But not really shocking when you think about how the system is set up.