The Present Truth article from Autumn 2007 has little practical value to most Christians. After reading it I was put out about the nature, tone, and content of the article. It is very sad and a symptom of an unhealthy organization.
One would do well to read a book about spiritual abuse. The article briefly outlines several cases of abuse. The main thrust of the article is to prove that Ralph Herzig is the rightful leader of the LHMM.
The article states in the conclusion: "We are all aware, that God, in the past, has always selected the Leader of His people prior to the election by the brethren for the Executive Trustee."
It is presumptuous and prideful to say that "God's people" are those that are in the LHMM. There are many true followers of Christ that are not in the LHMM and never were. Also, most people are NOT aware of this "arrangement" which is in no ways Biblical. In the past God has chosen a leader for His people in many ways. Think about a few examples: Solomon, David, Moses, Gideon, Paul, etc. I don't think that Jesus was voted in either...and he truly was a leader of God's people.
The fruits of spiritual leadership in the LHMM are evident. As numbers dwindle and people split into smaller and smaller groups over small matters of doctrine which cannot for the most part be proven Biblical, we see it is a symptom of the larger problem and issue. The Gospel of the LHMM is so complex that it can barely be explained to a newcomer. This is not what God intended. Following God is an act of humility and accepting His gift of life. Then the Christ follower should attempt to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Running around in doctrinal arguments as is done in the LHMM is so pointless that in some ways I feel guilty to waste my time writing this. There is so much important work to be done for God. What about the Biblical mandates to "help the poor, etc."? The LHMM has no interest in work towards the needy. They use the excuse that "the end times are coming" and "we can't fix the problems of the world". God didn't tell us to give up. Maybe we can't fix the world...but we are commanded to try.
For the last 10 years I have been free of the LHMM and their "arrangements" which were created to maintain power at the top. During that time I have grown closer to God than ever more and learned truly practical and relevent Bible teaching from some great leaders that God has put on earth. None of these leaders spend time arguing about their leadership authority. People follow them because their teaching is Biblical and their lives have been transformed by God's Word and application in their lives.
I pray for a time when those that are under the bondage of the LHMM are set free to worship God in a manner that is more healthy and beneficial.
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16 comments:
"I pray for a time when those that are under the bondage of the LHMM are set free to worship God in a manner that is more healthy and beneficial"
This is presumptuous and prideful of you in the same way that you have judged as in "bondage" members of LHMM.
If someone felt that in your pain from LHMM you have now become captive to another form of false religion, could you argue? Or are you right?
You have attacked beliefs and not even given a good replacement for the many truths and hopes of people, humans that Jesus gave his life for.
Love does not replace the paradise. When we love God first and please Him we cannot always please imperfect humans. It is required that we understand what the love of God means. That we obey His commands.
This is what you are taking away from LHMM, what you have left. No, not just left, you have to “prove how bad LHMM is” with kind words surrounding the “proof”
I dare say that it is impossible to rightly understand the situation unless you have personally experienced both sides of the fence so to speak. If you have grown up and been a part of only one group be it Bible Students, LHMM, JWs, etc...and never been on the outside of that organization looking in...then you can't possibly know the difference. Leaving that group was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life. It took courage to stand up for what I found to be correct and truthful despite the fact that people would look at me as a lost soul that has left the truth, a sifter, following Satan, etc. It meant possibly losing my family as well. It is a very strong reason to justify nearly anything to keep family ties and friendships that have developed over years. Fortunately, on the other side of that decision God provided me with a new set of friends and people that are loving and understanding...in many cases a much deeper bond than those I had in the past because I was no longer struggling with trying to pretend that I believed as they did after my honest investigations proved them to be untrue. The kindest and most loving words I can provide are those that would help people that do not know the freedom in Christ to experience that as well...as I have...and I say that with all honestly you have not likely experienced that.
My challenge for you would be to leave your current association for 2 years...and then rejudge. How would the people you know now act toward you? Are they truly loving and compassionate or would they avoid and cast you away? I am not defending my beliefs from a place of hurt...but gratefulness to God that He has brought me to the place I am today. I praise Him daily for that...and I am sure that God is pleased with my worship of Him and my relationship with Him.
I have changed my beliefs. I made enemies for the changes. I am in a better place. I left what you have for what is similar to what Russell had. I will say too, Russell was a kind man, not a control freak, and revived many Bible teachings that had been scattered among false religion and the members of those churches who deserved better.
"gratefulness to God that He has brought me to the place I am today"
If you are in a good place why set a blog against your former friends?
Why reflect on all the bad when you do not judge them as bad?
just leave it and move on.
Make a blog on how good life is now.
instead you tear down LHMM
how can you say that there are many true christians that are not in LHMM. What gives you the authority over LHMM to make the correct judgement?
The LHMM's own claim is that they are not an organization but a movement...and membership is not required to be a true Christian. The writers of the New Testament and Russell were also not members of the LHMM...so obviously that is not a requirement. I believe the Bible's only requirement to be a Christian is that you do your best to follow Christ and His teachings. There is well defined and prescribed set of rules that make you in or out.
Correction...There is NOT a well defined and prescribed set of rules that make you in or out.
my point is: LHMM says they are God's people and you say that they are presumptuous to state that. Are you not presumptuous to state that you know what a true christian is?
It is not presumptuous to believe that a true Christian is decided by God...and that we really shouldn't be deciding or judging. I also believe that God's definition may be much wider and different from what we might think or desire it would be.
But somehow you know what spiritual abuse is, when others have left the "ideas" "beliefs" that you have embraced in your blog because they felt that they had been abused spiritually. It seems that everyone is right or o.k.
My issue is that the Bible itself claims to be our guide on how to live life that pleases God, that to love Him means we obey His commandments. Unless we know what His commandments are, we cannot really please Him.
The scriptures speak of repentance and the new personality, the works of the flesh, and other conduct that is right or wrong in God's view.
Do any of the authors accept early congregation with Peter, John etc. to be organized with leadership to direct the congregations?
Biblical examples of leadership are certainly valid. The issues arise when the author/leader has power that is abused...and everyone follows as the only correct way. If one leaves that leadership they are looked at as leaving the "truth". With the split of the LHMM in the recent years this has been evidenced quite plainly...with a group now widely known as the "outcasts". They have their own conventions and are organized in some way...but in a strange position as regards the publications and headquarters.
What then is the leadership that would reflect the early congregation?
The Bible does not command us to correct the problems!
We are commanded to preach and teach others of the Kingdom that will solve the problems.
Dan. 2:44, Mt 6:9-10
http://www.obronaprawdy.pl/category/en/
Methods of thrusting error on the brethren. This document describes the methods used by the LHMM present „acting ET” to surreptitiously inoculate the brethren with error, chiefly on justification. Brother Leon Snyder writes his present PT and BS articles by picking and choosing, often from early Parousia writings, whatever suits his purpose at hand, ignoring what later Parousia or Epiphany writings have to say about the issue in question.
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