Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ
That sounds like a far cry from what I saw in California from 1978-2015. "Receiving the believers" in my localities was more like: We welcome you to come meet with us (we really do!). But, when you do, be prepared to endure insults about your church's beliefs and practices. And, if you choose to continue meeting with us after that, you better join in to worship the way we do and use our Living Stream Ministry materials as you do because you will get the silent treatment and/or the boot out the door if you don't. And, we wouldn't dream of going and participating in another groups' divisive meetings unless we get a chance to show them we have superior teachings and practices and therefore leave their group for ours.
Also, I've seen much better receiving of the believers practiced in community churches in the cities I've lived in.
|
Agreed JJ. Though I will say pre-1986 the local churches did a better job of receiving visitors. At least that was my experience in S.B., CA. Whether a Lord's Day meeting or Young People's meeting, it was normal to invite classmates to visit. I don't ever recall any speaking with the intent of puffing up the recovery by putting down non-LC assemblies. That I did not witness that type of speaking until the 1990's.
I will make one addition to your quote, "we may visit other churches, but we refuse to take the table with them."