NOT everyone SEEMS to KNOW that USING capitals,"ON" [the INTERNET] is SHOUTING. it IS also HARD to READ
They have a business masquerading as a church with no Biblical reference whatsoever the Brethren [are] right where they want them.
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Anonymous
UnregisteredPost # 24566 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Joan
MemberI once did a lot of work on teaching children to read. One of the hurdles I sometimes had to overcome with parents who were eager to encourage their children's literacy skills was to convince them that teaching their children to write their names or simple words in upper case letters wasn't the most helpful approach. Children read lower case letters much more easily than capitals - we all do.
It surprises me that the advertising industry hasn't taken this fact on board. Have a look around and you'll see capital letters everywhere.
Post # 24567 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Joan
MemberI've noticed that the Hales Exclusive Brethren frequently use the term 'opposer' to denote anyone who may question some of their beliefs and practices.
Perhaps Bruce D Hales's irrational fears arise from a worry that everyone is an opposer out to get him. Instead, I wish Mr Hales and his followers would understand the notion of 'critical friend'. I count myself as a friend of Exclusive Brethren people, though I am critical of the dishonest way they have treated me since the 1960s. In a normal world, I would be able to discuss my experience with them, but I've found that even the most intelligent and courteous members of the Hales group tell me that they'd rather "leave that on the table". What is "that"? It's simply that I want them to accept that I don't at all fit the New Testament categories of those who were not to be table companions in the C1 AD Corinthian church (see 1 Corinthians 5:11) and I object to the fact that the Hales brethren treat me like that and won't even share a cup of tea with me. In my view, it's too important a matter to be left "on the table".
Think how much more comfortable Bruce D Hales and his followers would be if they could only grasp the reality that decent, tolerant people can talk to each other, and present contrasting viewpoints, in the spirit of friendship without in any way threatening each other.
Post # 24568 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredYes, the EB ship is on the rocks,foundering due to lack of direction-their moral compass is non existent.Whats worse is the ordinary brethren,by and large, good people have also missed the boat.When I think of Christian organizations such as Teen Challange -which started at the same time as JTjr began his rampage some 50 years ago-and Teen Challane-in the same time period-50 yerars ,now has over 1100 residential addictions centers all over the world.Youth for Christ is another fine oganization,expanding globally.YWAM[ Youth With a Mission] is another international Christian organization.
What have the EB done -other than profiteering?In place of solace, comfort and compassion-what Christ taught-the EB have set up a sytem based on Pride, Prejudice and Profit .All they do is sit around in a very small circle and tell each other ''what a great privilege it is to be in the Assembly''.
.If the young people in the EB today wonder if they have ''missed the boat''-I couldn't argue with them.-they have,mainly for lack of spiritual leadership.The captain[Christ] is not on the bridge
Post # 24570 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Ian
Memberdecent, tolerant people can talk to each other, and present contrasting viewpoints, in the spirit of friendship without in any way threatening each other
This is a lesson that can take a long time to learn. I know, because after leaving the EB it took me a long time to learn it. Many of us ex-EB (as well as current EB) are conspicuously intolerant of divergent opinions about nearly anything, and easily become angry if anyone thinks differently.
In the EB they called it “standing up for the truth.” In their tradition, having the wrong beliefs was what got you sent to Hell, so anyone who disagreed with them was often denounced in the most intemperate terms. The habit goes back at least as far as JND. Sometimes it takes an ex-EB several decades to adopt a more mature attitude.
Standing up for the truth? Insisting on your own opinion? Or was it merely common, old-fashioned, blind bigotry?
Oh, another little point about capital letters: in the UK the Road Research Laboratory demonstrated at least 50 years ago that lower case letters can be read more quickly and more reliably than capitals, so they have used lower-case letters on all road signs ever since then. Personally I hope no one tells the advertising industry, because I would prefer to avoid reading adverts. They are too much like EB ministry: manipulative and often deceitful.
Post # 24573 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredThey are all mad-the whole lot of these ''Divinely Appointed ''cult leaders-David Koresh,Jim Jones,and Warren Jeffs.But they are also very dangerous-and attract naive people who ''worship'' them-and ultimately are the ones who pay for it-in broken families,wrecked marriages and wasted lives-the lucky ones get off with just bring being totally disallusioned and cast adrift.Infortionately none of them see it coming-until too late,and then extricating themslves becomes very painful,because they inevitably leave behind family and friends as they try to rebuilt their lives
I'm watching the same scenario play out in the fundamantal Mormon church group here in Bountiful BC that still practices poligamy -Warren Jeffs is now in jail,convicted of child rape-and the inevitable power play to fill the vaccum is taking place.Winston Blackmore [currently up on tax evasion] is in a power struggle with James Oler.It has split the community right down the middle .Each side is being told the other is not to talk to each other and they are going to hell.The wives and children are involved,brother against brother-sisters against sisters.
Sound familiar? - it ought to,same game, diferent name
Post # 24680 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredHow does Mitt Romney (US Presidential Candidate), fit with the Mormons, wasn’t he a Big Cheese in the Mormons until recently or is he still with them ?
