Thank you for saying what others are only thinking! Without a little input, this thread is going to wander around and not really scratch where it's itching.
I started this thread because of a conviction that most, if not all, of NTM's problems can be traced back to an improper understanding and application of God's Word. For instance, the story of Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses, an impetuous act that resulted in God's judgment, was often held up as an example of how Tribers were supposed to be in submission to leadership - never mind that Moses is ONLY used in the New Testament as a type of Christ, not church elders. Not that NTM leadership were church elders! Pointing out this detail was, back in the day, considered being unteachable, legalistic and chasing off down rabbit trails. It was called splitting hairs, and soundly ridiculed.
"God leads through leadership" won the day.
It's easy to be dismissive of others. It is hard work to align our thinking, even our words, with God's Word. I think the latter course is going to yield better results. I think a failure to do so is going to lead to further problems, even as it did with NTM.
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