The LCS Factor

[djohnson(XLCmember)]

Peter here is how I would frame it:

1. If church A promotes family and its well being is central to its message, mission and practices than how much of it's influence can be held responsible for the behavior of children raised in it? Not much in my view.

2. If church B i.e. those of the LCS variety where they have a one MOTA who takes priority over all else including family. And it's central message, mission and practices is designed to support and promote the one MOTA then how much of it's influence can be held responsible for the children raised in it? Quite a bit in my view.

To compare the LCS to community churches is comparing apples and oranges.

On the issue of refuting the claims of the LCS about their supposed purity etc. the actions of their offspring is not the only indicator but it is an indicator of the ridiculousness of their claim.

[Peter Debelak]

Originally Posted by djohnson

Peter here is how I would frame it:

1. If church A promotes family and its well being is central to its message, mission and practices than how much of it's influence can be held responsible for the behavior of children raised in it? Not much in my view.

2. If church B i.e. those of the LCS variety where they have a one MOTA who takes priority over all else including family. And it's central message, mission and practices is designed to support and promote the one MOTA then how much of it's influence can be held responsible for the children raised in it? Quite a bit in my view.

To compare the LCS to community churches is comparing apples and oranges.

On the issue of refuting the claims of the LCS about their supposed purity etc. the actions of their offspring is not the only indicator but it is an indicator of the ridiculousness of their claim.

Let me propose a scenario to explain how i think the comparison is important.

Let's say we do have stats.

Let's say in the LC roughy 20% of its second-generation at some point end up in gross sin of the type you describe in post #1 (the exact percentage doesn't matter - put in any number you want).

Then let's say in a typical mainstream church only 5% of its second-generation at some point end up in gross sin of the type you describe in post #1.

That then becomes a starting point to say: there is something particular to the LC system which produced this fruit - let's find out what it is. And then we have a basis for your question in post #1.

But alternatively, let's say the stats are these:

10% of the LC second-generation end up in gross immorality

10% of second generation in a mainstream church do as well

If that's the case, then you really can't say there is something particular about the LC system which caused this particular fruit.

That is not to say that the LC system doesn't cause some kind of bad fruit, just not this particular one - gross sin.

In short, the relative comparison to instances of gross sin among the second generation of other groups is very important. While we want to find a root of such behavior in any event, this comparison helps us narrow the field of the possibilities.

Make sense?