You know TTers, in thelight of the discussions taking place at the moment, I feel it is a good place to resubmit this post from May 7th, 2002. It is instructive, I think.
Michael D:
You know, there is a built-in diabolical trap to cultish religious and denominational systems. They usually pride themselves as being the one, because God established them as such. This is generally based on some exclusive prophetic/messianic figure, and/or organisation.
The diabolical trap is this... they claim such exclusive inspiration, that when obvious truth is presented that contradicts their 'inspired revelation', they can't afford to accept it, since it then threatens the very foundation upon which they stand. So, they have to wiggle their way around with all kinds of inconsistencies and denials of the truth to retain their position.
Again, herein lies the wisdom of God! A person who is identified with Christ, without any alignment that requires his allegiance, outside of being a member of the Body of Christ, can more easily open his mind to the truth, than one who has an allegiance to defend. When the Corinthians tried to establish the Church of Paul etc, he said are you insane?(my word). He recognized that the Church was not the domain of any one individual or organized group. Jesus showed that when he had to rebuke the apostles concerning the man who was working miracles in Christ's name, but was not one of their company.
