“Can the Local Church Leadership Say, ‘We Were Wrong’?” (An Open Letter)

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by John

Terry, as I wrote in post #48 to Ohio, “I recommend that you re-revisit The Thread of Gold for the answer to your question about what led up to the 1977 ‘fellowship’ room experience by reading pages 151–189.” There is a PDF link to the book on the home page of www.TheThreadOfGold.com. The whole experience was far too complex to encapsulate in a sentence or two. You may re-read about the events that preceded it and decide for yourself.

Also, you may have misunderstood the following portion: “… it is so difficult to understand the Living Stream Ministry and the Local Churches. They are full of deception ….” The “They” refers not to the people but to the two entities. So, the sentence actually says that it is the two entities that are full of deception, not the leaders per se. Then, I concluded that, because the entities are full of deception, the leaders cannot be trusted.

I hope that my explanation has made my meaning more clear to you. Again, thank you for your comment. While considering your response, I decided that it might be better if I personalized the paragraph under review, so I have rewritten the final section as follows:

The stand

The web of deception that I’ve documented helps to explain why it is so difficult to understand the Living Stream Ministry and the Local Churches. While seeking to understand, I find myself in a land where up is down, and down is up. Because of what I’ve found, I can no longer trust the leaders in either entity.

It is very important that we stick with our Christian virtues and, even, enhance them, as Peter says, lest we fall into the same vices. To faith, we are to add virtue, or excellence, not lying and playing politics, especially with others’ lives and their freedom to follow the Lord. Jesus is our Lord and Master; and, it is before Him that we stand or fall.

John, maybe this phrase is more concise when referring to LSM and the local churches, that is current leadership of LSM and current leadership of local churches. That my brother I can relate to.

Back to The Thread of Gold, a point was made on page 162 which coincides with one of your posts, it was this event at "Guy's" home that "Sam Jones" and "Dan Williams" is when Jane became a target. It could very well be these two were looking for a reason to make an example fo Jane? I don't know. It's speculative. I will say, this comment I've found lacking;

"We brothers listened to many testimonies and admissions before making any judgment."

Whose testimonies? Whose admissions? A few? Was "Judy's" testimony taken into account? Was it just the testimony of one or two? Was there a spirit of partiality exhibited towards Jane? Suppose "we brothers" did listen to more than one or two testimonies, why not Jane? Same can be said for any sister or brother in this situation. Elders cannot be making decisions without thorough examination. That would be as Paul says, laying hands to hastily upon someone.

Here's the passage I'm referring to:

1 Timothy 5:21-22
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others ; keep yourself free from sin."