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Thank you Chockfull for bringing up "inherit the wind" (which I just found out is from Prov 11:29) and Oldiesman for the clip from the movie. I looked it up as well and learned the main theme of Inherit the Wind is freedom of speech. In the play, freedom of speech is closely related to freedom of thought. More interesting themes were listed in this website. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/inherit-the-wind/themes

Thanks, Chockfull. I thought for interest you might like to see what these churches support: Bath Abbey: https://www.bathabbey.org/donate/mission-partners/ The first four are working locally for international benefit; the fifth (Genesis) is a local charity. Holy Trinity/StACC: https://www.htcd.church/international-mission These are the international missions. There are other local (UK) missions that are supported, Genesis again being one. Genesis Trust (hyperlink) is local and small, and deals with the "dreggiest" homeless, addicted, abandoned people and tries to raise them in confidence and skill level and to reintegrate them into "normal" society. It works in partnership with other local charities to address their wider problems - housing, addiction, ill health, etc. Genesis is funded entirely by donations, mostly from the city's churches: its clientele is so chaotic in lifestyle that it can't produce the "measurable" outcomes that local authorities and other grant-giving organisations demand. The congregations get reports from time to time about the work carried on in these missions. So you see, both the churches as donors and the missions hold themselves accountable to the congregations that have given money. Oh, and by the way: neither the abbey nor StACC/HTCD ever require the congregation to give under pain of excommunication or any other sanction. Finances are talked about occasionally, especially when needed for a project; and we see the annual accounts of the churches, and the treasurers are always willing to answer questions. They're also accountable upwards to the diocese and higher church authorities. I think that's all exactly as it should be in properly run churches. I cannot see TWI ever getting involved in anything like this. What a culture shock that would be! Nor, for that matter, some of the US mega-churches where the "ministers" have huge churches and cult followings. It's time for TWI people and for those in mega-churches to "come on home" to the wider Christian community, and to properly play their humble part in building up the Body of Christ. Not build the body of any cult.

What's left unwritten in welcoming us back is the obvious: one must understand that coming home means one must return to all the beliefs, all the customs, and all rules and regulations. Sort of like this wonderful sequence from "Inherit the Wind": "But all you have to do is to knock on any door and say "if you let me in I'll live the way you want me to live and I'll think the way you want me to think", and all the blinds will go up and all the doors will open and you'll never be lonely ever again."

I know I'm a couple weeks late with this, but here it is anyhow. Lessons From Jeju

If the BOD had ears to hear this is direct example and correction on how to function in the genuine body of Christ with Christians working together and giving to each others ministries. Instead, Vern teaches on money. And they push an “each one reach one” campaign. Which translates into sales quotas under “Vision and Direction” the manual on all leadership positions up to the BOD which have no description of their responsibilities as they are accountable to nobody except themselves. Be a good obedient wafer, be compliant and in attendance at the lame phone hookups, give beyond the tithe, and win one other to “the class”. And no mortgage mind you because debt is wrong. Therefore lease your vehicles don’t “buy” them on credit. No student loans either your future isn’t worth investing in long term. Just ABS more like Vern says. What a life of bondage these arseholes in charge want for everyone else while they go on worldwide tour as rock stars along with the new class teachers. Those expenses are tax free!!! Never accountable never apologize for anything as taught to you by your legal team. What a lame bunch of pocket size dictators. With pocket size VP statues to worship. Bleeeeeech! In direct contrast we have Twinky showing normal Christianity with working together as one body of Christ all sufficient in the Lord with no sales quotas or money mandates. No Jerusalems there either for people to keep the Passover at.

“for whatever reason” - wow that totally sums up the extent of their claiming accountability for their direct actions which cause people to leave. No apologies will be forthcoming as the BOD only answer to God not the people they serve. Until that changes they should not be listened to as even a genuine source despite the fair words coming out of their mouth.

After fighting with the directors for two years before leaving for good let me assure anyone reading along that they are worse than paper tigers, weakness at it's finest. All they have is threats and intimidation. I marked and avoided their sorry behinds in 2008 so it's a rap at this point.

This "welcome" would come with MANY STRINGS ATTACHED. First of all, this broad-stroke "welcome" is directed at the lowly, faithful, abs-sharing advanced class grad who keeps his head down and feels guilty (before God) that he has been cut off from this supposed "godly ministry" thru no fault of his own. He/she was marginalized during a high-octane martindale-induced series of mandates and was told he wasn't wanted at fellowship anymore. For others, like you and me are very VOCAL about all the bad policies, plagiarizing, private interpretation, sexual predation, bullying, serial hypocrisy, elitism, etc..... we would be put on STRICT PROBATION with firm warnings that they might give three warnings before AGAIN re-assigning us to mark/avoid status. This firm warning would not be subtle.... it would be handled very firm in the presence of two or three directors to increase the intimidation factor. They simply could not allow someone like posters at GSC to have open access to branch fellowships. Of course, there would be no apology forthcoming. They would simply extend the invitation to rejoin their group stipulating that THE PAST IS PAST. If I choose to try to rectify the wrongs, then it's all a non-starter because they would claim that re-litigating the plethora of past sins by twi is not something that they will tolerate. Even splinter groups will NOT allow past grievances to be brought to light. They have several verses of Scripture that they cherry-pick to substantiate their stance. There is a verse in Thessalonians that tells us to AVOID ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. Why would I even want to walk thru those doors of evil again? What could possibly be of benefit to me to associate with such lowlifes again? There is NO INDICATION that the leopard has changed his spots. We at GSC are over the target area with our information and twi knows it. They probably have a binder full of my GSC-posts and many other posters. Why would I ever want to give them power over my life again? They are spreading false teachings about my mediator and Lord. Their classes and programs are filled with traps and snares. Never Again. Clearly, amongst many things......GSC has done a good job in sounding the alarm. Twi is no longer formidable, but a dying shell of its former self. The numbers are so pathetic and the classes and programs so dismal.... that twi is trying to recover those they chased away with their bullying. What fools. We were NEVER your servants... but were tempting to follow and serve our risen lord and savior, Jesus Christ. You elitist idiots are the modern-day Pharisees of egotism. Woe unto you. Scum bags who promote false teachings for a pittance paycheck.

How can one be instructed or commanded to be a cheerful giver? This seems counterintuitive to me. This passage in Paul is twisted by many religious institutions, not just TWI, to gaslight the earnest seeker to part with their money. If I give with the expectation to receive something in return, whether material wealth or future imagined spiritual rewards, then my motive is impure, no matter how cheerful I make myself. That is a quid pro quo transaction, and no amount of glove fitting can change this. Love does not keep score.

Thanks for the link. My experiences in the way international do not reflect this statement to be true, and I was one giving mofo. It always seemed that after giving away 15 to 20% of my income to the way international, and most of my time to the way international, that the only thing that was prospered was the way international. Stange perception, no? These guys still teach the necessity of the tithe, which by all accounts was for the Levites care because they served in the Temple year round and the priests gave a heave offering or 10% of their tithes for the high priest. After Christ completed the new covenant we are simply instructed to give as we purpose in our hearts and to be cheerful about it. Their doctrines on tithing are from the pit of victor paul wierwille's lusts for money.

Every one of the comments posted today has poignant and salient insight. EVERY one of them. It warms my heart to have read each of them. The only thing I could possible think to add to this chorus of rejoicing is how thankful I am and obviously all of us are to have been delivered from that cesspool of wrong doctrine (dogma) and faulty practice. Thank you to Chockfull, red rock and blues, cman, Old Skool, and Twinky... and any others who may add to the rejoicing. We ARE greater than the sum of our parts.