[OBW]

I think that the thing that is missed in the desire to fix the LCM is that the OT was an era of the theocracy — the nation that was under the rule of God. In the NT, there is no more nation. It is now the church. And the church is bigger than any assembly or grouping of assemblies. It includes the persecuted, those that have allowed levels of corruption to come in. Those that do works but don't seem to finish it. Those that seem to just plod along in their little strength, and those that think they have it all figured out and are therefore spiritually rich and in need of nothing.

They are all the church. And no one was directed to see the errors of their church and jump ship to find a better one. They were directed to persevere for the truth. To hold to their faith. To withstand the temptation to fall into the error around them.

And some of them still did their worship like the Jews in the Temple because that is what they knew. And others have changed to other forms, including more modern ways so they can be appealing to outsiders and the seeking. And each of those, and everything in between, has reason to persevere. To overcome. To overcome darkness. To overcome the propensity for us all to think our lack of obedience is OK because we have grace. To overcome our consideration that we have it all figured out. To overcome deadness around us, even when the activity seems so alive and spiritual.

Now I believe that the LCM can reform. And at least an assembly or two has actually done that. But since the core of the LCM is fixation on a man other than Jesus Christ, and the very reason for being included, or excluded is adherence to that fixation, for that kind of group, I believe that letting it fall apart is the best thing that can happen. Free the people from the bondage to teachings that separate them from their fellow believer. Learn how hollow so many of the things that they cherished were. Discover that those "poor pitiful Christians" are not really so poor or pitiful. Rather it was those who labored under the false pretenses of "God's best" that are worthy of pity.

And I pray that they would be filled with all the fullness of Christ. But I fear that cannot happen as long as they continue to believe Lee above the Bible he claimed to follow. To think that reading Lee is to read the Bible. To consider that only Lee could properly provide them the truth from the Bible.