Is the LC more susceptible to the outward vs. inward?

[HBJ]

This is a difficult topic and will probably lead to a lot of discussion. In 30 years in Protestant Christianity now, I have only been in places focusing on the heart, i.e. our heart and its attitudes. Yes some churches have more outward learnings, such as Catholicism and the rosary. But whom am I to say that those who do such things do not seek God, and are not motivated by the heart. This includes the LC. I believe they have practices that are outward, but we need to pray for those there who seek the Lord. In the wheat and tares parable the Lord says to let them grow together and he will have the angels harvest rightly at the end of the age. We shouldn't purposely damage anyone.

I do think the LC leads to more outward expressions than inward and this can lead to issues. This is because of the LC's exclusivity, and people wanting to be part of the in group. I recently looked at my class photo from Junior high when I was in the LC. I was dressed in the brother's uniform, dress slacks, shirt and a button down sweater.

In the 90s, I went to visit a relative in Phoenix, who was still in the church. My wife and I went to a meeting, and when I walked in the door, noticed that a majority of sisters were dressed in navy skirts, white blouses and a kerchief head covering. For any outside we might as well been Amish, putting requirements on dress!

In the 70s a brother in the locality I was had decided to leave. He did this by bringing his whole family to a meeting and them all parroting our way of 'Praising the Lord", and using our outward way of expression. We thought they had all come to the Lord. But soon after he moved back home and we never heard from him again. It was done to fool us.

Finally, someone in my youth group outwardly knew all the LC phrases and lingo. Later in life became a registered sex offender.

Not that any of these things can't happen elsewhere in Christianity, but I think the LC ended up inadvertently focusing on the outward, so it is easier to 'fake it' there. Comments anyone?

[aron]

Originally Posted by HBJ

...the LC leads to more outward expressions than inward and this can lead to issues. This is because of the LC's exclusivity, and people wanting to be part of the in group.

There are three things which together create the mess that is the LC. First, people's hearts aren't pure (I speak from God's perspective as seen in scripture [Rom 3:10-12; cf Psa 14:1-3; 53:1-3]). Then, we aggregate or "flock" ourselves together, and in our impurities we form hierarchies and castes. Who's on first? See, e.g., Luke 22:24-30; Matt 18:1-4; Mark 9:33-36. Third, as our hearts aren't pure, we're deceived by appearances and choose leaders that beguile and puff us up. I went in the LC for that reason: someone claimed position, and by association I was also "God's best". It was an ego feed and my untransformed heart got me sucked in. So I agree with HBJ above.

Ravi Zacharias is a good recent example. He was publicly lauded by the Vice President of the U.S. as "the foremost Christian apologist of this century", and I was also impressed. Certainly, I felt in my ignorant and corrupted estimation, he was one of the most prominent and noteworthy... so did Mike Pence, Tim Tebow and other public Christians believe that they were lifted to otherwise unattainable spiritual heights, merely by associating themselves with this Great Man.

But it turned out that RZ owned (!) and operated (!) several massage parlours, and a number of the women there, as well as women associated with his organization, said he was an abusive man and sexual predator, forcing himself on them. Turns out that his RZM organization was a front, owning apartments overseas where women were shuttled in for "therapy" and "recovery" sessions from his speaking tours.

And Watchman Nee, removed by his own hand-picked church elders in the Shanghai Christian Assembly, for similar stuff as RZ. Either WN did a bad job picking subordinates, or they knew something, as confirmed by multiple points of evidence. Then after being re-instated by WL's machinations, a few years later WN was in it again - this time confessing in court to sexual immorality! In this second case, either he openly lied to save himself, knowing full well the impact this public lie would have on the faith, or else he told the truth, being confronted with some evidence, and was in fact guilty of these behaviours. Either way he doesn't come off very well, does he?

These examples show that outward appearances can go far in Christianity, even when there's no substance. And so to the Junior High students with uniforms and the women going to church meetings with doilies on their heads: as long as you look a certain way, and speak a certain way, you're "in" the system. The system creates the syndrome and the syndrome feeds the system. The corruption at the top trickles down to the least. It's all an appearance game. (There are of course 'genuine' seekers and believers in the LC, but they'd be doing the same thing in the Roman Catholic Church, the Exclusive Brethren, the Unification Church, or Latter Day Saints)

Contrast to Jesus - when he was challenged by none other than John the Baptist, through John's disciples, Jesus told them to go and tell John what they saw: the deaf heard, the lame could walk, the blind saw, the dead were raised, and the poor got the good news, that God cared for them and hadn't despised nor forgotten them. This consistent pattern of outward action was irrefutable proof that Jesus contained the inward holiness of the Chosen Vessel of God, the Anointed One.

