Things I Witnessed in The Local Church as a Church Kid

06-17-2023, 11:16 AM

Hi, I wanted to share this because I simply wanted to share.

I grew up in the Lord's recovery and was dearly cared for by this elderly couple. They were the kind of elders who would do anything for you and I mean anything. If your family had an issue be it a fight, divorce, or minor issues, they were the ones to always come to your house and be there for you and that is even after midnight. They would continually visit the sick ones on a daily basis, as well as visit those who were distant from the church. They never ever criticized anyone in the church, but instead, they would always hug us and tell us that they loved us when we made a mistake. To this day, the locality is very loving and everyone still feels that we are truly a family in Christ and I wish I could go back there.

When I moved to different localities, it was hard for me to adapt because a lot of other localities felt very religious and judgemental and some had the guts to tell me that I had no personal experience with the lord (as if they know me when they don't). Some young elders even used a certain bible verse to make me reprove someone on their behalf just so that they didn't have to destroy their natural relationship and it ended up taking a huge toll on me.

Even when I used to fellowship with the YPs, I felt like a constant knowledge competition of who knows more, and I felt nothing but religious when I fellowshipped with saints from the ROW localities (not saying all but the vast majority). Some even had the guts to tell me that they would no longer want to fellowship with me just because I was fellowshipping with a sister. The thing is this one fellowshipped with an elder and they encouraged him to not fellowship with me because of this.

At this point, All I'm seeing is the constant judgment on brothers and sisters who are doing the right things, manipulating others, and those who rise up on behalf of dysfunctional elders are being placed aside and treated horribly.

So I ended up confronting elders in my current locality in the end because they weren't humbled enough to acknowledge the horrible mistake they made that led to several people leaving. I continue to confront them to this day on behalf of those who were hurt (I don't really care about their teachings on covering up those in duty authority or whatever they call it. I see Jesus as my king and leader and not those dysfunctional elders so I will continue to call out on their mistakes). Of course, for that reason, they dislike me and ignored me for 3 years but I won't let them hurt those that I dearly care about.

It sounds like a lot of saints would rather listen to their elders than actually ask Jesus what to do. My sister (who attended full-time training) ended up marrying a brother from the full-time training. He ended up becoming a horrible alcoholic and treated her and her child in the most horrible way one could think of (The Police had to get involved numerous times). She ended up initiating the divorce because it was beyond our control to the point that we were as a family afraid might face a life-or-death situation. So they ended up taking the brother to court. Funny enough, one day the saints from her locality told her they can't associate with her or my mother any longer - When my mother showed up to this conference, the elders from this particular locality told her not to come. The elders ended up covering the brother and his family just because of the amount they were donating to the locality with an absurd amount of $$$$ (btw no one should know how much people are donating right?) - this is when as a family we realized the locality (not the locality I mentioned in the beginning) would rather protect and cover up the brother and his family just because they were wealthy but not protect those who truly needed to be protected.

Likewise, other sisters are going through similar situations and the locality never ever helped them and just left them aside despite the horrific situations they were going through (domestic abuse). This really made me sick to my stomach and hearing this simply makes me cry.

One brother that I know from my childhood one day told me he saw a vision of the end time. He told me that during this conference 2 elders decided to divide the church. A bunch of saints followed them (right and left) but in the midst, there were those who didn't take a side ( meaning they choose to follow the lord and not the 2 elders), and the tribulation suddenly came shortly after that (according to his vision he saw). I believe the time will come when all of us will have to make a decision and be those who would rather choose to follow JESUS CHRIST than these dysfunctional elders with ambition.

To those still in the LC, please fellowship with Jesus before making an absurd decision to cut off your brothers and sisters ruthlessly just because your elders tell you to do so. The elders are human beings and they're nothing but slaves of Jesus Christ. Nobody ever goes above our Savior / King / Lord, and if you've witnessed elders' wrongdoings, please speak up and confront them privately or with those whom you witnessed their wrongdoings, or else, you'll end up being deceived.

Lastly, please don't judge non-LC Christians because when I went through a horrible mental breakdown from the LC, the ones who helped me the most were non-LC Christians. The Lord has shown me that we can all be one regardless of which church we go to. So please don't say things like non-LC Christians can't be an overcomer because there are tons of non-LC Christians who are paying their price for their beliefs and are faithful unto death.

TLFisher · 06-24-2023, 02:37 PM

Quote:

It sounds like a lot of saints would rather listen to their elders than actually ask Jesus what to do.

Yes it does. Though many will deny it, in practice they are giving the headship to their elders and co-workers instead of God. Opinions and feelings of elders and co-workers becomes more convincing than Scripture.

Quote:

To those still in the LC, please fellowship with Jesus before making an absurd decision to cut off your brothers and sisters ruthlessly just because your elders tell you to do so. The elders are human beings and they're nothing but slaves of Jesus Christ. Nobody ever goes above our Savior / King / Lord, and if you've witnessed elders' wrongdoings, please speak up and confront them privately or with those whom you witnessed their wrongdoings, or else, you'll end up being deceived.

Elders and co-workers are just men. Just brothers. None are above reproach. Though in the local churches there is the tendency to think more highly of them than is needed. They are brothers and nothing more. Certainly not infallible. Just like anyone else equally fallible and sinful. No one is immune to being deceived. Give your headship to God and not man. Fear God and not men.