Post # 24684 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
Unregisteredquote from latest white book''he'd come to it that it was impossable for the Lords servent to fail ''
so,let me get this straight-did he borrow that one from the Caltholics -the claimed infallability of the Pope?
I would like to ask-was the Apostle Peter ''the Lords servent''?.....did he fail?
bruce is clearly over the top-delusional-making up things that are not even in scripture-but then again-maybe he doesn't need the scriptures.What apalls me is the lengths these fraudsters will go to defend some poor sick old man who was in the last stages of alcoholism-which even his own family admits.
Post # 24696 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Paladino
MemberPost 24684
Romney spent some years (about 1977-94) as a local lay leader in the Mormons. He rose to preside over the "Boston Stake" in Massachusetts, with over 12 congregations and over 4,000 members. He combined these activities with his very successful business career. See the article on Romney in Wikipedia.
So he wasn't really a "big cheese" if by that you mean the top dogs in Salt Lake City.
And yes, he's still very much a Mormon, and his tax returns show he makes large donations to the LDS Church.
Post # 24698 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredTo go back to Mr 24696’s comments about Papal infallibility, the Brethren version is much more extreme and more boastful than the Roman Catholic version, which is hedged around with provisos.
he [JSH] said what he’d come to is that it was impossible that the Lord’s servant [JTJr] could fail. He was absolutely, he’d come to it, he’d obviously got a clear light from the Lord, that the Lord would not allow His servant to fail.
No servant has ever been infallible. Noah got drunk and licentious (Genesis 9); Abraham was disbelieving (Genesis 17:17) and untruthful (Genesis 20:2); Isaac was untruthful (Genesis 26:8-9); Jacob swindled his brother twice (Genesis 25 and 27); Moses rebelled against God (Numbers 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:51); Aaron practised idolatry (Exodus 32); Saul, the Lord’s Anointed, plotted to murder David; David, when he became the Lord’s Anointed, murdered Uriah (2 Samuel 11) so that he could have his wife; the Apostle James tried to ban Gentiles from joining the Church; the Apostle Peter disowned Christ (Matthew 26); the Apostle Judas wasn’t a very good example either.
Post # 24699 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredSuccession
Excuse my ignorance, but is ther a Gareth Hales waiting in the wings to take over, or is it Garth Christie that people are talking about here?
Post # 24710 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredOK. I was confused. I guess Garth Christie having a meeting hall built in his back garden wasn't a big enough incentive then? I expect he hoped it would be.
Post # 24716 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredBruce Hales can blather away all he wants ,even to the point of blasphemy ie: daring to compare mere mortals with the Lord -and get away with it -in fact he can say whatever he wants or do whatever he wants-who is going to call him on it?
This is the Achilles heel of Exclusive Brethren- there are no qualificatons required for leaders ,no checks or ballances,no body to be accountable to[Paul said local elders and deacons should be appointed to oversee the church]This gives them a carte blanc to write their own ticket.What greatly exacerbates the problem it it is the unscriptural''universal fellowship''-whereas in the scriptually mandated local assemblies and plurality of leadership responsable to elders and deacons-a leader running amok would be removed and the damage limited to that one assembly.The EB not only do not have such provisions for dealing with human failure,they claim there is no human failure......God will not allow it...
Post # 24719 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Paladino
MemberDear 24699
the Apostle James tried to ban Gentiles from joining the Church
While agreeing heartily with you that no human is infallible, however saintly or revered, can I just put in a word for poor old James ("brother of the Lord") who often seems to get a bad press, especially in comparison with Paul.
In fact, I don't think there is any evidence in Acts that he tried to ban gentiles from joining the church. It's possible he may have had initial reservations, but if so, we are not told so.
In Acts 11, in the discussion/criticism among the circumcised Christians following Peter's mission to Cornelius, James is not named, and Peter's explanations were accepted - "they had no further objections and praised God..."
In Acts 15, at the "Council of Jerusalem", it was some of "the party of the Pharisees" who said the new gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia should be circumcised, Peter (and Barnabas and Paul) who opposed them, but then James who backed up Peter and gave his "judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God..."
Admittedly, in Galatians, where Paul describes the controversy at Antioch about eating with gentiles, Paul refers disparagingly to the "certain men" who "came from James", but even there Paul does not actually criticise James himself, though indeed his words appear rather close to doing so !
Incidentally, there are differing views as to whether Acts 15 and Galations refer somewhat confusingly to the same events or, alternatively, to two separate occasions.
Post # 24722 - Posted 3 months ago LINK -
Anonymous
UnregisteredJ W -I think it might be premature. Mind you he is drinking and eating himself into an early grave so it might be prudent to have a successor waiting in the wings. And I'll wager that if Gareth does get the gig a lot of people will walk. Hang on! I said that about Bruce Hales....seems the EB don't have a mind. Ah well. We warned 'em.
Post # 24734 - Posted 3 months ago LINK
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