Why don't Local Church Members Post Here?

[aron]

Originally Posted by SeekingWisdom

I don't look for "Amens" or confirming words. Nor do I avoid critiquing, I welcome it. So if anything I say is inaccurate, do point it out please.

I also welcome you and get your motives. Although I like 'amens' I don't need them. It's a good exercise to write publicly and think aloud as it were*, and to accept others' critiques.

Originally Posted by SeekingWisdom

I'm not too sure what you were trying to get at with "humankind were perfected" comment. If you could elaborate/clarify it would be much appreciated.

I was playing on James Madison's thought [Federalist Papers] that if men were angels, then government would be unnecessary. But men are not, so government, constituted with corrupted men, tends to corruption itself. Thus, said JM, there must be checks and balances. With religious organisations, we begin with good intentions. But eventually, because humankind isn't perfected, those well-meaning entities become the antithesis of their original purpose. So there must be transparency, accountability. (In WL's organisation there's been neither, so forgive us if we suspect the worst.)

Suppose we see people in Uganda without running water, and say, "Let's create a group to raise money, go over and help." All well and good, and some may do just that. But others may raise millions and years later we hear that they pad expenses, have luxurious offices and country club memberships. And three wells got dug. So $46 million dollars got raised and three wells got dug and 45.995 million got siphoned off by the family of the founder.

If you think I'm overboard, see KP Yohannon and Gospel for Asia. It reeks. (and now he's tight with Hank Hanegraaf, what a surprise)

Regarding tolerance and/or deference with Daystar in particular, I see three types of enabling, or lack of accountability. First, as you noted, those who hold leaders in regard because of position. The NT says that believers should respect those in authority, both religious and secular (not as man-pleasers but respecting God's ordering).

Then there's the intimidation factor, as ones who speak up get expelled from the assembly, and publicly reviled. Last, there's corruption, as followers who pushed to have Daystar [i.e. Lee family] loans forgiven are now on LSM payroll, as are their family members. I can't prove a causal connection but that's the impression.

Maybe Ravi Zacharias started off meaning to serve God, but look how it played out - even his family got sucked into the money/power/abuse vortex and tried to cover him after the lid blew off. It's not surprising, knowing humanity, yes even Christian humanity. Jim Bakker also began with good intentions, a genuine convert with a heart for the flock. But once on television the money began to flow, and ''here a little, there a little''...it goes to order, and to disorder.

*My verse for this sort of discussion, of multiple competing options being played out, is Acts 15:7. There was diversity of view, but one accord in fraternity.