Southern-Boy :
You seem to be here essentially as an apologist and largely to cast doubt upon anyone posting critical comments here about The Walk and John Robert Stevens.
You say you "only met JRS a few times' so you have limited experience. And as you admit Marilyn is "only a name" to you.
You also seem to endorse dictatorial church government whey you say, "Many of the principles that JRS taught that are being dismissed as 'undemocratic' or similar may not be as far off the mark as some might suggest. Democracy has never been a hallmark of church governance, neither in the Old nor in the New Testament."
it's been 2,000 years since the ministry of Jesus and even longer since Old Testament times. Jesus said many would come in his name, but he would not know them. He warned about wolves in sheep's clothing. Galatians is instructional regarding the abuse of power by leaders.
Most churches today have become democratic in governance by an overwhelmingly majority recognizing the truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Typically a church has a democratically elected board, which is elected by secret ballot and serves fixed terms. Elected church boards can hire and fire pastors. Moreover churches are typically financially transparent, with independently audited financial statements and published budgets that disclose to all contributors how church funds are spent. This includes all salaries, compensation and expenses paid out from church funds.
Many churches belong to denominations that affords even more accountability. This may include educational requirement for pastors and teachers. Churches typically send delegates to denominational conventions or conferences and those delegates democratically elect denominational leaders and boards for fixed terms.
In my experience the more accountability and transparency that exists the less likely it is that there will be abuse. The most abusive churches seem to be the ones that have the least accountability for their leadership.
It is not "bitterness," but rather insight that causes people to post here as former members that were often hurt by JRS and The Walk. Attempting to somehow insinuate that they are to blame for their own victimization is wrong and in my opinion shameful. Your remark, "find forgiveness and move on" seems to say that people who post here are wrong, should be silent and stop.
I have no questions for you. Your statement is sufficient and I think people posting here can draw their own conclusions based upon what you have said.
You seem to be here essentially as an apologist and largely to cast doubt upon anyone posting critical comments here about The Walk and John Robert Stevens.
You say you "only met JRS a few times' so you have limited experience. And as you admit Marilyn is "only a name" to you.
You also seem to endorse dictatorial church government whey you say, "Many of the principles that JRS taught that are being dismissed as 'undemocratic' or similar may not be as far off the mark as some might suggest. Democracy has never been a hallmark of church governance, neither in the Old nor in the New Testament."
it's been 2,000 years since the ministry of Jesus and even longer since Old Testament times. Jesus said many would come in his name, but he would not know them. He warned about wolves in sheep's clothing. Galatians is instructional regarding the abuse of power by leaders.
Most churches today have become democratic in governance by an overwhelmingly majority recognizing the truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Typically a church has a democratically elected board, which is elected by secret ballot and serves fixed terms. Elected church boards can hire and fire pastors. Moreover churches are typically financially transparent, with independently audited financial statements and published budgets that disclose to all contributors how church funds are spent. This includes all salaries, compensation and expenses paid out from church funds.
Many churches belong to denominations that affords even more accountability. This may include educational requirement for pastors and teachers. Churches typically send delegates to denominational conventions or conferences and those delegates democratically elect denominational leaders and boards for fixed terms.
In my experience the more accountability and transparency that exists the less likely it is that there will be abuse. The most abusive churches seem to be the ones that have the least accountability for their leadership.
It is not "bitterness," but rather insight that causes people to post here as former members that were often hurt by JRS and The Walk. Attempting to somehow insinuate that they are to blame for their own victimization is wrong and in my opinion shameful. Your remark, "find forgiveness and move on" seems to say that people who post here are wrong, should be silent and stop.
I have no questions for you. Your statement is sufficient and I think people posting here can draw their own conclusions based upon what you have said.