Quote:
Originally Posted by Nell
Here's another Question/Concern/truth current and former LC members would do well to address: What have you done?
The truth is, we made a choice to follow Lee off the rails. Like Eve, “I was deceived.” This was my sin. I own it. I came to this realization several years after I left the LC.
I chose to ignore the warnings in my own conscience. I chose to ignore the warnings in the Bible. I chose to obey the LC leadership when I should have asked questions...regardless of the personal consequences. I chose not to ask questions, and I chose to obey the mantra "don't say anything negative."
I didn't really mean to ignore all the warning signs. I didn't realize that the red flags waving all over the place were actually the Lord God trying to get my attention. It wasn't my fault.
There are many reasons we can legitimately point to Lee as the deceiver and blame him. Blame the LC leadership. Blame all who led to our "downfall", often rightly so. However, does that make us any LESS deceived?
I don't know that the solution would be different for church kids than it would be for those of us who came to the LC as adults. I don't think it would be a mistake to confess and repent for being deceived as a child. The woman gave a simple answer which is likely the best possible answer.
Like the woman, I also was deceived by the serpent. I repented for my sin. I often pray even now, "Lord, please don't let me be deceived." I don't hold Lee and the LC responsible for what I did. This doesn't let them off the hook. Lee, et al, are in God's hands now...not mine.
“My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me.” This is my/our great need...to hear the Shepherd's voice and follow Him.
Nell
|
Dear Nell,
I agree wholeheartedly with what you are saying here. We are calling the leadership of the LSM to sober acknowledgement, humility and repentance, yet that is the starting point for every human heart. None of us is exempt. And it is the very grace of God offering us a way forwards through repentance. We get everything back that was lost through the fall through it. God's promises to us all flow on the back of genuine repentance. It is a wonderful thing that our God loves to forgive.
We can be scrambling at the opportunity to clear up our lives this way, and release His wonderful grace over our lives.
Even if we were brainwashed as children, we are still sinners by nature, owning that means willingness to have a repentant heart. The alternative is fueling our sense of being a victim which does not lead us to trust Jesus.
Just to respond to JJ's testifying about the Ozzy Osborne song on the radio.... I've had similar experiences. Just this year I was very scared about something and as I was leaving a prayer meeting I felt God say to me 'everything is going to be alright' then I went to buy some groceries on my way home and the song playing in the supermarket was Bob Marley 'don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright'. That is one of 2 examples... God can use many ways to speak to us and reinforce His words to us! Expect the unexpected!