Hi Dee & Brethren, (you know who you are, LOL!) most of the things expressed
above, has been my experience too. I have to admit that sometimes I have
little patience with some who espoused things which in my opinion is contrary
to sound teaching without a bit of scriptural evidences. I am open to hearing
their interpretation, & desire to know how they arrived at their conclusions.
We should all be willingly to be Bereans, if we are naming the name of
Christ. The reason for this is stated in EPN 4:11-16, Please read this to see
where I'm coming from. We know all too well of how the enemy of our souls,
through ST's twisted teaching, manipulated us by using the word. Satan tried
the same thing with Jesus in MATT 4:6. Having been burnt by this, most of us
had, & still have, an aversion to learning sound teaching. Some even dislike
the posting of passage & verse addresses when someone is trying to explain
what they believe. They think that one is impersonal if they do this.
Unfortunately, our aversion combined with our post-Cobu experience & with the
somewhat confusing & contrary teaching in some Christian circles, has caused
many to give up trying to learn sound doctrine. I have noticed that quite a
number of us want little to do with it. I know in the Body not all have same
the gifts & rightly so, (1 COR 12:4-31), But all believers should have a love
for the truth of the word, for without it, we will walk in darkness & stumble
much, (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, PS 119:105), we need healing in this
area from the damage done by ST & others & Jesus will answer that prayer if
we ask him. In our case, questioning ST was equal with questioning God. A
real teacher must be open to the sincere questions asked by his hearers
without ridiculing them. Moreover, ST almost always accused those who asked
him questions as having wrong motives for asking. We have to face that most
of us were somewhat ignorant & unskilled in handling the word, very trusting
& impressed by ST's so-called wisdom & confidence. We all had a need of right
understanding, discipline, purpose, love, etc., & we all believed that these
needs were being met through the fellowship. ST used & manipulated those
needs, & we all got burned. Therefore we are overly cautious that this not
happen again. We find it hard to love the things that we once loved, like
Bible understanding, evangelism, fellowship with other Christians in a local
body. How do you feel after hearing that? Do these words push a negative
button in you? Satan meant it to be that way. He is a destroyer; a robber who
tries to deprive God's children of the knowledge of all their riches in
Christ, (EPN 1:18-20, 3:16-20).  We are all in various stages of healing in
these areas, & our reaction will show in what stage you are in. Dee, your
challenging is a good thing, however be aware that your emotions could well
cause you to over react. Remember the buttons? As for conforming & losing
your personality, we are told each member of the Body is different, have
different talents, gifts, & functions, & yet each have the same Spirit, (1
COR 12:4-5, 28-30). Moreover, in vs 11 & 27, it clearly shows we don't lose
our individuality. God works with our personality as is shown in ROM 12:1-8
Does this make sense to any of you? If I'm off the mark, let me know? Please
comment anyone.

                                                                        Herm

PS: Not that I take it personally, but please tell me your idea of macho-ness.
We men need the feminine perspective on this.