What a Lack of Increase Really Means for the LC

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Sometimes I wonder what the LC will look like 20-30 years from now. The older members existed in a time before things like the FTTA, campus work, etc. Whatever factors can be attributed to them coming into the LC and staying there for decades are completely different than what the current generation sees.

I wanted to add some more on this. When the LC was starting out, people joined for various reasons, but it is likely they could at least point to specific reasons for having joined the LC. Today on the other hand, some people are in the LC simply because that's where they grew up, or maybe others joined because they met some students on their campus and liked all the free meals, etc. In other words, I think it would be harder nowadays to find people who belong to the LC because of some particular LC teaching or doctrine that they identify with.

My theory is that if the LC were to make the wise decision to distance itself from things that WL taught or to interact more with mainstream Christianity, it wouldn't be nearly as big of a deal to the younger members than it would be to someone who has been in the LC for 40 years and is 100% convinced on the ground of locality doctrine. Realistically, those are the types of changes that would need to take place if the LC is going to survive or be anything more than some fringe group that people are suspicious of.

Here is a striking thought - what if most of the FTTA graduates and those in similar categories have stayed in the LC afterwards mainly because they've already invested so much of their time in the LC? What if that's the only thing holding them back? The way I see it is that the LC has gone on far too long thinking that they are something special and thinking that their environment/teachings are drawing people in and keeping them there. What I am suggesting is that there are probably lots of reasons LC members stay there that really have nothing to do with what the LC is all about.

[Freedom]

The LC has been trying to implement the same formula for decades now, and it's all been a big failure. They've blamed it on "evil books", the "turmoils", etc. In the 80's WL claimed that the "new way" would fix the problem. Then when that didn't work out, he blamed people for not practicing it right. The blame-shifting just goes on and on.

At the very heart of the LC is the notion that they have what people need and want, and in their minds, that seals the deal. No need for change, no need for reevaluating anything. End of discussion. The state that the LC finds itself in is the one and only outcome of that kind of mindset.

If they could look at their situation even the least bit objectively, they might realize that they're nothing more than a fringe group that people could really care less about. That's not to say that they never had anything beneficial to offer or that there weren't any well-intentioned members. Actually they probably had a lot going for them in that regard. The problem is they made assumptions about their status that proved to be wrong long ago, and they are still operating off those assumptions. The result is continual failure and increasing obscurity.

As an example, let's say someone does a google search for churches in a city where an LC is located. There's probably a good chance the LC there doesn't even have a website, and if they do, it might not have been touched in 10 years. Even the ones who do have a maintained website are really geared more towards current members rather than someone who might be browsing churches in the area. By contrast, with mainstream Christian churches, I could easily google a church and find a professionally maintained website with all kinds of information, social media links, and videos of their services, etc.

I remember a meeting where there was a newcomer, he was an older gentleman who was a bit hard of hearing. He asked why there was no audio system, because he couldn't hear everyone who was standing up and speaking. Frankly, I don't think most of us could hear what people were saying half the time. But that kind of stuff never crossed anyone's mind. I could go on about this kind of stuff this all day long. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but what I'm trying to say is that the LC doesn't give much of a thought to how they are presenting themselves to others. They think that doesn't matter.

LCers reading this thread might excuse this as just focusing on "outward things" or whatever, but that is a misconception. What I'm saying is that they can't expect anything to happen without a little effort on their part to make that happen. They assume a special status and think that good things will follow. Meanwhile there are so many other churches out there making every effort to give people reasons to want to be a part of their group and feel welcome. It's just a night and day difference.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I wanted to add some more on this. When the LC was starting out, people joined for various reasons, but it is likely they could at least point to specific reasons for having joined the LC.

People joined because the Lord was there! Ask them. They will all say the same thing. God was real in the LC.

That does not mean God was only in the LC's and not in other churches.

That does not mean that God is still there like He once was when we joined.

That does not mean that these members were never deceived over time.

That does not mean that these members were never hurt by their leaders.