Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
I am a bit curious – in a LC-specific context, what did you find to be helpful about the book? The reason that I ask is because in the LC, I always felt that there as a noticeable effort made to warn people about the perils of holding offenses towards one another. Even so much so that there was a fear of offenses.
Obviously, the LC holds a skewed notion of what offenses actually are. For example, if someone leaves the LC, it might be said that such a person was “harboring offenses.” Or when Joe Schmoe stands his ground when being pressured by an elder, instead of addressing the issue at hand the elder might play the “offense card” ask Joe Schmoe if he’s holding an offense due to the fact that he dared to confront the elder. I saw this kind of stuff happen time and time again, and the manipulation is clearly evident. What is interesting about the issue, however, is that among the rank and file, they are simply seeking to be diligent to not have offenses with one another – a completely earnest mindset. Little do they know that this innocence is exactly what leaders are looking to take advantage of.
It has been said that forgiveness does not mean excusing someone. In the LC especially, it seems people are unable to differentiate between the two, and it is presumed that one must involve the other. The higher-ups in the LC tend to get away with all kinds of nonsense, because they know very well that whatever they do can be easily excused. I think that many who have come out of the LC probably quickly come to the realization that being willing to ‘forgive’ (excuse) things was something that made them vulnerable to manipulation. In fact, much of the talk in the LC regarding offenses/forgiveness is manipulative. As such, I think that it might be a natural reaction to be more wary about forgiving others, as if forgiveness were some sort of action of letting up one’s defenses.
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Great points,
Freedom.
For years I felt the LC teachings on forgiveness were a blessing to me. Years ago we practiced examining our hearts before the Table meeting to clear up any offense, and I definitely had a few last minute apologies to make before the meeting. So I treasure all of these times with the Lord reconciling with other members of the body. Colossians 3.13 was always my own personal guiding principle, and something I regularly taught in the meetings.
As others have said, "any truth taken to an extreme can become a falsehood." Since leaving the LC, I have learned that LSM uses these teachings on forgiveness for self-serving means, i.e. placing all the responsibility of forgiving on the members, and absolving its leadership of all accountability. Even to think about leadership failures and gross offenses was to "resurrect the tail of the buried dog," and that true forgiveness demanded total amnesia on our part. This helps to explain why the members are generally so loyal to such inscrutable leaders.