You know what? Enough. Stop playing games. This is real. That's your real son you haven't spoken to in 3 years. That's your real daughter you kicked out of your house. Those are your real parents you don't speak to because somebody told you not to. Those are your real, lifelong friends whose e-mails you don't return.\r
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People aren't disposable, and you can't twist Scripture enough to make them so. Your church isn't special. Your beliefs aren't special. God's presence? *Of course He's at your church.* He's omnipresent. Your unique doctrines? Google ""Latter Rain"" sometime. It's an obscure little alley off of the Assemblies of God street, and you're not even on the Wikipedia. But guess what? Ten other guys you never heard of are. This has all been done. \r
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Look around. Start calculating. People are leaking in droves, driven off by the ignorance and hatred of the Pastor, of the Pastor's wife who can't control her paranoia. Those are people you are expected to never speak to again. This was a once-thriving church of 500. It will never see 300 again. \r
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Keep calculating. Who benefits in all this? Start with the tangibles. 10% off your gross, plus 5%, for as long as you live. What's that going to? Are you truly building up heavenly treasures? Or lining earthly James pockets. What family makes a comfortable living? Every son in ""ministry."" Whose retirement is assured? Who lives in the nicest houses, flies around the country in private jets? \r
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""Stay off of Facebook, stay off the internet, stay out of public schools, don't make friends with the world. Cut off your family, your blood, if they speak out against us. Build and defend our wall with the Sword and the Trowel."" Is this to protect you? Or to hold you in? What are they afraid you'll see if you peek over that wall?\r
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Stop. There is too much world, too much life, too much freedom, to fritter it away in a graceless prison. There are far more voices than Norman James, Senior or Junior. People who will unconditionally wish you well, not pray daily for your death like Becky James if you stray. Too many beautiful, broken, brilliant people to befriend. Love of family to rediscover.\r
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Enough.
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