Pattern of LC Families Sacrificing Children on the Altar

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Terry

In regards to children raised in the local churches, I generally see three types by the time adulthood is reached:

1. They're for the ministry.
2. They're for the local church environment (service, home meetings, social networking), but not for the ministry. [this is where I was at when meeting in the local churches as an adult]. The ministry is lip service to them.
3. Directly or indirectly arrived at a point where they chose a Christian fellowship that did not include the ministry LSM publishes.

Most of those whom I grew up with would fit one of these scenarios:
1) Became disinterested in the LC and left without going to a different church.
2) Struggled in the LC throughout their childhood and then came back during adulthood and possibly attended the FTTA.
3) Stayed for the environment, as you mentioned.

I think what is at the heart of the issue is that the LC values members who are highly active. This means lots of meetings, LOTS of meetings. Meetings every night of the week, on weekends possibly multiple meetings per day. It's doable for someone who's single (assuming they're used to it). A bit harder for a married couple without kids. Once kids are in the picture, it's not easy at all. Whether intentional or not, kids are viewed as an entity that will keep members from being as active as they used to be. Ultimately this means that they LC doesn't necessarily place the value that it should upon the family. All one has to do is listen to their "young adults fellowships", and it is clear the main goal is to keep young adults active in the "church life", not so much to help them in regards to their families.

For LC kids, it can be devastating to have parents who see them as an obstruction to being more involved in the LC. Resentment can build up, then they start acting up. This wasn't the case for me, but was definitely a situation I saw more than once while growing up.

Kids are in the LC because their parents are there. Therefore, they don't live by the view of trying to rationalize everything according to the LC. This can create tension. For example, a young kid doesn't know why their family doesn't celebrate holidays, all they know is that they aren't like their friends and they get the privilege of being made fun of. Parents can't provide their kids a reasonable answer to these kinds of situations, because Lee dictated that LCers are not to celebrate certain holidays. To contradict LC teachings solely for their kids would be a bad move if they want to remain in good standing. So if the LC has enough importance to the parents, then it will naturally take place before the kids, and as the kids get older it becomes easier to just let them do their own thing than try to fix family issues or the resentment the kids have. Of course, this is just an example, there are exceptions to this like with anything in the LC. I do believe, however, that it's a troubling trend in the LC.