Quote:
Originally Posted by formermember
I know how I applied it in my own life, based on Nee's and Lee's perspective: If you are abused, if you are bullied, if you are falsely accused, if you are stressed out from too many demands being imposed on you, then don't react, don't be honest, don't try to change the situation. Instead, suffer the circumstances and "bear the cross." If you react to the authorities over you, or if you try to change the environment, that is the flesh, or the self. It can't possibly be the spirit.
Many saints in the LC thought this way. And I just don't think this can be a true application, because it enabled and legitimized so much abuse. If an older brother rebukes you improperly, then just bear the cross. If the elders make a decision that is unfair to the rest of the saints, they should just bear the cross. People's consciences became sensitized to repress any reaction, any opinion, any conflicting emotion, in the name of bearing the cross, dealing with the flesh, and just becoming more "spiritual."
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As I've seen some of the LC practices of what it is to bear the cross borders on asceticism.
Let's take false accusations or bearing false witness. It's expected in the local churches that you remain silent and bear the cross. To tell it to the church is likened to spreading leprosy. I'm sure there are some in the LC who secretly read
Speaking the Truth in Love. They may think John Ingalls should have taken the cross instead of writing the book? As the book may be viewed as self-vindication.
In my own experience I witnessed at a Young People's conference in Yucaipa, CA peers being subjected to an overreacting serving brother. Even when a brother overreacts it's expected the younger brothers and sisters to take the cross as victims of the overreaction.