Cockroach in my icecream

“If there is a cockroach in your ice cream, then all of the ice cream is garbage”

What about the changes in the church? What about racism and sexism? What about the older policies? What if a church leader sinned or taught something wrong? Does this mean that the church isn’t true?

A good tree brings forth good fruit. If the tree brings forth evil fruit, then the tree is evil. Therefore, if a church leader ever sinned, or taught something or supported a policy that wasn’t good and right—this means that the whole church is evil, right?

Matthew 7: 16-20 states the following:

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

What does this mean? Does it mean that anyone who believes anything which is wrong, or commits any sin, or any church leader which ever had a mistaken understanding of aspect of the gospel is to be cast into the fire? And that if they were a leader of the church, that the church also is evil and should be burned?

No, this is not what it means. Those who have come to this conclusion, do not understand the scriptures and have distorted them because of their own ignorance. In this analogy, first we must comprehend what the “fruit” is. The fruit, is the Spirit of God. When people are brought to receive the Spirit of God into their lives, then are they receiving God—and this interaction is what it means to produce fruit. If a tree does not bring forth the Spirit of God and cause those to receive it and partake of Gods spirit—but instead they partake of another spirit, which is not of God, then is that tree corrupt and is good for nothing but to be hewn down and cast into the fire-- for it is not of God.

An individual that is enlightened produces enlightened works. What happens when an enlightened individual also has not overcome aspects of the blood and sins of their generation? What happens when they have not overcome false traditions or the stains in the culture of their time? When happens when they have not overcome their own sins and prejudices?

Though the well is pure and sweet above all that is pure and sweet-- the polluted vessel (to the degree of its pollution), produces polluted water.

Depending on how filthy the cup may be, it may be recognized to have a bitter aftertaste.

Its bitterness reflecting the degree to which the vessel has been polluted—though the well itself is pure and sweet. Yet even then, though vessels be impure, sometimes it is the only way for some to get water from the well. Without well water, a death of thirst is certain. Even water with a bitter aftertaste, is unspeakably refreshing and sweet to a parched mouth and a dry throat.

Prophets seek God-- and to the degree that they are successful in receiving God, they gain light and truth from that pure source. 

Church leaders are tasked with the responsibility and stewardship of managing the affairs of the church, and to receive revelation in such. This includes policy changes, inspired composition of ordinances, and the teaching of doctrine.

To the degree that they are inspired, will be the degree to which the policies and wording of ordinances will be inspired-- likewise—were they to be either indoctrinated with a falsehood, sexist or racist, will also be the degree to which that which they produce may be tainted by these impurities. Then in some future generation, when the blood and sins of that prior generation are purged and the vessels bearing the water and purer—in that day a water that is without taint will be poured from clean cups to the mouths of those who to whom is their calling and stewardship to administer.

"for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding."

that scripture doesnt perfectly fit the point I am trying to make, but it is in the same genre

If their their language is impure, the impurity manifests in the products. If their "understanding" is impure, it also makes impure the water that comes from it.

Reiterating the point: "The water is only as clean as the vessel that pours it out."

So why doesnt Jesus Just sit down and tell them exactly how to conduct every aspect of the church perfectly the first time or slap them on the wrist whenever they do something wrong?

Here are a few explanations which make sense to me:

1). Time

To us, being very temporal and mortal beings and impatient beings, its seems like we have an idea of exactly how God should do things and when God should do them.

To an eternal being, time does not exist. Doing something all within a 10 year period is no different than doing it all in a 10,000 year period. 

To God, fixing an error 2 seconds after it was made is not any different in the long run than fixing 200 years after it was made. 

There is not really of any significant difference-- people still have an opportunity to follow their conscience and they learn from the lessons of earth life regardless of small or big errors being present.

2). Line upon line, precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little. All sin is alike unto God.

God only seems to reveal things as the specific subject is specifically inquired about.

This just seems to be the way God does things. He doesnt seem to be in a big hurry if we (and church leaders) arent in a big hurry.

A church leader did a "less than ideal" job of something that was their responsibility in the past.

Is this a fault of the church leaders? I dont know who elses fault it would be, but I dont find myself in a position to condemn them because I dont feel I could do a better job.

3). All sin is alike unto God and prevents us from being the Body of Christ.

Sexism is terrible and I hate it. All sin inhibits our ability to recieve light and truth. The sins of the church are many and ongoing and will continue to be ongoing.

Overcoming all of these sins will be a long process. God doesnt typically zap people (including leaders) whose sins seep into aspects of the church.

The church is Gods church inasmuch the hands of its members (and leaders) are Gods hands; as much as the voice of its members is Gods voice.

Then the church becomes the Body of Christ.

4). God doesnt sit down in a weekly meeting with the church leaders. Its just not how God does things, except like once every few thousand years or so. I dont know why.

The church leaders pray and fast and study and ponder in order to be able to become receptacles of the Holy Spirit of God. 

They can only recieve revelation when they are successful at getting their own egos and pride and sins out of the way.

Likewise, their revelation is inspired to the degree that they are able to get their own egos, pride and sins out of the way.

They have a daunting responsibility to receive revelation for the church. I might condemn them for not doing a better job of receiving continual revelation on everything, 

but I dont feel that I could do any better, so I will abstain from my condemnation and instead show appreciation for their efforts and rejoice when they are successful.