[terycarl]

‘persons within the church who did not handle things properly were at fault there....not the church.’ So the church is comprised persons not in the church.

note the word WITHIN in my response....within means that they were indeed members....some fairly high ranking....sadly

[Fantasywriter]

‘note the word WITHIN in my response....within means that they were indeed members....some fairly high ranking....sadly’

Agree w you that some were ‘fairly’ high ranking members. Members, in fact, entrusted with authority, acting in their official capacities as representatives of the church. In that position they made decisions, again and again, that directly caused ‘little ones who believed in Him to stumble’ [Jesus had something to say about this]. The damning part is that they continued to do so until external pressures forced a change.

I.e.: it was not the suffering/stumbling of the small believers that brought change, but external forces. That is the really sad part.