[Cal]

Oregon,

I see your point. But that is not at all what I meant. I meant that Peter's authority to enforce his apostolic commands came from God, whereas no one has such authority today, or at least, there is no way to verify that anyone has such authority today, which is effectively the same thing.

My larger point was that rules like "giving all" cannot work without some enforcement, which presumes that someone has the authority to enforce giving all. Simply entertaining that someone has such authority is opening the door to abuse. Any clear thinking adult should be able to see that.

Lee's infamous "fermentation" tirade (and others like it) are examples of his trying to enforce by swinging his self-presumed deputorial weight. In all these cases he overstepped his bounds. Lee's authority stopped at any organization he formed (LSM) or any church he led (none).

I'd like to make another point. Lee stated in his defense during that time, "I had the deputy authority. But I never used it", trying to impress that he was meek. His statement is disingenuous and hollow for the following reason: Simply leading people to believe that he had deputy authority was using it, because their entire reaction to him and what he said is going to be warped by their believing such a thing.

One would think he was smart enough to realize that.