Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Posted by:
poliscigrad
()
Date: July 01, 2015 04:43AM
Lily Rose and Paleface,
Yes, agency is intrinsically linked with an exercise of "free will." Paleface related one moment where they began to figure out that the Shepherds were doing something God would presumably not do: namely, cross their will. During the summer of 1994, there were many "words" on having one's own walk with God and not conforming to outward practice. I stopped participating publicly in the worship services. When others would begin to sing in the spirit, I just stood there. When others said "amen", I would remain silent. A decisive moment came for me when I was given some small ministry in the church to oversee, and I took the delegation of authority seriously. So, I made an executive decision that this ministry would do something even if G&M were around and might otherwise command its attention. When I was overruled by the local shepherds, I realized I had no real authority, even though I was commissioned in front of the Body. So, I left.
I suspect that no one in the TLWF has any real authority. Gary and Marilyn exercise power, but not true authority. And, as far as I see it, anyone that remains in positions of authority as a pastor, associate pastor, school principal, etc., is complicit in the brute exercise of coercion against the people. I don't care how "good" their "hearts" are: they are guilty of gross malpractice. If there is a final judgment before the seat of Christ, I would not be surprised if the entire TLWF leadership will know intimately what it is like to weep uncontrollably and to grind one's teeth into stubble.