Re: "Jesus Christians," "Australian cult," Dave McKay
Date: May 10, 2008 02:20PM
Yes, you've pegged my identity correctly. I purposely mentioned my desire to become a Lutheran pastor for that reason. I didn't want to seem like some new guy who was totally clueless. However, I am surprised by I've learned tonight. Please correct me if I have this wrong:
Lisa owns the JC website?
Such being the case that does explain quite a bit. Further, in my opinion, it means that Dave has sold out to some degree, in that Lisa only seems to adhere to those tenents of the Christian faith that are convenient to her. Anything she finds incovenient, she dismisses, hence her fatally flawed aggression towards those who believe in the Genesis account of creation and the origins of the universe. However, the flaws in Lisa's opinion are not the issue I am concerned with. I see something worse. It seems to me that in a real, albeit transparent, way, Lisa is really the leader of the JCs. That is to say she could choose to ban Dave if it pleased her, hence he is forced to "tow the line" when Lisa seeks to shut down somebody that disagrees with her. Certainly she'll help Dave when he seeks to make a point regarding something, but if Lisa says something heretical, Dave had best back her up. I hope that I have that correct.
Early on I saw the evolution/creation thread as pointless. Still I did try to debate, only for Lisa to try to shut me down, as many here did witness (her little website about that river bed in Texas being a hoax is, in itself, a deliberate hoax, but it seems that Lisa doesn't really do her homework, she just vomits what the establishment tells her to, which is contrary to Dave's teachings). I did try to petition Dave to shut down the thread, but that request fell upon deaf ears, as I have seen.
I don't hate the JCs as an organization. Indeed, some of the teachings have validity. However, I wonder if some of those teachings aren't being taken to an unhealthy extreme. Also, there are definately some obvious internal problems that need some serious redressing. Here are the ones I see:
1. Dave is getting old. This is not a concern in and of itself, rather it creates the question of whether or not there is a structure in place for somebody to assume leadership before Dave is received into eternity.
2. Doctrine. A solid doctrinal statement is an absolute must for any Christian organization. Often this doctrine can be presented in the form of a creed or similiar such statement of faith. Otherwise, how can one possibly know with certainty what the JCs truly believe?
3. Theology. Yes, the JCs as an organization claim to believe the teachings of Christ Jesus and that is the foundation of thier theology. However, unless they have scholars who have attended accreditted schools and earned degrees in theology, it is hard to determine when they move from exegesis and into "exit Jesus".
4. Hermaneutics. Exactly what is the preferred method for interpreting scripture in the JC community as a whole and for Dave, in and of himself? Technically there are only two known methods of interpretation, though a multitude of titles for these methods. In simple terms, they are the allegorical method and the historical critical/grammatical-literal method. The allegorical allows the most flexiblity, but the least amount of accuracy. The historical critical is the least flexible and yet it is the most accurate, though it also demands a higher degree of education. Unfortunately, I've seen both methods applied when reading through the "Bible Study Quiz", often time together on a single verse.
5. References. Aside from scripture, what other outside references are used and recommended? I use Strong's Analytical Concordance for referencing the greek text and meaning so I can hopefully understand english passages I am uncertain of. In like manner I use the writing of Josephus to help me to understand the historical element of when the scriptures where penned, thus helping me to understand the cultural elements that I don't always grasp. I don't see any of this with the teachings of Dave. (how on earth can you get shepherd from bishop? Bishop has always meant father and the KJV only uses that term as bishop/father was a common title for a church pastor in 1611).
6. Education. I honestly feel that more study is needed. Wisdom comes with the seeking of knowledge. However, a lack of education will undoubtedly cause the other things I have mentioned.
All of this is correctable. The question is whether or not it will be. At the moment I am unable to log into my account on the JC forum. I am going to presume a glitch of some sort until this becomes a more regular occurance (even wireless internet has its problems, oh well, nothing in this life is perfect).