The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
‘Who can bring me down to the ground?
Obadiah 1:3

07-17-2023, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lastly, please don't judge non-LC Christians because when I went through a horrible mental breakdown from the LC, the ones who helped me the most were non-LC Christians. The Lord has shown me that we can all be one regardless of which church we go to. So please don't say things like non-LC Christians can't be an overcomer because there are tons of non-LC Christians who are paying their price for their beliefs and are faithful unto death.

I'm so sorry you had to experience this. I am currently still in the Local Church, and fully understand this, its hard to decipher what is coming from the body and what is coming from the elders as individuals. it annoys me how much they state that they care for us but in reality they only really care for the ones that aim to go to the FTT, is unrealistic to expect all of the young people to attend, i only expect to go for the short term 2 week training when i graduate from university.

I also agree with what you say about non LC, i remember as a church kid hearing that other Christians are not "real" Christians and don't follow the correct teachings and don't fully love the Lord. But that is entirely untrue, i went to a different church in HS with some friends of mine from school, and i think i gained some insight and experience of the Lord and different people that i couldn't of if I stayed in the LC during HS.

I wish you all the best, and pray for your continuing in loving the Lord.

06-17-2023, 11:16 AM	#1
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Things I Witnessed in The Local Church as a Church Kid Hi, I wanted to share this because I simply wanted to share. I grew up in the Lord's recovery and was dearly cared for by this elderly couple. They were the kind of elders who would do anything for you and I mean anything. If your family had an issue be it a fight, divorce, or minor issues, they were the ones to always come to your house and be there for you and that is even after midnight. They would continually visit the sick ones on a daily basis, as well as visit those who were distant from the church. They never ever criticized anyone in the church, but instead, they would always hug us and tell us that they loved us when we made a mistake. To this day, the locality is very loving and everyone still feels that we are truly a family in Christ and I wish I could go back there. When I moved to different localities, it was hard for me to adapt because a lot of other localities felt very religious and judgemental and some had the guts to tell me that I had no personal experience with the lord (as if they know me when they don't). Some young elders even used a certain bible verse to make me reprove someone on their behalf just so that they didn't have to destroy their natural relationship and it ended up taking a huge toll on me. Even when I used to fellowship with the YPs, I felt like a constant knowledge competition of who knows more, and I felt nothing but religious when I fellowshipped with saints from the ROW localities (not saying all but the vast majority). Some even had the guts to tell me that they would no longer want to fellowship with me just because I was fellowshipping with a sister. The thing is this one fellowshipped with an elder and they encouraged him to not fellowship with me because of this. At this point, All I'm seeing is the constant judgment on brothers and sisters who are doing the right things, manipulating others, and those who rise up on behalf of dysfunctional elders are being placed aside and treated horribly. So I ended up confronting elders in my current locality in the end because they weren't humbled enough to acknowledge the horrible mistake they made that led to several people leaving. I continue to confront them to this day on behalf of those who were hurt (I don't really care about their teachings on covering up those in duty authority or whatever they call it. I see Jesus as my king and leader and not those dysfunctional elders so I will continue to call out on their mistakes). Of course, for that reason, they dislike me and ignored me for 3 years but I won't let them hurt those that I dearly care about. It sounds like a lot of saints would rather listen to their elders than actually ask Jesus what to do. My sister (who attended full-time training) ended up marrying a brother from the full-time training. He ended up becoming a horrible alcoholic and treated her and her child in the most horrible way one could think of (The Police had to get involved numerous times). She ended up initiating the divorce because it was beyond our control to the point that we were as a family afraid might face a life-or-death situation. So they ended up taking the brother to court. Funny enough, one day the saints from her locality told her they can't associate with her or my mother any longer - When my mother showed up to this conference, the elders from this particular locality told her not to come. The elders ended up covering the brother and his family just because of the amount they were donating to the locality with an absurd amount of $$$$ (btw no one should know how much people are donating right?) - this is when as a family we realized the locality (not the locality I mentioned in the beginning) would rather protect and cover up the brother and his family just because they were wealthy but not protect those who truly needed to be protected. Likewise, other sisters are going through similar situations and the locality never ever helped them and just left them aside despite the horrific situations they were going through (domestic abuse). This really made me sick to my stomach and hearing this simply makes me cry. One brother that I know from my childhood one day told me he saw a vision of the end time. He told me that during this conference 2 elders decided to divide the church. A bunch of saints followed them (right and left) but in the midst, there were those who didn't take a side ( meaning they choose to follow the lord and not the 2 elders), and the tribulation suddenly came shortly after that (according to his vision he saw). I believe the time will come when all of us will have to make a decision and be those who would rather choose to follow JESUS CHRIST than these dysfunctional elders with ambition. To those still in the LC, please fellowship with Jesus before making an absurd decision to cut off your brothers and sisters ruthlessly just because your elders tell you to do so. The elders are human beings and they're nothing but slaves of Jesus Christ. Nobody ever goes above our Savior / King / Lord, and if you've witnessed elders' wrongdoings, please speak up and confront them privately or with those whom you witnessed their wrongdoings, or else, you'll end up being deceived. Lastly, please don't judge non-LC Christians because when I went through a horrible mental breakdown from the LC, the ones who helped me the most were non-LC Christians. The Lord has shown me that we can all be one regardless of which church we go to. So please don't say things like non-LC Christians can't be an overcomer because there are tons of non-LC Christians who are paying their price for their beliefs and are faithful unto death.