What do you think?

Ohio · 04-25-2020, 09:40 AM

Brother Barnabas, I was in the LC's in greater Ohio from the mid 70's, actively serving for 30 years. Leaving is a difficult decision. Perhaps one of the hardest you will ever make. This is a decision you should make with your wife and the Lord. I don't think you should be pressured into leaving. I was. During the Midwest quarantines, I was told by both the LSM/Anaheim side and the Titus Chu/Cleveland side that I must "take a stand for the truth." What truth? Their truth!

Truth is, that program has a way of manipulating their members for life. They make it almost impossible to follow the Lord directly. Think about that phrase, "offended the body." What does that even mean? Offended who? That phrase is meant to shut down all discussion, and place the blame on what really is a "whistle blower" of sorts, merely seeking accountability in the leadership. How does one repent for that? How can our conscience bother us for that?

I John 3 speaks to this. John mentions loving in deed and in truth, not in word or in tongue. Obviously he was speaking to saints troubled as you and I are. Then John says this is how we know we are in the truth, and our hearts will then have assurance. How can your heart have assurance, when you cannot love the brothers in deed and in truth. Being forced to be silent about matters troubling our conscience, then requires us to love in word and in tongue. Is not that just being a man-pleaser? But still if your heart blames you, God is greater than our heart and knows all. Then John provides another avenue in a test -- how is our boldness towards God?

Personally, when I left I was confronted with this same matter. In the elders/deacons meeting, I brought up the matter of loyalty to Anaheim vs. Cleveland. I asked some honest but pointed questions like, "who is loyal to the church here? Are we not the church OF the saints?" I was shut down. I was told to apologize to those who heard. Apparently I had "offended the body" while seeking what was best for the church. So I apologized to the other deacons, one by one, and that was my exodus.

04-25-2020, 09:40 AM	#2
Ohio Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Greater Ohio Posts: 13,693	Re: What do you think? Brother Barnabas, I was in the LC's in greater Ohio from the mid 70's, actively serving for 30 years. Leaving is a difficult decision. Perhaps one of the hardest you will ever make. This is a decision you should make with your wife and the Lord. I don't think you should be pressured into leaving. I was. During the Midwest quarantines, I was told by both the LSM/Anaheim side and the Titus Chu/Cleveland side that I must "take a stand for the truth." What truth? Their truth! Truth is, that program has a way of manipulating their members for life. They make it almost impossible to follow the Lord directly. Think about that phrase, "offended the body." What does that even mean? Offended who? That phrase is meant to shut down all discussion, and place the blame on what really is a "whistle blower" of sorts, merely seeking accountability in the leadership. How does one repent for that? How can our conscience bother us for that? I John 3 speaks to this. John mentions loving in deed and in truth, not in word or in tongue. Obviously he was speaking to saints troubled as you and I are. Then John says this is how we know we are in the truth, and our hearts will then have assurance. How can your heart have assurance, when you cannot love the brothers in deed and in truth. Being forced to be silent about matters troubling our conscience, then requires us to love in word and in tongue. Is not that just being a man-pleaser? But still if your heart blames you, God is greater than our heart and knows all. Then John provides another avenue in a test -- how is our boldness towards God? Personally, when I left I was confronted with this same matter. In the elders/deacons meeting, I brought up the matter of loyalty to Anaheim vs. Cleveland. I asked some honest but pointed questions like, "who is loyal to the church here? Are we not the church OF the saints?" I was shut down. I was told to apologize to those who heard. Apparently I had "offended the body" while seeking what was best for the church. So I apologized to the other deacons, one by one, and that was my exodus. __________________ Ohio's motto is: With God all things are possible!. Keeping all my posts short, quick, living, and to the point!