[HERn]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Coming back to the issue of condition, I see condition as a gauge by which we should evaluate ourselves and whatever group with whom we are associated with. An evaluation of external groups when there is no preexisting relationship is not particularly relevant. Unfortunately, in the LC, the evaluation is always focused these external entities, not the LC itself as it really should be.

In the LC, we were taught to ignore our own condition (however good or bad it really was), and to criticize the condition of other groups. When WL proclaimed that "Christendom has become an organ of Satan", upon what basis was that assertion made? We can reasonably assume that it had nothing to do with his interaction (or lack thereof) with other outside Christians. That was just a generalization that he wanted to make. In essence, 'Christianity' became a straw man that had a perceived 'poor' condition. The LC perception of Christianity that I received makes anything LC-related look good in comparison to the view presented of "degraded Christianity".

Somehow we all got it ingrained that teachings/practices not found in the LC are fallen and degraded. It is so easy to look at Christian groups with this mindset. I find myself doing this all the time and have to stop myself. As an analogy, I heard a LC brother state that Christian rock music is incompatible with the Holy Spirit. This is a common LC notion. I held this view for a long time. It seemed so reasonable. The only problem is that I never considered such statements as being mere assertions. It just seemed reasonable, and it followed that Christians who practiced certain things must be in a 'fallen' state.

I think the LSM LC blindeds have become Protestant Catholics in that they both think the condition of the church or the priest (elder) does not matters as much as the ground of the church or the authority of the priest (elder) that position represents. But, there at least two places in Paul's writing where the condition of the man matters a great deal before he is appointed an elder.