[aron]

In the study on Hebrews 13:17 you wrote:

"God intentionally structured the church environment NOT to have the same kind of authority structure as other realms of life, but not because he wanted chaos or rebellion. It is because he wants for each of us to come into a fully obedient walk with Him in proper coordination with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ."

In the LC church it was the opposite. The LC leadership demanded more authority than family, government, or job. You weren't supposed to get a job, move, or get married apart from "fellowship" from the "brothers". Thankfully, we were allowed to decide what to eat for lunch! But beyond that we were tightly controlled.

To me it was great because I didn't have to think anymore. Just do what Big Brother wanted. What a relief! All the worries and cares of life - gone. Just be "one in the local church" and everything is fine. Likewise, vagarities and uncertainties were banished in the LC kingdom, under the umbrella of WN and WL's certitude. Whatever they said, that was reality expressed. And you could still cultivate a relationship with God, regarding your lunch menu. So it was the best of both worlds, or so I thought.

Eventually though, the "still small voice within" either had to be repressed and ignored, or I had to challenge the voice of authority in the LC. Because some of what they were teaching and some of the Bible just didn't square. So I left, and went back to the realm of uncertainty and failure.

Interestingly, I did the opposite of your testimony. I went right into "Christianity" and got very active. One thing the LC changed in me is that I became a noisy Christian. So after going into the Podunk Community Church I went right up next to Pastor Bob, and when they asked me to introduce myself, out came a speech! Like Paul at Athens, or Peter with the eleven on Pentecost day: I had a podium and a message, a burden. And I never really stopped; but Pastor Bob seemed cool with it because this noisy layman in church wasn't threatening his authority. I wasn't seeking a kingdom for myself, I just wanted to make noise in church. After several years, I moved and didn't bother joining a church in my new home town. Occasionally I'd visit Sunday morning church services, and still have fellowship at work, with family and friends, etc. But that seems to be enough. Maybe God needs me to be "on the backside of the mountain" for a while.

Lastly, there was something in your essay which I wanted to quote but couldn't find again. You wrote, "It's important not to ascribe evil intention toward those with whom you disagree. Their heart may be as pure as yours, or moreso, but they're caught by bad ideas." I am paraphrasing, obviously, but that's so important to keep up front! Who can say who's good and who's evil? I cannot - but God has given me the capacity to say, "This is a bad idea, for reasons A, B, and C." I'm still buffeted by bad ideas myself, and struggle with dark forces that I can't see, or name. So who am I to remonstrate against my fellow servants? But at the same time, bad teachings (i.e. ideas which significantly deviate from the holistic view of the scriptures) should be called out.

Occasionally I cross the line and become prickly and uncharitable, and for that I do apologize. I can get too worked up in my own argument! But it's good to be in an environment in which you're quickly "right-sized" by others. I'm grateful for my experience posting here.