ABrotherInChrist's Blog

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Hope

When my wife asked me about this and if she should consider these item, I pointed out that Acts 19 had nothing to say about this and none, that's right none, of the ministrying or leading brothers ever mentioned anything like this. In fact, I was in fellowship with elders and co-workers when the extreme and foolish actions at burnings were advised against and that help should be giving that the younger saints not be pushed into foolish behavior.

The fact that some elders had to discuss "foolish actions at burnings" indicates that some of this did happen. I entered the church at the end of the "burnings," and witnessed only one in Cleveland, basically as an onlooker. The discussion (err ... fellowship) which I heard at that time had nothing to do with Acts 19 occult stuff. Rather the burnings were for "idols," which loosely was interpreted as "anything which our heart loved too much" as a potential replacement of Christ.

This was, of course, for some more fervent, albeit naive, saints, the door opening for burning wedding albums, kids photos, and the like. Part of this extreme behavior was due to the extremes of the culture we lived in then. Some LC leaders did fuel this type of religious zeal, without a balancing, healthy teaching from the scripture. "Short term gain, long term loss" -- that always seemed to be the maxim we lived by in those days.

One former poster testified that she too was caught up in that fervor, unfortunately burning her most cherished things, and then later rejoiced in the Lord to find one child's picture, apparently overlooked, which became her moniker. I believe the Lord is quite tenderhearted and gracious towards his children who, out of love, do "foolish" things such as this. I'm not so sure He feels the same way about those promoters.

I believe this matter is an indictment, for the most part, on childish elders looking to headquarters for direction, and always lusting to be a part of the "latest thing." So many elders were not appointed (better ... recognized) for their maturity in shepherding, rather for their zeal and cooperation with external leaders. The Biblical entreaty to "aspire to oversight" has nothing to do with the LC exhortation to be "one with the ministry." This, I believe, is a "root of evil' which has hurt so many of the Lord's children.

Thank the Lord that there were a sprinkling of shepherds in those days, ones like Hope and GW, who placed the scriptures above the program. Who knows what would have happened in the LC's without these gifted ones. It was most of these ones that LSM has decided best to quarantine over the years.