I can't be the only one...

[aron]

Originally Posted by ABrotherinFaith

I remember one of the verses used to illustrate the "fact" that some Scripture is God's word and some isn't in an important way was Matthew 16:22 where Peter rebukes the Lord. "Obviously that's not the Lord. Obviously this is man's fallen concept. Obviously, then, there are other places in the Bible where man's fallen concept can be found." This was the response (premade for them in whatever text we were reading) and it was accepted as ex cathedra. There is no understanding of how to read, what narrative is, what context is, what descriptive language is.

Once you can get someone to accept your premise, then you slowly have leverage to get into their mind and reprogram it. They have "campus workers", who go after college students. First they get them to acknowledge God, then to acknowledge Jesus Christ, then to accept the premise that "there is only one church" and that God doesn't like division. Lo and behold here is practical oneness, displayed before them! They get them to make an emotional commitment to the group.

Then, the reprogramming starts. Don't be "negative". Be "positive". So everytime the Maximum Brother writes something or says something, they have the reflex action already conditioned. When that sister said, "It's right there!" she probably didn't know or care if she was referring to the Bible or to Witness Lee's teachings. In her mind they constitute a seamless, integrated whole. And the meetings reinforce that, with either "amen" or silence from the group.

I went to an FTTA training meeting, once, where the trainer said something completely in contrast to Jesus' teachings. It was received with silence. I attempted to politely correct him, using Jesus' clear teachings. My conscience was protesting. More silence followed my remarks. Then the trainer continued without even acknowledging my speaking.

And I kept meeting there for several more years, in spite of a bunch of stuff like that. Why? Because I was "positive". I didn't want to be "negative". That's how strongly we were programmed, and conditioned.