waysider

Perhaps I should clarify this post. I was commenting on a specific program, not "the ministry" in general. In the program (read: commune) we had several mandatory funds. There was a fellowlaborer fund, which paid rent and utilities, a house fund, which covered individual house expenses, such as dish soap, toilet paper and the like, and a food fund (Manna fund), which covered the expenses involved with our food co-op. We had a community garden that supplied our vegetable needs. We were also expected to share freely of our pluralities. So, if you had a car and weren't using it one day, you were expected to loan it to someone who needed it. (It's not hard to understand how this aspect was subject to abuse by people who always seemed to be more "needy" than others.) We also had to "abundantly share" to support the limb facility, just like everyone else in the state. Even our time was considered communally owned, though we were permitted some individual time on Sundays to wash clothes and run errands. This is what I meant by the socialism aspect. At the same time, we had absolutely no voice in how these funds and rules were developed or administered. Our time was strictly controlled. We were not free to pursue hobbies or outside interests. We were not permitted to fraternize with or date anyone outside the program. We were told when to get up, when to go to bed, what to do, what not to do, when to eat, what to eat, and how to eat. None of these items were up for discussion or questioning. Obedience ruled the day. This is what I meant by the authoritarian aspect. Edit: So, when I hear people talk about how much they learned in the program, I have to wonder exactly what it is they think they "learned".

Happy 4th to you as well, Kit.

Yeah, I remember that. He also said that, through the week, "the adversary" would look at what he had written and then work to turn the congregation against it/him so that the message would be poorly received on Sunday morning. Personally, I think he was just trying to rationalize his own laziness and lack of preparation.

So much for "The New, Dynamic Church".

Three years in a Fellowlaborers program. It was a hybrid mix of authoritarianism and socialism. I'm not saying that aspect of the program was either good or bad. I'm simply saying that's what it was.

"None of us are free if one of us is chained none of us are free."

This is the part I don't understand. If I find out there is no more beer in the fridge, it would make me want to enjoy the one in front of me, not spill it down the drain.

Isn't it amazing? You see people go on anti-socialism tirades, on facebook, and then turn right around and extoll the virtues of whatever Way commune their experience included.

Julianne Hough

I watched your video, Roy. I don't understand why you think there is something sinful about the way you are living. Hang tough, Brother. I'm pulling for you.

I won't go as far as to say it was the ultimate scam......but, it was a pretty darn good one.

My mortgage is paid off, so, technically, I'm not in debt for my house. Still, I have to put money aside every month for property taxes and insurance, not to mention upkeep and improvements. So, simply owning a house does not mean you are debt free. In fact, at this stage of my life, I might be better off selling my house, investing some of the proceeds and using the rest to pay rent to someone else who will take care of the usual headaches that come with ownership.

Remember THIS thread? It asked the question: "What if everything about Christianity remained the same EXCEPT for the part about there being a life after this one? How would that change how you feel about being a Christian?" I posed this question to a person I was working with at the time. (a "professed" Christian ) She said she would simply kill herself, wouldn't be able to go on living. I thought that was rather odd. It seems to me that if you knew this lifetime is all there is, you would want to squeeze the most out of every moment. Maybe it was in the way I asked the question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVkD-G1zpco

Oh, I see. I can remember when we used to use the annual county fair like that.

JJ Do you mean that this particular event is being sponsored by The Way or that it reminds you of something similar?

Marriage isn't for everyone nor is child rearing. I know people who have chosen to remain single and are perfectly happy with their choice. Likewise, I know couples who have elected to never have children and have no regrets. The problem with marriages in The Way was that you were expected to function as some sort of sales/tag team, with promotion of PFAL at the heart of your relationship.

We're all losers in one sense or another.

.....for them

Just keep giving 15% of your income to TWI and it will all work out.

Ha! Ha! Some truly funny responses.

Now get out there and put a class together!!

It's all the same thing, in my opinion. I think we just cite the ages and genders to make it more tangible to our understanding, easier to feel the outrage it deserves. Otherwise, it would seem too surreal to comprehend.

I'm not so sure how effective pre-screening can really be. People who do these sorts of things have usually honed their skills to a virtuoso level when it comes to flying under the radar. As excie noted, Wierdwilly is a prime example.