[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Peter Debelak

To day "hopefully", I think, is too presumtuous. Being fairly removed from the "LC", its often been easy for me to look upon it like a sick child. And to look upon dialogue on these boards like a committee of wise parents - sometimes warring about alternatives, but united in assessment about the childishness.
That, I say to myself now, is unfair.

Thanks Peter for you input. Good to hear from you.
Of course "assessment" is a rather neutral thing - in and of itself, it is nether good nor bad, neither fair nor unfair. It's what we do with the assessment that can be good or bad, fair or unfair. As ex members, who have had substantial experience with the Local Church, and who may have loved ones still in the movement, it is altogether natural that we make assessments regarding the history and current state of affairs in the LC movement.

Now, to the extent that a person, or even whole church, remains within a certain "system" (albeit disassociated with headquarters) or remains faithful to certain set of beliefs and teachings (in this case of Nee & Lee) this will be extent to which they may fall under the "assessments" of others.

This being said I have never heard anyone on this forum claim (or even imply) that they are part of "a committee of wise parents". Most of us probably have a hard enough time convincing our own children that we are wise parents, much less convincing a whole group of people. Nevertheless, many of us have made some assessments of what we experienced and learned from our time in the LC, and we have also made some assessments regarding some of the things that went on behind the scenes unbeknown to us. For better or for worse, the Internet has afforded some of us the chance to make the results of our "assessments" known to world.

...What is important is whether we realize, in all that assessment, is whether we need a SAVIOR,

Amen to this!

There isn't a "hopefully" in terms of where LCers should end up, in my opinion. There is simply a, where are you Lord? That might mean assessing where we've come from. It might mean embracing the unknown.

Ah, but this is where all of us bitter ex members come in! We walked into the unknown because we had no other choice. We ran into a lot walls, knocked our heads against a lot of low branches, fell into a lot pits, sunk neck-deep into the quicksand, you name it... we ran into it or fell into it. (reminds me of that saying..."we found the enemy..and it's us!") So my advise is (just as a brother, not a wise parent) to the brothers and sisters in the church in Akron, or others so situated, take advantage of us...ask us how we got that big lump on our head, or that bit gash on our face, or even how we lost that limb! Most of us will be happy to tell you. Nobody has to "embrace the unknown" anymore. Praise God for this. And this is one of the biggest reasons that this forum exists.

So, I guess what I'm saying is: can we, even those skeptical or condemning of the LC and its forms, hear in our brothers' words a seeking, even if the result doesn't match our own present state?

We hear! We Hear! And that's why we're here!