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lifeisafunnything
I was talking with a close friend recently about this forum, they also used to attend RLC. I asked them what they thought about this forum, about what people were saying, what they thought about Tony, etc. I was surprised to find them in a neutral position about it all. While they knew things were wrong, they also believed that most of what has been done was not directly connected with Tony and the fact that he is the central figure of the church is why he has been so scrutinized. They brought up the point that Tony teaches at times in a round about kind of way, which can lead others to percieve it differently than he meant it (which i can agree with). Their main point is that we are not Tony and cannot know what was and is going through his head when he says a certain thing, or does something crazy like barge into a prayer meeting like he did. They basically just went on to argue that most of the things that have been done to hurt people didn't come directly from Tony, but others. Leadership perpetuated it, regular joes perpetuated it to gain some level of the authority that was being taught. They recounted many times where Tony actually publicly brought up the fact that he was tired of people trying to mimic him, and taking what he said out of context and teaching it in an unhealthy manner. And while I can halfway agree with all this and I see their point, it is very hard for me to believe that he didn't make it that way (either through ignoring it, or by secretly inviting it to happen). The fact that the ENTIRE structure of the church has the same philosophies and practices tells me that he has had his hand in this corruption for a long time. EVERY SINGLE PERSON doesn't misinterpret a teaching so much so that it finds its way into the everyday life of its members on its own. I have heard Tony defend himself against this issue. When he hears about someone teaching something "off", he immediatly blames the person. If multiple people are doing it, he questions the whole lot and can't figure out where they got that idea. I don't know. It doesn't make sense for it to have just happened because all these other people were just wrong. The church is laced with bad philosophies that came from somewhere. If not Tony, why wouldn't he make sure to get rid of it? It is his church, that he says he cares about, and he obviously knows it has major issues (he admitted to it). Why would his only response be to shrug his shoulders and say "It's them."? Wouldn't someone who really cares, try to shake things up, address people, remove people, SOMETHING other than just blame?

I don't know. It's a lot to think about, to be honest. I can't get a full grip on it. I just want things to change. I put all my hope into this thing, this movement, just to watch it fall apart. I'm very sad and just unsure how to take it all. Sorry for the length.

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Ring barer

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lifeisafunnything
I was talking with a close friend recently about this forum, they also used to attend RLC. I asked them what they thought about this forum, about what people were saying, what they thought about Tony, etc. I was surprised to find them in a neutral position about it all. While they knew things were wrong, they also believed that most of what has been done was not directly connected with Tony and the fact that he is the central figure of the church is why he has been so scrutinized. They brought up the point that Tony teaches at times in a round about kind of way, which can lead others to percieve it differently than he meant it (which i can agree with). Their main point is that we are not Tony and cannot know what was and is going through his head when he says a certain thing, or does something crazy like barge into a prayer meeting like he did. They basically just went on to argue that most of the things that have been done to hurt people didn't come directly from Tony, but others. Leadership perpetuated it, regular joes perpetuated it to gain some level of the authority that was being taught. They recounted many times where Tony actually publicly brought up the fact that he was tired of people trying to mimic him, and taking what he said out of context and teaching it in an unhealthy manner. And while I can halfway agree with all this and I see their point, it is very hard for me to believe that he didn't make it that way (either through ignoring it, or by secretly inviting it to happen). The fact that the ENTIRE structure of the church has the same philosophies and practices tells me that he has had his hand in this corruption for a long time. EVERY SINGLE PERSON doesn't misinterpret a teaching so much so that it finds its way into the everyday life of its members on its own. I have heard Tony defend himself against this issue. When he hears about someone teaching something "off", he immediatly blames the person. If multiple people are doing it, he questions the whole lot and can't figure out where they got that idea. I don't know. It doesn't make sense for it to have just happened because all these other people were just wrong. The church is laced with bad philosophies that came from somewhere. If not Tony, why wouldn't he make sure to get rid of it? It is his church, that he says he cares about, and he obviously knows it has major issues (he admitted to it). Why would his only response be to shrug his shoulders and say "It's them."? Wouldn't someone who really cares, try to shake things up, address people, remove people, SOMETHING other than just blame?

I don't know. It's a lot to think about, to be honest. I can't get a full grip on it. I just want things to change. I put all my hope into this thing, this movement, just to watch it fall apart. I'm very sad and just unsure how to take it all. Sorry for the length.

Tony’s major teaching on this topic is… “Everything rises and falls on leadership”… from his mouth to me this meant that it is all his responsibility in the end….

Just letting yall know his position when I went to soma… check your notes you might just find it in there.

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whatajoke
Here is something I was thinking about. If Tony has told Ryan that Matt is dangerous and Tony has told Matt that Ryan is dangerouos then isn't Tony accountable that he has dangerous people in leadership. The comments that Tony made to Ryan and Matt show his manipulation and abuse. You can believe what you want to believe. I am in no way saying that ryan and matt are dangerous. Just saying if that was Tony's belief and that was an elders belief (Greg Huths comment) and they put a person in leadership that they believe is dangerous then they are accountable for than. Sorry, ryan and matt. I was just using that as an example. These are the games Tony plays. If it is true that matt and ryan are dangerous and tony knows it then he has some responsibility for whatever destruction and abuse they cause. If it is not true and Tony was just saying it for his own reasons then what does that say about what kind of man Tony is. Either way it exposes Tony for what he is......... a pastor who has gone wayward and is caught up in his own ego. Wake up Tony and stop blaming everyone but yourself.

just food for thought.