My experience as a church kid: Why I want out

[aron]

Originally Posted by Melo

In practice, it seems that the compassion they extend to new and struggling believers only goes so far. It's kind of scary, because the only real difference between her and I is just that I'm better at faking it.

I've also been struggling with completely dropping contact with the LC because I do care about that sister, and I don't want to leave her completely alone. Additionally I've gotten close to another sister who's struggling with the LC. She's the first person I've openly talked to about my hesitations towards the LC.

It's quite a dilemma, but it does help that I'm not completely isolated with my apprehension anymore.

There's a scene on the mountain that John remembers later, "We beheld his glory, as of the only Son of the Father" (1:14). Then, 2 Peter 1 agrees: "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain."

Now my point is, when we see this glory, as he faced Pilate and the Sanhedrin alone, then the Roman soldiers with their spears and whips, then the jeering crowds, the shame and pain and the onrushing death, everything else fades away: our personal circumstances with their obvious lacks, the troubled ones nearby who are also hurting, and the human religious system beyond that "weeds the weak" by manipulation, isolation, and the studied, collective indifference you note.

When we just see Jesus. . ."we see Jesus, temporarily made lower than the angels through suffering and death, raised and crowned with eternal glory and honour." ~Heb 2:9 Like the song says, "The bride has eyes for him alone." We don't see "the church", or "the ministry", or "the present truth". We just see Jesus.

Let your sight and your consciousness become attuned to this bright moment in human history. Then let it trickle out in your speaking to others. Bit by bit you'll find yourselves (you and your hearers) being miraculously 'saved' in outward conditions. The key is, even as this begins to unfold, keep your eyes firmly fixed on him alone. Because there's nothing else.

Just see the man, and the suffering, and the glories which followed, and all the love of God which motivated this man, is then become yours. All the peace, which surpasses human understanding, all the indescribable joy...