Lilly Rose,
I wasn't talking about Bob M. when I spoke of the ministry having a heart of stone - I was referring to the mindset that was held by the leadership who had taken over the lives of the members - back in those many years ago.
You are right, It is so easy to misunderstand what some one else is saying - with out talking in person - face to face. Good comment about not being able to see a person's expressions and the tones and sounds in their voice when writing or texting.
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Changed Again,
Thank you for your response and for what you shared . A good exchange and most appreciated.
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Puddington,
Thank you for confirming the 1988 - commitment the congregation was led to make both to M and the ministry - Your right - it was a commitment to completely give up our life to the leadership ( to the ministry.)
Probably most of the people who went to the services in the late 1980's have forgotten how they came about believing that they should give up their free wills to allow the ministry to take their lives.
Later, when I found in the Scriptures that Jesus said - ( No man takes My life. I lay it down and I take it up. This Commandment I received from My Father. ) --- I later - knew for myself that - the guilt I felt (as if I was forsaking the Lord ) by not entering into the relationship that the leadership of the church was leading the members to believe was a deeper way to be purely devoted to serve and worship God.
I later came to realize - for any man to use God's love for us, or to use our love for God, to get us to give up our life - so they could take our life from us - was not of God.
By this Commandment that the Father gave to Jesus - I believe He was able to live his life as a free man in His relationship with other men. God freed Jesus from the religious ideas that hindered a man from being able to freely relate to God Himself and to personally worship God both as His own God and Father.
Finding this in the Scriptures - was how I was able to continue on by faith - after I stopped participating in the church as a member of TLW church.
I wasn't talking about Bob M. when I spoke of the ministry having a heart of stone - I was referring to the mindset that was held by the leadership who had taken over the lives of the members - back in those many years ago.
You are right, It is so easy to misunderstand what some one else is saying - with out talking in person - face to face. Good comment about not being able to see a person's expressions and the tones and sounds in their voice when writing or texting.
-------------
Changed Again,
Thank you for your response and for what you shared . A good exchange and most appreciated.
----------------
Puddington,
Thank you for confirming the 1988 - commitment the congregation was led to make both to M and the ministry - Your right - it was a commitment to completely give up our life to the leadership ( to the ministry.)
Probably most of the people who went to the services in the late 1980's have forgotten how they came about believing that they should give up their free wills to allow the ministry to take their lives.
Later, when I found in the Scriptures that Jesus said - ( No man takes My life. I lay it down and I take it up. This Commandment I received from My Father. ) --- I later - knew for myself that - the guilt I felt (as if I was forsaking the Lord ) by not entering into the relationship that the leadership of the church was leading the members to believe was a deeper way to be purely devoted to serve and worship God.
I later came to realize - for any man to use God's love for us, or to use our love for God, to get us to give up our life - so they could take our life from us - was not of God.
By this Commandment that the Father gave to Jesus - I believe He was able to live his life as a free man in His relationship with other men. God freed Jesus from the religious ideas that hindered a man from being able to freely relate to God Himself and to personally worship God both as His own God and Father.
Finding this in the Scriptures - was how I was able to continue on by faith - after I stopped participating in the church as a member of TLW church.