Quote:
Originally Posted by leastofthese
During my time in the "LC", countless Lord's day, table, home, trainings, etc I found an undercurrent of LSM good vs. Christianity bad in essentially 100% of my interactions. This was NOT usually the case when I met with brothers individually - which I find interesting. How much corporate worship, brotherly encouragement, joyful celebrations, scripture, can be shared outside of the 60-90 minutes allotted on a Sunday morning?
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Even in home meetings, drop the ministry and just pray for one another is exceedingly more beneficial in building up of the body than taking turns reading a sentence or two from a text.
I understand what you mean by the undercurrent. It exists and still exists. One locality I met with has a Presbyterian church for a neighbor. The attitude was to respect them, but that doesn't mean we're on par with each other. I place much of the undercurrent with the elders and deacons. Whether they want the responsibility or not, they've accepted the role as "responsible ones". Whether they're aware of it or not, their speaking and their attitude is reflected upon the locality as a whole. I have always been told "we don't have opinions in the church". That means you don't go up to an elder after a meeting and tell him, he's attitude is off. You will begin to stick out like a sore thumb.
However individually when I'm in personal fellowship with brothers I served with in the bookroom, there is not the same undercurrent elders and deacons express. There's more opportunity for honesty and transparency.