Bondage practices

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Greetings Saints in Jesus name!

 2 Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think 
          any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] 
          of God; 

I became aware of a practice of several oneness apostolic churches
as of late.  I imagine, the original intent wasn't out of wanting
to "harm" the local saints but rather of wanting to help.  But as
the time went by, the kings of Egypt forgot who Joseph was ... so 
goes the original intent of help is turned to bondage.

Let's say a church is doing pretty well financially and the church
owns apartments, houses, duplexes, etc.  Rental living dwellings.
Not a bad thing by itself, if they can manage it.  But, let's say
a young family starts coming to church (maybe they move into the
area) and they need a place to stay.  The church out of it's kindness
can outstretch a hand and allow them (the new family) to stay in the
rental dwellings for nothing (initially) and then as the young family
obtains occupation they pay very little rent.  Also an admirable 
thing.

The problem comes when after they've (the family) been suckling on
the church's low-rent living place, and they become accustomed to the
current finances, etc. that they can't *afford* to move out because
they aren't paying a fair market price for the living space rented.
They get used to paying < $200/month rent, and even if they tried
their finances won't allow them to leave to get an equivalent living
place elsewhere for the same amount of money.  The young family realizes
that they are *trapped* there paying the low rent of the living space
as well as *trapped* there at the church that originally helped them
out.  They can't get a bigger place with the church, and they can't
go elsewhere because it's too expensive.  

What started out as a good thing.... has turned to bondage.  The 
church then uses it's influence knowingly to keep those families in
church because they don't dare leave because of economics.  Maybe 
there's times when the church learns of the family's discomfort and
gives the family a $100 or two to help them out in their plight.  
Effectively silencing them.

Though I don't know of specific cases, I can just imagine someone
breaking free from sin, cutting ties with their natural family, 
getting out of the situation that kept them into sin.  They are 
offered a life free of sin along with residence (free at first)
to boot.  As time goes on, their situation gets better, they pay a 
low rent, life straightens out... life is good.  When it comes time
for him/her/them to move out ... and continue life ... they can't
because everything in their life revolves what they can- and can't-
afford.  They can't move out because of personal economics.  What
was once freedom offered, now is bondage.  They are scared to move
from the church because it will spell financial disaster.  They are
stuck.  Their once bubbling spirit, is now crushed in despair.  With
nowhere to go.  The church was their savior, now it's their bondsman.

This is a classic example of how you take a family with needs,
provide for them (which is good), and make an unmoderate situation
out of it.  Because it's become so slanted in it's operation and
practice, it ensnares many a unknowing soon-to-come-out-of-sin sinner
into the way it is to go.

It's one thing for the Lord to provide, but another thing for the
church to continue a practice of bondage where the church becomes a
big fat sow with a massive array of teats and the saint is the piglet 
bellied up to the portal of existence.  Effectively creating their own
safe little welfare state.

Someone said last week:  "How can an organization sin?"  
-or- "Organizations can't sin!"  Under a situation like this,
if the organization knows about it (presbytery) and either endorses
it or doesn't do anything to "help" break the bondage ... yep... the 
organization sins.   This probably happens far more than one would
imagine.  

 2 Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think 
          any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] 
          of God; 

Bro "just a little angry right now" Tyler
--
Bro Tyler Nally <tnally@iquest.net> <tgnally@prairienet.org>
ICQ:  http://www.mirabilis.com/3658585
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