The demons cried out in alarm, "Ah! What is with you, Jesus! You are the Holy One of God!" Jesus' outward position was due to his inward purity, not some shell game foisted on the dupes. And his outward position was confirmed by multiple acts, as Peter testified in Acts 10:38 (cf Matt 4:23; 9:25). And this was irrefutably confirmed by the Father, who by the power of the Eternal Spirit raised him from the dead on the third day, and seated him at His right hand, perfected forever. "You are my Son, this day I have begotten You" and "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek".

Now, how to follow such a One? Paul wrote, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ". How do we imitate? In the gospels, Peter was repeatedly shown to be impure, a failure of the first rank. Paul/Saul likewise had persecuted the church, thinking he was serving God. All of us are impure, ignorant and vain - we cannot overstress this! But God wants us to try, and to keep trying, because that's our faith, it's our faith-walk. It's our path, to follow Jesus. Keep trying, and the Holy Spirit will come, to help us in our weakness. Repent when you fail, get up and keep trying, because God is good, and merciful and just, and a rewarder of those who attempt to obey. Follow Jesus.

And how do we not become self-deceived, as it seems with RZ and WN? By not trying to be "top" or even acknowledging such fraudulent claims. Instead, do what Jesus did, do what Paul and Peter and James and John did. Remember, the first book of the NT after the gospels was titled, "Acts" - The Acts of the apostles. Give to those who can't repay you in this age, and you'll be rewarded in heaven. Be the least, help the ones who suffer, and God will do unto you as you do unto others. Have pity on others in their misery and God will rescue you from yours. Jesus said, "When I was in prison, you visited me; when I was sick you cared for me". Pretty clear.

It's about outward works, yes, but hidden ones, ones that only the Father can see, and the Father will openly reward. To some extent the Apostles had to act publicly and openly as exemplars, as leaders of the new Christian flock. But the commandment of the "hidden manna" remained firmly in effect. If it's not hidden, it's not manna.

And at all costs, avoid systems built on illusory associations with self-anointed poseurs who do nothing but continually lift themselves up. Avoid the Guru Syndrome, at any and all costs....

[GraceAlone]

It's about outward works, yes, but hidden ones, ones that only the Father can see, and the Father will openly reward. To some extent the Apostles had to act publicly and openly as exemplars, as leaders of the new Christian flock. But the commandment of the "hidden manna" remained firmly in effect. If it's not hidden, it's not manna.

And at all costs, avoid systems built on illusory associations with self-anointed poseurs who do nothing but continually lift themselves up. Avoid the Guru Syndrome, at any and all costs....

Great perspective. When my husband and I left the LC and visited other places, one thing that drew us to where we are now is the lack of controlling behaviors and self- or celebrity-promotion we saw in the leadership. Rather than control, we saw their consistent focus on servanthood. Recently we witnessed a situation where the leadership had to handle a difficult situation between some parents and the youth pastor. The youth pastor ended up choosing to resign, but in the pastors’ debriefing with the parents afterward, they were nothing but loving and respectful in their speaking about her. My husband commented to me on how refreshing the whole situation was because of the way these leaders handled it. No solemn meetings where people in white shirts and ties warned of “rebellious ones” from a podium.:-)

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by GraceAlone

Great perspective. When my husband and I left the LC and visited other places, one thing that drew us to where we are now is the lack of controlling behaviors and self- or celebrity-promotion we saw in the leadership. Rather than control, we saw their consistent focus on servanthood. Recently we witnessed a situation where the leadership had to handle a difficult situation between some parents and the youth pastor. The youth pastor ended up choosing to resign, but in the pastors’ debriefing with the parents afterward, they were nothing but loving and respectful in their speaking about her. My husband commented to me on how refreshing the whole situation was because of the way these leaders handled it. No solemn meetings where people in white shirts and ties warned of “rebellious ones” from a podium.:-)

After leaving the LC, and meeting elsewhere, we also had a somewhat similar experience which kind of shocked us with their "large-heartedness." Not because of any conflict, but the youth pastor resigned to serve elsewhere. The senior pastor prayed publicly for him and his wife. Imagine that -- blessing instead of cursing -- what a refreshing sight, so absent in the Recovery. The whole scene was void of any suspicions, questionings, innuendoes, or judgments.

The LR uses their weird cultural practices to test people and see if they are "part of the group". Many times I would see full timers and elders pressure various new ones to do the vain repetition chants, just to see if they are adjusting and fitting into the culture. If the new one would hesitate or show signs of dissent or awkwardness, they would use that piece of information to tell if a person had potential "good building material. The weird practices of the LR is mainly for conformity purposes. They rely on these superficial things such as dressing the same, everyone shaving facial hair, and vain chanting to appear "oneness". While in reality, its just shallow conformity held together by domineering culture.