Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: February 10, 2019 11:44PM
you all know about jesus' instruction to forgive your enemies. must be supremely tested with respect to hargave, holbrook and company, especially given, presumably, their walking away virtually unscathed with bags of booty while many others, such as yourselves, are left with bags of bad memories and regrets. on the other hand, you've each other, your integrity intact, your moral compass well functioning and kiwi from new zealand available at your local grocery store.
an account of which i recently learned which is a testament of jrs' abuse of power and influence which is also a testament to the complicity of many congregants. in a service at shiloh jrs abruptly charged, in a sudden outburst, a certain pastor of disobedience, etc. (and, of course, the congregation sat silent, excepting one brave soul who contended with the accuracy of jrs' allegations - uh-oh, that was definitely a big "no no"). in hearing this story in which this particular incident occurred (and after i had left lw/shiloh) and in which the "accused" was a friend of mine, i was incensed and thought had i been in the congregation at that moment i would have stood up with the brave soul and shouted "you piece of shit; you, jrs frigging phony apostle of the kingdom, you fat charlatan of the ages, etc. nah, likely i would not have done any such thing despite my friend being skewered but, more likely, sat silently with everyone else because my moral compass was lost in the mariana trenches. and had that occurred on that day long ago would today i be able to forgive myself for having been complicit in a wrong-doing by virtue of my silence. it's a hypothetical, but i certainly hope i would be able to do so, that is forgive myself for my silence.