Quote
"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -- Unknown
Were the atrocities committed at LFF simply blindly done because of twisted theological beliefs? Thoughts?
9 comments:
No, LFF is a product of insecurity. Insecure people duped by doubly insecure leadership, mainly Karl Barden and Kari Vance.
I think that the rest of the current leadership and past (for that matter) should all be given equal credit (re- being insecure folks) I realize that some have seen the light and have left for that reason and I do respect them for having the courage to do that. Tom, Phil, Joe etc. etc. are all a BIG part of the farce, as well.
I think it was a combination of Karl's insecurity and wrong theology, especially the belief that we were always on the verge of losing our salvation and just needed to try harder and sacrifice more.
I think it was about power which is often sought by those that are insecure. It is sort of like bullies on the playground. They are usually pretty mixed up kids that need to have power to feel better about themselves.
I think there is also an element of wrong theology mixed in - or biblical content taken out of context. To me the Bible is a bit like statistic. You decide what you want and you skew the numbers or the verse to support it. Or both like with the 23 & 1/3 tithe!
They seriously believe that what they are doing is true and correct theology
A lot of the problems at LFF are rooted in twisted theological beliefs and false prophecy (ala "oh reluctant shepherd" and "if you build it they will come" etc). I think that, at least in the beginning, they really thought they were doing God's work and that there was an element of God moving... it was when they started "writing" (ahem, borrowing/stealing) their own classes like GGs and the CATs that the real twisting and proof-texting happened. Over time this was fed by insecurity, a hunger for power and pride that started at the top and came down through the ranks. And in a sick sort of way, I'm not sure they really see or believe they did anything wrong; they really think they were out for our good, that they were doing the Lord's will, and that lives were being changed for the better because of their ministry. At least from the very brief contact we've had w/Karl (ran into him in Seattle) & Phil since leaving that is the impression we got.
And so we go, sometimes forward, sometimes to the places we started, time, unforgiving train, never stopping to wait for any. Each with a thought of what we would if we could, or maybe what we wouldn’t. Familiarity we share, never waiting permission, clumsily pulls us together and tears us apart. Regrets we know better than to have, a mosquito itch, there to remind us when our minds finally find rest.
We were only children. How could we have known? Who should we tell that we had to watch our parents cry? It was for God! Wasn’t it? We were going to be righteous. We were a step above, set apart. We were on fire, righteous indignation. We did what we had to, anything, to survive. Some fought, some ran, and some learned to pretend.
The good news, I stopped caring. The bad news, about anything. That’s why I’m not mad at you, I lost that ability when I was 12. I’m indifferent, I think. Except for one thing. I would drag myself, crawling, across all the hot asphalt in the world, to save your children from you.
I’d introduce them to the God you lost somewhere in all your religion.
Wow, that last comment was intense. I am sorry that you had to go through that pain. Thanks for your insights, I definitely won't be going to that place.
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