Quote:
Originally Posted by Awoken
Yeah, agreed. I went to the elder I was closest to about my own personal struggle with sin on multiple occasions and he basically brushed aside all of my questions/requests for help and told me in so many words that my problem was that I was too focused on my own selfish issues and not on "the building", never mind that that particular issue more or less made it impossible for me to be an effective builder of others. His solution was to suggest that I move into a brothers' house (nearest one being an hour away from the city where I work and attend school).
On top of that, I once sent him an email asking if he would be willing to be an accountability partner and he completely ignored it - no response whatsoever. I remember trying to figure out what the heck this was supposed to communicate to me. I had to assume it meant I was not 'in my spirit' and so I was only good for being ignored, which sadly I think actually was the intended effect. I would be lying if I said I don't feel bitter about this, although I don't hold it against the elder personally. Ron Kangas also ignored me blatantly in like manner once so I think this kind of 'teaching' must come from the top down.
|
This is why I cannot refer to the current crop of elders/co-workers as shepherds. They crave the function, but not the responsibility and the work that goes with being elders. Can you say they oversee my soul or your soul? I cannot say that.
I can say there is preference by elders to keep everything in the positive realm. Touching anything that would require to labor on a brother or sister is considered a waste of time. Simply, they're not equipped for the shepherding work.