A little rant

Hi guys. I just suddenly want to rant a little here.

I have been involved with LC for a few years - I have a love-hate relationship with them. I love many of the brothers and sisters there, however their spiritual pride totally puts me off. Like many have said - while they mock others for them being "too busy serving the Lord" without knowing what He wants, they themselves actually place their own service/ministry higher than Christ Himself. They put their so-called vision higher than God Himself. They mock at other believers and it hurts me - because when they hurts other members who don't meet with them, they are also hurting Christ Himself(take the example of "Saul Saul why do you persecute me"). I actually broke down many times of this.

What have led me to rant here is again at this time of Christmas, I see many of them attacking people who celebrate this holiday. Too many times. It annoys me. I know many who do and not do out of sincere hearts. But they do it out of love and respect for one another. However some words and attitudes used by the LC-ers are full of pride and ego which I cannot stand anymore. If I could I would love to scream out loud. For me they have left their first love- they had good intentions. They did help many to revive their love for the Lord. But eventually they are drifted away by placing their ministry and view higher than Christ and the universal Body of His.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi guys. I just suddenly want to rant a little here.

What have led me to rant here is again at this time of Christmas, I see many of them attacking people who celebrate this holiday. Too many times. It annoys me.

I bought into this hypocrisy for decades until the day I finally realized that the only holidays we in the LC could safely celebrate were Thanksgiving and Chinese New Year.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I bought into this hypocrisy for decades until the day I finally realized that the only holidays we in the LC could safely celebrate were Thanksgiving and Chinese New Year.

The LC would claim that there is no "Christ in Christmas". The secular crowd is now screaming about being offended by too much "Christ in Christmas". I find it a bit ironic.

When all is said and done, the LC has sought to put itself above everyone else by presuming to be something better. Never has there been an honest consideration of who they really are.

The mocking of other Christians, holidays, etc is really disgusting. This is especially so because they claim to love all Christians and they will even lead new members especially to believe that the LC is more "inclusive" than it actually is.

I once heard an elder sharing and he proceeded to attack Greg Laurie, Rick Warren and Billy Graham all at once, saying how they preach the "low gospel".

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I once heard an elder sharing and he proceeded to attack Greg Laurie, Rick Warren and Billy Graham all at once, saying how they preach the "low gospel".

I know some will complain, but when we had those gospel meetings and declared that all you had to do was say "Oh Lord Jesus" and you were saved — there's as low a gospel as there is. Not really any need to ask for forgiveness. No need to recognize your guilt or set out to change.

And the number who never were seen again after those meetings was staggering.

And in one case, we had two or three that came in like that, then a few months later, while everyone was in Anaheim for a training, they robbed all the saints houses and disappeared.

Yeah. All they needed was "Oh Lord Jesus." Three words that were actually no more than three words.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I once heard an elder sharing and he proceeded to attack Greg Laurie, Rick Warren and Billy Graham all at once, saying how they preach the "low gospel".

That's normal. It's not uncommon in a LC prophesying meeting to put down others (generally or specifically) in order to present the illusion the LC is so much better with more to offer than any other church or ministry.

[HERn]

Originally Posted by Terry

That's normal. It's not uncommon in a LC prophesying meeting to put down others (generally or specifically) in order to present the illusion the LC is so much better with more to offer than any other church or ministry.

I remember participating in the criticism of fallen Christianity. I did it because I genuinely thought that the recovery had figured out how to have church meetings and love the Lord in the best way. My attitude was like "how can people be so blind not to take the way of the recovery". It was group think that made me feel that I was part of a group that "had seen the light" and had the veils removed.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by HERn

I remember participating in the criticism of fallen Christianity.

From the localities I have met with, I see shared responsibility. Those that speak it, those than remain silent, and the elders for sanctioning such speaking. The last locality I met with I brought it to the elder's attention. he didn't have any problem with "criticism of fallen Christianity".

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi guys. I just suddenly want to rant a little here.

I have been involved with LC for a few years - I have a love-hate relationship with them. I love many of the brothers and sisters there, however their spiritual pride totally puts me off. Like many have said - while they mock others for them being "too busy serving the Lord" without knowing what He wants, they themselves actually place their own service/ministry higher than Christ Himself. They put their so-called vision higher than God Himself. They mock at other believers and it hurts me - because when they hurts other members who don't meet with them, they are also hurting Christ Himself(take the example of "Saul Saul why do you persecute me"). I actually broke down many times of this.

What have led me to rant here is again at this time of Christmas, I see many of them attacking people who celebrate this holiday. Too many times. It annoys me. I know many who do and not do out of sincere hearts. But they do it out of love and respect for one another. However some words and attitudes used by the LC-ers are full of pride and ego which I cannot stand anymore. If I could I would love to scream out loud. For me they have left their first love- they had good intentions. They did help many to revive their love for the Lord. But eventually they are drifted away by placing their ministry and view higher than Christ and the universal Body of His.

I agree with much of what you have said. I placed into bold what was also my experience.
On the matter of celebrating or not celebrating Christmas or other matters, those that do the criticizing are speaking ONLY for themselves. Raised in the local churches and meeting as an adult I know those criticisms are only for the minority. I had been in many lc homes where there may not be a Christmas lights or a Christmas tree, the children did receive gifts.
On the subject of other matters, a certain elder may condemn other churches that acknowledge Super Bowl Sunday. All the while come the Super Bowl game households within the same locality host a Super Bowl party.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

On the matter of celebrating or not celebrating Christmas or other matters, those that do the criticizing are speaking ONLY for themselves. Raised in the local churches and meeting as an adult I know those criticisms are only for the minority. I had been in many lc homes where there may not be a Christmas lights or a Christmas tree, the children did receive gifts.

On the subject of other matters, a certain elder may condemn other churches that acknowledge Super Bowl Sunday. All the while come the Super Bowl game households within the same locality host a Super Bowl party.

I like the lighted displays, especially those neighbors who take it seriously, and add new stuff every year. I wish the displays would stay on until the end of winter cause here in the gloomy midwest "dark ages" we need all the cheer we can get.

Titus Chu used to schedule the GLA elders and deacons service conference every year on Super Bowl weekend.

[HERn]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I like the lighted displays, especially those neighbors who take it seriously, and add new stuff every year. I wish the displays would stay on until the end of winter cause here in the gloomy midwest "dark ages" we need all the cheer we can get.

Titus Chu used to schedule the GLA elders and deacons service conference every year on Super Bowl weekend.

I remember around 1984 that in the denomination we were in the dear pastor would have the Super Bowl taped on VCR while we were in the Sunday evening service so that after the service all the brothers could watch the game.

"they themselves actually place their own service/ministry higher than Christ Himself. They put their so-called vision higher than God Himself."
Accurate assessment. I think they have gone beyond turning point. When they first 'cow-down' bowed down to the MOTA, there was still a chance for repentance for those who heed the call to destroy the golden calf. The call was from the holy spirit.

[Intothewind]

Haha I always found this interesting.

attracting yp with worldly superbowl parties, I think the elders tolerated it and figured better under their watchbthan elsewhere.

I never saw Chinese new year celebrated...but the locality I grew up in had 1.5 Chinese families. It was predominantly white in my youth with a rising Latino percentage over time.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Intothewind

I never saw Chinese new year celebrated...but the locality I grew up in had 1.5 Chinese families. It was predominantly white in my youth with a rising Latino percentage over time.

Same with in the Southern California localities I grew up in 1976-1986. I wonder though especially in Orange County if the decrease in LC Caucasian households was a direct result of the late 80's turmoil.
Whenever I do go back to visit the locality my parents meet with, there had been a significant increase with Latino households.