Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Another practice within the local churches, when a brother or sister leaves the local churches to receive actual care in a non-LC assembly, the attitude and speaking is "they've been lost to the world".
|
I've heard that one before. It's interesting that they can get away with doing this. It seems that the impression is given that anyone who has left the LC has "backslidden". Here is what I find interesting: in Lee's "new way" fellowship, he talks explicitly about trying to shepherd/restore those who have backslidden. Within the last several years, I have heard at least one of the BB's encourage the saints to do this, to contact and shepherd those who are no longer meeting or whom have "backslidden".
At face value it seems like a reasonable request by the BB's, at least for someone in the LC who hears them say that. It is not until you start consider who those are that have been "lost" does everything come into perspective.
I can think of various profiles of people who have left the LC. Here are some scenarios that come to mind:
- Those whom have openly expressed concern about LC teachings/practices (AKA "negative ones").
- Those whom were frustrated/fed up with the LC, want nothing to do with it and quietly left
- Those whom have left the LC and aren't going to any other church.
In my mind only those who have left the LC, haven't moved on, and have not maintained their walk with the Lord could even be considered as "backslidden" or "lost to the world". I think this category of persons who have left the LC is a minority.
If the BB's are encouraging saints in the LC to contact ones who aren't meeting with the LC anymore, do they really know what they are asking? I don't think they realize this, because they themselves are blinded by following whatever WL said. If we were to take the BB's "fellowship", it would mean contacting those whom they consider to be "negative". I think this is essentially what Steve tried to do when he contacted the brothers who left in the late 80's.
Interestingly, whenever I hear anyone talk about contacting or trying to shepherd those who aren't meeting with the LC, no one, and I mean no one takes any initiative whatsoever. I think that everyone is aware of what this would really entail, they just can't admit it, because it would mean contradicting Lee.