Does Proverbs 26:4 contradict verse 5?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

Ohio, not just in Proverbs but you could make the case for James, Luke chapter 6, Matthew 23, Jeremiah 23, 1 Corinthians 13, Isaiah 5, etc. Portions of the Bible that touch our conscience and cause us to be introspective. If you recall the Song of Songs training, one of the points I recall was against being introspective. Why is that?

What is wrong with introspection? Is it because with introspection there is the consideration "you could be wrong"? With these portions of the Bible I've mentioned, it's not a positive or an affirming word you and I have been used to hearing from the ministry.

Introspection is a "reflective looking inward, an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings." Apparently this was quite dangerous for those who became adherents of the ministry in the LC's. I personally was publicly told by TC that I was too "introspective." Many others were too. What does that even mean? In an environment which revered TC and WL as being able to "see what the rest of us cannot see," this kind of diagnosis can hold great power over people.

Which brings us back to a point I have repeatedly made. Real shepherds, having a word from the Lord, will fellowship privately for the edification and profit of the hearer. Controlling and abusive leaders, however, will use public gatherings to discredit the members in front of their peers. The judgment of "introspection" was used to undermine one's own sense of perspective and place it into the hands of another. Thus great power is wielded by those who supposedly are able to provide recondite diagnoses upon their followers.