Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
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Here is one excerpt ray may have had in mind:
"All the churches should be identical, and those who can render the leading to all the churches are the ones who have the adequate knowledge of the teaching of God’s New Testament economy and who would pass on these teachings to the whole earth. We follow the one who is teaching and following this all-inclusive, incarnated, crucified, resurrected, and ascended Christ who is still ministering in the heavenlies for the carrying out of God’s New Testament economy. We have to follow such persons and we have to take their leading. Their leading is the proper leading for all the churches." (Elders’ Training, Book 7: One Accord for the Lord’s Move, pp. 69-70, 74, Witness Lee)
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At the very least this can be interpreted to be identical to what other denominations do. The idea that "churches have to be identical" is very tenuous. It is based on the the fact that the golden lampstands are "identical". But by who's standard? No doubt, the golden lampstands in revelation were identical in God's eyes, not according to the dictates of a publishing house. Surely the letters to all of the various churches in the NT indicate that in many ways the churches were not identical.
Define identical. Does it mean their meeting hall is identical? Does it mean they all have the same number or elders? Does it mean they all have the identical meeting schedule? McDonald's does something along those lines so that customers feel they know the restaurant where ever they go. Is McDonald's the standard that the LRC is trying to achieve?
Does identical mean they "all speak the same thing". That sounds scriptural. But can anyone seriously say that Paul meant that everyone parrots the same teaching? If you want everyone reading from the same script, parroting the same words, then say so. If that is not what you mean why does every church have to receive and order books from LSM? If buying books from LSM is a requirement to be part of the LRC then the LRC by definition is a book club.