I Am A Part Of The Local Church

[aron]

Originally Posted by Anon

Right now, I will just follow the Lord whether that’s leaving the LC or not.

Originally Posted by Anon

The information I heard kinda scared me as my grandpa is a major part of a lot of it. I am the grandson of one of the leading elders in all of the LC. That won’t stray me away from leaving if the Lord is leading me that way though.

The LC functions through information control. Most of us who went through the system there, the so-called church life, knew nothing of Daystar Motor Homes or the effect of Witness Lee's two sons, Philip and Timothy, on that very church life and the people therein.

So it was a shock to read of it. We had heard of vague "turmoils" but that was someone else, far away. Eventually we began to realize, with more information, that the "storms" and "rebellions" were probably part of the LC system itself.

Now I want to come to the second part of your post, about leaving (or not). It's a common topic among those growing up there, and a difficult one. You have your entire life invested in one thing, and to consider an alternate life, as yet unknown, is nearly overwhelming.

But that's what life is: it's a series of decisions with consequences, many decisions unfortunately being made with little information. So we choose in partial ignorance, trusting God's goodness, hoping for the best.

Now, it's always good to get information, and make more informed decisions. But learning is not merely "who did what and when", or in the case of religion, learning Greek and Aramaic and Hebrew declensions, and what the recipients of apostolic letters could have been expected to understand.

All that's good and even necessary, but the one thing, the main thing, beyond rightness (righteousness) and self-control, is to love. And that doesn't come from a book or a meeting, but from life. It's why you're here. To learn to love. Love isn't a feeling, like a teen with a crush on a classmate, or a food choice ("I love pizza"). Love is an action, continually done, even when it's not reciprocated. Especially when it's not reciprocated!

Jesus loved, and he lay down his life, for sinners. We couldn't reciprocate, but he loved anyway. The Father's great love flowed through him, to us. As he bled there on the cross, his family stood off (Psalm 27:10; 69:8), his disciples had deserted, and even denied him (!!!), his people had placed him "in the hands of lawless men" (Romans, i.e. gentiles) ~Acts 2:23. He'd been cursed, beaten, struck, whipped (Psalm 22:7,8,16). Yet he loved.

Now, he set the bar, and we follow, even if we can't reach his measure. He expects us to try. Dorcas made shirts for the widows. I'm sure you know the story. Paul urged the Roman, Corinthian, and Galatian churches to set aside a portion for the poor of Jerusalem (1 Cor 16:1-4; cf Rom 15:23-29; Gal 2:10; Acts 24:17). This seems to be a deliberate attempt at fulfillment of Jesus' "give to those who can't repay you in this age". In man's economy, I give you something, and you give me back. I give you a book, you give me a dollar. I give you a loaf of bread, you pay me six shillings. But in God's economy you give selflessly, without expectation. Because God loves, because Christ loves. Jesus loved us first.

In my case, it might be to write my posts here with a bit more grace, to moderate my criticisms of LC practice and history, and to read and pay attention to others' ideas and not just to force mine own on the conversation. And on my job, I supervise young, lazy, indifferent workers who complain when I put them to tasks. Yet I must remember when I was their age, I was perhaps even worse! So I bear with them, and try to lead them, to forgive them, to guide them to more efficient activity. Remember, "Love is kind, love is patient..." ~1 Cor 13. I try not to blame my wife, parents and children for my misery, but to own it, repent, and grow out of it.

So even today, I learn to love. Slowly, fitfully, I try to follow the King.