Bankrupt

The subtitle might as well read "The Intellectual and Moral Bankruptcy of the Apostolic Assembly"

Who knew that a blog such as this would expose supposed wrong doing by so many men and women, young and old on both sides or on no side of the current AA situation.

In our age of instantaneous information available to all, accountability will be demanded. The old, smelly, stale carpet in our house has been removed and replaced with transparent glass thereby removing the opportunity for hidden agendas, intentions and actions to swept under the rug. On this new surface we will be able to see all the fingerprints, smears, smudges, mud and dirt. That is a good thing because they kinds of items can be easily cleaned, addressed as soon as they appear.

It almost hurts to read all the things hurled out about brothers I've held in high regard. It seems that as soon as a name comes it is like they are the object of a pie throwing contest in a county fair, including the dead including the recently deceased.

At the most very basic level the fault of the AA has that we have been taught not to question authority in any manner. The AA body has been taught to almost deify the man behind the pulpit or sitting in the big chair on the platform. We've been taught to roll out the red carpet, kiss their ring finger and believe that this person holds absolute authority. The ignorance of our forefathers treated leaders as though they where the high priests. As far as I know there is only one high priest.

As the newer generation moves into their own, we must realize they've been taught through higher learning institutions how to think critically: Question authority.

"Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action". http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutCT/definingCT.shtml

Unfortunately, our under-educated pastors and ministers are still of the mentality that we must believe and act according to what the man behind the pulpits dictates. Why? Because if he is behind the pulpit it must be the truth. There really is no logic in this type of thinking, even though this is the mentality that rules the ignorant masses. Fortunately hermanos, we are no longer part of that ignorant mass.

And our leaders played us because of our ignorance, we've been lied to, cheated, talked about mis-treated (anyone recognize this song). We've had dogma shoved down our throats with no biblical validity but "if you don't do what the pastor says, you are disobedient and rebellious".

Pastors/ministers/bishops/leaders, do me favor and stop preaching about the way I look on the outside. You are filled with sin, filth and deceit on the inside. Don't worry about sisters wearing pants, they are not going to hell because of it. There is absolutely no biblical validity to this! God does not love a pant wearer any less then a non-pant wearer. Don't preach to me about wearing jewelry, there to is no biblical validity to this either. I can use the same argument about watches and broaches, it is just stupid! The veil...let's not even go there.

We are saved by God's Grace not by what you think I should look like. It's funny how you think you can make God love someone more because of the way YOU want them to look.

In reality what you are doing is exactly what you've been doing - living a double standard and causing those in your congregations to live with double standards.

I teach my children to behave the same way when they are with me and when they are not with me. I teach them not to hide from me, I teach them that, I, as there father am not perfect and will make mistakes. And when I do make mistakes I will need their help and support. I teach them that they will make mistakes and they do not need to hide those mistakes from me because I will be there for them and not for the purpose of knocking them down. I teach my children that you are going to make mistakes, be selfish in your decision making and guidance (I do this because of your past history of looking out for your best interest and not mine) and not accurately apply God's word. I teach them it is their responsibility to take what you spoken and verify its validity with God's word - ...study to show thyself approved.

When you get behind the pulpit this coming Sunday, please remember, I am probably more educated than you, I probably make more money than you. I've spent countless hours studying God's word, studying for my degrees and analyzing financial and legal documents for real world business decisions. In my career I am compensated by helping other individuals and corporations make short and long term business projections. The bottom line is, I can see a grift coming from a mile away. (If you notice sometimes I wear my boots on Sunday.)

Spare me the dogma, God saved us by his grace, fortunately not your ignorance. It is because of your past decisions we have come to an intellectual and moral bankruptcy in our beloved organization.

We must reorganize and refocus our efforts in teaching God's grace, not Apostolic Assembly dogma.

Dios les pague

ApostolicVoice
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