Double Standards

[Intothewind]

Every time I open this thread I re - realize how blinded I/ we were.

Has anyone here visited the lsm run bookstores? I recall they carry a variety of authors liberally sprinkled among lsm stuff.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Intothewind

Every time I open this thread I re - realize how blinded I/ we were.

I have found it beneficial to discuss all these double standards. It seems that many of what were believed to be positive attributes of the LC are rooted in double standards, or even worse, straw man fallacies that they have constructed.

One of the double standard examples that I gave early on is how LCers claim to not pay a pastor or staff, and they will even attack other Christian groups who do so (I have witnessed this kind of talk). So how do their full-timer "staff" get some kind of exemption from this? The problem is, they're so immersed in their criticism of others that they fail to see that they are no different. That's not to say that some of the criticism they direct towards others is valid in the first place. But it's liberating when you finally come to realize that so much of what seems "special" about the LC really isn't.

Originally Posted by Intothewind

Has anyone here visited the lsm run bookstores? I recall they carry a variety of authors liberally sprinkled among lsm stuff.

I've only visited the one in Anaheim. Nothing but LSM books when I went there.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I have found it beneficial to discuss all these double standards. It seems that many of what were believed to be positive attributes of the LC are rooted in double standards, or even worse, straw man fallacies that they have constructed.

According to probably accurate reports, WL began his ministry in the US after a time of repentance. He definitely was a gifted, learned, and productive minister. By all accounts, he was himself morally sound, unlike his sons, and who can fault a man for that since many others like Eli the priest and the prophet Samuel suffered similar failures with their sons.

Had Lee simply trusted in the Lord's provision for his ministry as he often claimed, and not padded it with exclusive teachings, outrageous claims, rotten business deals, etc. and kept his reprobate sons completely out of the picture, adding a dose of humility in his service, perhaps this forum and the sordid LC history would never have existed.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Ohio

According to probably accurate reports, WL began his ministry in the US after a time of repentance. He definitely was a gifted, learned, and productive minister. By all accounts, he was himself morally sound, unlike his sons, and who can fault a man for that since many others like Eli the priest and the prophet Samuel suffered similar failures with their sons.

Had Lee simply trusted in the Lord's provision for his ministry as he often claimed, and not padded it with exclusive teachings, outrageous claims, rotten business deals, etc. and kept his reprobate sons completely out of the picture, adding a dose of humility in his service, perhaps this forum and the sordid LC history would never have existed.

In a way, WL set his own trap. He felt that he could head a movement that would be so much better than anything before. By the time he discovered that he was just human like the rest of us, hypocrisy had already taken over. He had to maintain his image and reputation. The problem is, when the standard gets set too high, failure is a guarantee.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Intothewind

Every time I open this thread I re - realize how blinded I/ we were.

I see it more of acceptance. Brothers in the local churches willingly accept double-standards in spite of what double-standards present.