My story and a plea for your insight

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

No where in scripture are we instructed to apply new standards of scrutiny to the scripture itself..

This was the heart of my argument. How can we say that we are "closely following the apostles" when we're treading such a path of novelty? When the only thing supporting this new approach is one interpreter's logic, buttressed by a culture of unquestioning obedience to his speaking?

If his speaking today speaking contradicts yesterday's, Oh well. If it contradicts scripture, Oh well. If it isn't consistent, Oh well. If it bothers your conscience, Oh well.

When the only way to survive in such a system is not to question, not to notice, be an ostrich with your head in the sand, then it's a mind control cult. A christian one, yes. But the Mormons also name Jesus as Lord. So do the Moonies. And the Rastafarians. And they all deviate from the simple gospel message. God loved us, and sent His Son. Repent, believe and be saved. Then obey, and follow.

And all the "fallen Christians" of the RCC, the EO, the Baptists and Lutherans and the new-fangled churches being "planted' are often deformed, as Lee and company so often mention. But you know what? If Pastor Bob down at the Community Church starts to imagine himself the Apostle of the Age, or re-interpret scripture in ways antagonistic to 2,000 years of Christian understanding, then you can just leave. In the LCM you can't. You've already either tacitly or overtly admitted there's no where else to go, and those who leave are destined to wander Christless upon the earth. So no wonder there's some confusion, discouragement, and disorientation when people do leave.