Free Bibles? Or Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?

[onthefence]

Hi there,

Long time lurker, first time original post.

I've recently decided to distance myself from the LC, and I am blessed to have found another church community that holds the same or similar faith as mine. At least the church and pastor hold open forum discussions every 4 months, allowing us to question practices of the "church" and Christianity. This is a very new thing to me, as many of you can agree with, we were not given much opportunity to ask questions or question authority, especially if you were a church kid, just as I was in the LC.

My main question at the moment (I have a million). A friend of mine at my new church was at a recent event where free Bibles were being handed out. Knowing my suspicions, I asked to see this Bible. It was a Recovery Version Bible, the typical LSM ones. By now, some people in my new church know my background and experience in high high-control/ culty church. Therefore, she is a bit worried about what to do with the Bible.

My personal opinion is that every bible is an opportunity to bring a nonbeliever to Christ and salvation. But I don't agree with the practices of WL footnotes that fill pages and pages of this Bible, and only supplying someone with the NT is restricting a person from discovering all the riches in the Bible.

I would love to hear everyone's opinion on the use of the LSM NT Bibles and what my friend should do with her copies.
(If you suggest burning them, that is your opinion, which is not for me to judge, but I will not be doing that.)

Looking forward to future conversations.
-Onthefence

[runfastfromlc]

Hi Onthefence,

I'm also a long time lurker, first time post. Left LR last year. No regrets. But I decided to keep distance from all of Christian groups from now on.

Similar situation here. I wonder how to deal with the 3 RVBs on my bookshelf. I cannot burn them because I cannot find a place to burn them. Meanwhile, I don't like to donate them to the local libraries/charities because I don't want to see any innocent people get poisoned by reading them. Ironically, the best solution is returning these RVBs back to the LC's bookshelves so that they could be treasured...

Any advice? Also looking forward to future conversations.

-runfastfromlc

[PeterG]

Originally Posted by onthefence

My personal opinion is that every bible is an opportunity to bring a nonbeliever to Christ and salvation. But I don't agree with the practices of WL footnotes that fill pages and pages of this Bible, and only supplying someone with the NT is restricting a person from discovering all the riches in the Bible.-Onthefence

In my opinion, theological remarks have no place in a Bible at all. Anyone can still get a few separate, good commentaries. But when reading the Bible, I should listen on what the Holy Spirit Himself wants to tell me.

But I still wouldn't throw it away. After all, it's a unique Bible translation, plus a theological interpretation. And interpretation often follows a topic that other denominations don't address sufficiently. For example the Kingdom perspective in the Bible of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even if they misunderstand it I'll keep their Bible too. But of course I would never pass it on to anyone else. The pure Word of God should always be our standard, especially for people who are new to Christ.

[ThankfulForever777]

Originally Posted by onthefence

I would love to hear everyone's opinion on the use of the LSM NT Bibles and what my friend should do with her copies.
(If you suggest burning them, that is your opinion, which is not for me to judge, but I will not be doing that.)

Looking forward to future conversations.
-Onthefence

It’s been over two years since I left LC, and it’s been a rollercoaster. Yet, each day brings more freedom and clarity. At first, I couldn’t bear to toss out LSM books, hymnals, or RV Bibles. I wouldn’t dare call LC a cult or denomination.

But after reading into books on cults, talking with Christian counselors, and studying the Bible on my own, I’m convinced LSM books belong in the trash. That’s what I did, keeping just one RV Bible with footnotes and a couple of books for reference, not personal edification.

Their teachings are fundamentally flawed. It's a leaven Jesus and the apostles warned against. Sure, there’s some truth in them, but it’s tainted by human philosophy and demonic teachings.

LC exalts its materials above the Bible, much like Mormons do with the Book of Mormon or Jehovah’s Witnesses with Watchtower magazines. Would you keep a book of Mormon or Watchtower magazines on your shelf for spiritual growth or would you through them away?

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to through them into a trash bin and that’s what I have done with LSM books.

Originally Posted by onthefence

Hi there,

Long time lurker, first time original post.

I've recently decided to distance myself from the LC, and I am blessed to have found another church community that holds the same or similar faith as mine. At least the church and pastor hold open forum discussions every 4 months, allowing us to question practices of the "church" and Christianity. This is a very new thing to me, as many of you can agree with, we were not given much opportunity to ask questions or question authority, especially if you were a church kid, just as I was in the LC.

My main question at the moment (I have a million). A friend of mine at my new church was at a recent event where free Bibles were being handed out. Knowing my suspicions, I asked to see this Bible. It was a Recovery Version Bible, the typical LSM ones. By now, some people in my new church know my background and experience in high high-control/ culty church. Therefore, she is a bit worried about what to do with the Bible.

My personal opinion is that every bible is an opportunity to bring a nonbeliever to Christ and salvation. But I don't agree with the practices of WL footnotes that fill pages and pages of this Bible, and only supplying someone with the NT is restricting a person from discovering all the riches in the Bible.

I would love to hear everyone's opinion on the use of the LSM NT Bibles and what my friend should do with her copies.
(If you suggest burning them, that is your opinion, which is not for me to judge, but I will not be doing that.)

Looking forward to future conversations.
-Onthefence

Hi onthefence,

Thank you for posting this. To answer your question in the title, yes, it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. To answer your question about what your friend should do with the Bible, they can throw it away or bury it. Unfortunately, the footnotes are toxic at best. To use an example from the LCs: if you put a drop of poison in a glass of water, would you drink it? Even if it was only a drop? Of course not. Unfortunately, the footnotes and biased translation towards dispensationalism have ruined the usefulness of that Bible. Please notice, I am still calling it a Bible because, aside from the footnotes, it still accomplishes what our church fathers compiled the scriptures for in the first place: to testify of Jesus' Lordship and Resurrection.

You are brave for distancing yourself from the LC. I'm sure you, like me, still have loved ones who have good will towards God and man in the group. But unfortunately, the teachings spoil themselves and cause disastrous upheaval within individuals, families, and communities, including the LCs themselves. If you need a place to ask questions, this forum is great for that. If you need to speak personally to someone, you can ask your pastor, a cult recovery therapist, or even me. You can even email some of the ex-member YouTubers about any questions you may have.

Remember, it's not an 'US versus THEM' situation. There were clearly good things we had experienced and were taught, but we need to sift the wheat from the chaff if we are going to move forward in our walk with God. "Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them." Jeremiah 15:19. This verse helped me grow from the situation. If we, regarding our involvement with this group, can take forth the precious from the vile, we will be as God's mouth, and we know God is fair towards what is good and what is evil.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Gal. 5:9 (NKJV))

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump … (1 Cor. 5:7a (NKJV))