Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: April 30, 2017 02:52AM
My point in mentioning the ballroom gowns was to show how naive I was. In reality the divorce was about business. But what later surprised me was that Martha wanted 1/2 of what the people thought belonged to them. That was reality. According to the law she was entitled in the eyes of the court, if possible to continue living the life style she had enjoyed and grown accustomed to , while married to John.
I believe we did not realize we were sacrificing to make John and Martha personally well off. This is not what we were fed or the atmosphere that was created for us to be givers. I think most members thought the leaders were like us - that we were all on the same page and in the same boat together.
Many of us continued to be naive for much of our youth - we discounted ourselves as much less important than what we believed we were supporting and investing our years, our lives and our finances in - for the vision that had been given to us, as a people.
As church members we naively believed that the years of our personal sacrifice, our free voluntary labor, frequent offerings, double tithing, and the pledges we made over the years to pay off the S.G. church property - we thought what we were giving to and towards - personally belonged to all of us - together. It was a state of heart but it was not realistic, prudent, or sensible.
In reality, we really did not have a say in whatever was decided by those who owned the S.G. Church. We did not have any real say in what the owners of the property should or should not do, could or could not do with the property.
By giving most of our all - to the church for years , many of us did not buy homes for ourselves or our families, we did not build for ourselves or our own individual futures - but those of us who did own or were purchasing homes - the leadership in the late 1980's had the Gaul to ask and to inspire any one who would be willing to will and to give their homes to TLW upon their death - they asked for their homes be given to TLW - for FREE with out saying the words (for free) . Also stating that the services of the law offices would help draw up the necessary legal paper work for these members.
Prior to asking the members to will their homes to TLW - with enough time lapsing between - was that the ministry asked the members of the church at a Southgate service to give them a detailed personal financial statement - letting them know how much money they were earning - including details of what they were tithing, including all the debts and expenses they were paying out each month.
Some of the members must not have been turning in a financial statement to the ministry because it was brought up again at another service that every one needed to turn this in. Stupid, naive me! I had already turned my hand written statement in!
Of course it was until years later that I realized that they had no business asking me or any one else as a member of a church - for a personal financial statement. When you are naive, you don't think to be offended or taken a back by such a request by the ministry.
So I believe I came to have some insight and a little more of an education about life & relationships through these many experiences and I found ( my problem) which was long ago written about.
Proverbs 1:4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion
Proverbs 14:15-17 the naive believe everything But the sensible man considers his steps.
Proverbs 14:16 The naive inherit foolishness but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 22:30 How long naive one's will you love being simple minded?