Problems with Micromanagement in the Church

[_Pokatator]

How did the one Church with Jesus at its head become Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Reformation, etc. with over 1,000 denominations?

How did the "restored Church" become several hundred denominations?

Wine went to water in LDS practice. Common cups went to paper/plastic disposables. Garments became increasingly abbreviated, and then separated into two pieces. Temple ordinances and oaths were changed. Scriptures were modified. Doctrines and policies were changed, and even disavowed.

And wording changes:

Principal becomes among

White becomes pure

Mormon becomes Christian

What can you count on?

[_Sethbag]

This is ridiculous. I sometimes wonder if there is anyone here who thinks above concrete operational thought. Let's talk in the abstract, and raise this discussion a little from the kindergarten level.

You're so cute when you talk dirty. ;-)

[_ozemc]

Wow, such egregious behavior. Ranks right up there with, "Thou shalt not kill", I think.

I hope they get this squelched soon or we may have members

getting tatoos, piercings, blatant abuse of little factories, maybe laughter,

and heaven forbid someone might start clapping to the music.

We can't have worshiping God be fun or a joy now can we?

You know, that's interesting about the music.

As many of you know my wife is a TBM, and I am not in the church. I do go with her to sacrament meetings, and then leave and go to my church, which is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (http://www.disciples.org)

One of the things she says she does like about my church, as opposed to her ward, is the fact that there is a lot of very expressive singing, and people clap if the choir sounds really good; there's laughter, and sometimes there's a give and take between the pastor and members of the congregation.

We have our "schedule" of how worship goes, but that doesn't keep us from enjoying ourselves, and "feeling the spirit" as it were.

[_ozemc]

It wasn't read in my ward. Maybe because we didn't need it. Maybe some other wards did.

This is a good example, though, of how the apostacies happen. One little thing at a time. One little step off the path, and then another, then another.

First they start to part their hair on the left. Soon they hang out with their friends after Sacrament meeting, slapping backs and guffawing in the foyer. Next they are peppering their speech with words like "keen" and "swell". Pretty soon they are staying after for "Priesthood Duties".

Oh, we should have seen it coming. Yes indeed. All the tell tell signs were there. The bread crumbs on the collar. The hard water stains on the sleeves. Yes, we should have seen it coming and nipped it in the bud. But, Ohhh Noooooo! If you do that they will brand you an alarmist and tell you that your seeing things. Well listen bub, the trouble is here now and those of use still able to stay on the straight and narrow better do something about it soon....

We surely got Trouble, terrible, terrible trouble, with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for pool!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

[_Roger Morrison]

Ozemc:

We surely got Trouble, terrible, terrible trouble, with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for pool!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

...and that rhymes with 'fool'! Sorry, Roger couldn't resist either... Warm regards :-)

[_Ray A]

I think it's very interesting to read between the lines here. If this letter is/was legitimate, then we have to assume that some "rogue" bishops have really been treating their congregations in some disquieting ways. I.e., is it really necessary to dismiss adult members row by row? Further, it is intriguing that the Brethren would demand that Sacrament Meeting include material in addition to music. I mean, theoretically, shouldn't hymns contain (at minimum) all of the same basic messages about the Gospel as the typical hastily prepared talk?

I think what the letter suggests, above all, is a kind of back-and-forth, behind the scenes kind of battle, where the Brethren and other Church leaders are trying to determine just how much authoritarian control they will be able to get away with. In either case, I thought this was intriguing. Perhaps further intriguing were the TBMs' reaction to the posting. Most of them seemed to generally approve, and feel that things such as "sung testimonies" ought to be prohibited.

Why does what happens in Sacrament meeting have any relevance to you? Who the hell cares what you "think" unless you declare your interest here? Oh, sorry, your obsession. But why?

[_Jersey Girl]

charity

This is ridiculous. I sometimes wonder if there is anyone here who thinks above concrete operational thought. Let's talk in the abstract, and raise this discussion a little from the kindergarten level.

It really bugs me when adults use young children as an analagous insult to other adults. Couldn't you have demonstrated Formal Op's instead of throwing sand yourself, charity?

I means seriously, woman.

[_moksha]

Hi Mok, you wrote:

Oh, we should have seen it coming. Yes indeed. All the tell tell signs were there. The bread crumbs on the collar. The hard water stains on the sleeves. Yes, we should have seen it coming and nipped it in the bud. But, Ohhh Noooooo! If you do that they will brand you an alarmist and tell you that your seeing things. Well listen bub, the trouble is here now and those of use still able to stay on the straight and narrow better do something about it soon.... (Bold added by RM)

Will you elaborate on the bolded? Not sure if you're jesting, or serious?? Warm regards, Roger

Hey Rodger, yeah I was joking. Thought the bread crumbs on the collar would be a give away. However, some people do sound a bit like that last sentence.

How is the weather up north?

Charity: When Jesus was with the apostles, what type of Church meeting did they have? Do you think they had ornate cathedrals, priests in ornate vestments, the stations of the cross, kneeling and crossing oneself before they sat down in the pews, Latin liturgy, etc.?

I am not certain if the Stake President would have approved the ornate cathedrals and vestments back in those initial days of Christianity. Most likely just plain chapels and white shirts only.