RE: Open Letter - Dear Saints in the Lord's Recovery - Joann Casteel

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

So here’s my question. With all the FB and LCDiscussions publicity, et al, with the Casteel Open Letter, what is the impact? Is what’s happening “new”? Is this the beginning of a mass exodus that has been on the verge for a long time, or at least an accelerated downward spiral of LC/LSM membership? Did the LC on FB amount to its opening the door to open commentary on the Internet that they had/have been trying to keep shut for years? Is it too soon to call? Wait and see?

Nell

Based on the history of the Exclusive Brethren, Recovery watchmen will merely double down on their expulsions and apocalyptic reminders of God's pending "judgments" upon all opinionated ones. Did you see that brother in Tennessee on the Casteel fb who was quarantined just 6 months ago? He had his 20 year pin. Quarantines no longer require directives from headquarters, but local elders will begin cutting off all undesirable members in order to "protect the body from further damage." Perhaps the pending Summer Training will have an afternoon workshop with Minoru Chen: "The god-ordained organic way to protect the body of Christ from satanic attacks on the internet." Dangerous members, who's only failure will be to ask for accountability or reform, will be like a cancer tumor surgically removed.

Is that what also happened to brother Dan Towle? Now if a well-respected Blended like Towle emerges with a revelatory public statement, that might precipitate the next "storm." The LSM/DCP wordsmiths will have to update their afaithfulword site to include him. Has anyone noticed that their writers never sign their names to anything? To give the impresssion that WL still speaks from the grave?

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Based on the history of the Exclusive Brethren, Recovery watchmen will merely double down on their expulsions and apocalyptic reminders of God's pending "judgments" upon all opinionated ones. Did you see that brother in Tennessee on the Casteel fb who was quarantined just 6 months ago? He had his 20 year pin. Quarantines no longer require directives from headquarters, but local elders will begin cutting off all undesirable members in order to "protect the body from further damage." Perhaps the pending Summer Training will have an afternoon workshop with Minoru Chen: "The god-ordained organic way to protect the body of Christ from satanic attacks on the internet." Dangerous members, who's only failure will be to ask for accountability or reform, will be like a cancer tumor surgically removed. Is that what also happened to brother Dan Towle?

I would say "business as usual" too, except for the "Facebook Factor". They have lost some of their control that might skew history a bit. TMI so to speak.

Nell

[aron]

Originally Posted by Nell

I would say "business as usual" too, except for the "Facebook Factor". They have lost some of their control that might skew history a bit. TMI so to speak.

Nell

Less than two weeks since posting the Open Letter, with 880+ comments and 31 shares, many of which have their own comments. Probably DCP has noticed.

https://freedomofmind.com/bite-model/

The Bite Model stands for:

Behaviour control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control

Seems like the "Information control" part has been slipping recently.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by Nell

I would say "business as usual" too, except for the "Facebook Factor". They have lost some of their control that might skew history a bit. TMI so to speak.

They will try to maintain status quo until the bitter end. When the camel's back breaks things will happen very quickly. But you never when the last straw will fall.

The last straw will probably be financial distress. If members in droves stop buying ministry products and LSM's income stream dries up, that would probably do it.

Like in the Soviet Union, it is really all about everyone protecting their rear ends, and rear ends are material.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Igzy

They will try to maintain status quo until the bitter end. When the camel's back breaks things will happen very quickly. But you never when the last straw will fall.

The last straw will probably be financial distress. If members in droves stop buying ministry products and LSM's income stream dries up, that would probably do it.

Like in the Soviet Union, it is really all about everyone protecting their rear ends, and rear ends are material.

People stopped buying the books a long time ago. The revenue stream is from standing orders. Are the churches going to have the courage to cancel those? If they do they'll get cut off.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

People stopped buying the books a long time ago. The revenue stream is from standing orders. Are the churches going to have the courage to cancel those? If they do they'll get cut off.

I would think the real revenue stream is in the trainings, not the books.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I would think the real revenue stream is in the trainings, not the books.

I was under the impression that the "training" was simply a way of mobilizing a sales force and trying to grow market share.

[Jo S]

I just wanted to encourage you guys and say that the Lord does hear all the cries from the injustices that have taken place in the Local Churches.

I know there are those that were greatly hurt by this group and would like to see nothing more than the earth be rid of them however situations where entire families and individual's faiths are involved can be so delicate and complex that it's just not possible for any one of us to know how to properly navigate through it all. What we want to see happen may not be what the Lord wills at this moment and by pushing forward in our own strength, we can do more harm then good.

It's so easy to get caught up in the trap of continuously focusing on and exposing the darkness that we too risk falling into sin and become entrapped in a perpetual cycle of vengefullness and hatred toward those who have caused us harm. Unfortunately abusive and oppressive religious groups won't be going away anytime soon, save the Lord returns.

God is on the throne and vengence is His. No amount of damage inflicted on the LC's will bring healing but we can take heart in knowing that nothing will escape Him on that last day.

Evil will only increase. In the meantime let us pray for the captives, forgive our enemies with the forgiveness we were given, and reflect the light and love of Christ everywhere we gather in His name, including on these forums. Amen