Agatha,
I'm glad you are reminding us of where we have been and where we do NOT want to go AGAIN.
"Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". (Galations 5:1) I also experienced this
heavy burden of time and labor in the 80's in the Maryland (College Park, Silver Spring, wherever they would move to) part of GCx. I was a virtually new and young christian and sort of concluded that this "HEAVY" committment must what "God" expected of all TRUE believers. This is what their devoted followers made very plain to those they discipled because this is what they had been taught from the TOP MAN DOWN (though I didn't realize then it was just a mere man's rule of order). They laid a guilt trip on me that not to commit in this "devoted" manner
was to turn my back on God. I heard that many a time, in many a way. In fact, sometimes they even went as far as to claim God would "judge you harshly" if you didn't stay with them. I certainly did not want to DISAPPOINT GOD, or be "zapped" by Him.
Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
(Matt 23:4)
I don't remember actually seeing the "elders" doing much actual "work". They talked to those in leadership, had many a long night meeting, talked at "teachings", counseled all kinds of followers every which way they went, talked about what was wrong with other christians, and other christian groups, but I personally never saw those at top lift much of anything. The people below them did almost all the work all the time. They were TALKIING in "important" meetings while we were
working at our jobs to pay them a salary. We were working
most of any other waking hours (and many when we should have been sleeping) for the church or it's leaders, printing, folding, cooking, cleaning, buying, selling, distributing, babysitting, packing, moving, doing
whatever the GCx top dog desired. He would call it a "vision" and soon nearly everyone was bowing to it, putting our very lives "on hold" for men, not God. We were actually slaves and didn't know it. We didn't have the luxury of asking God if that's what he wanted us to do or even required it. You were EXPECTED and told over and over to surrender your LIFE for GCx. You name it, we worked it through for them, and were available at a moments notice. Most of them did not physically serve that I remember. Some of these "elders" were nice guys with probably good intentions who ended up as blind guides leading us blind sheep. They may have worn themselves out talking, to members or themselves; but that was because they
set people up to
only get advice from them, that was there
own choosing. I seem to recall there were less than 30 people supporting three elders with three large families. I never asked for
three paid elders. But they asked for my money, time, and loyal devotion. Some I believe didn't even see the
ridiculousness of the scheme of things because they were too busy trying to keep up with the "spiritual" treadmill themselves.
It was not a LABOR OF LOVE, it was an exhausting, unending, mindless LABOR FOR LOVE. That is NOT the heart of Christianity, NOR Jesus. Read Galations, 1 Thessalonians and hear the heart of a REAL leader of God's church, a REAL DISCIPLE of Christ. He was compelled by Christ, not by men. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
1 John 4:18
Glad to
Rest in His Secure Love with You,
Janet
