Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon
Hi Ohio,
Firstly I will state publicly that I appeciate your friendly manner. Secondly I will quote a statement from WL which I heard him say numerous times....."I didn't just come down from the moon this morning".
I am fully aware of the situation in Taipei and have been for many years. And I will simply say that human failure will never be a justifiable ground to promote something contrary to what is recorded in God's Word.
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Brother Oregon,
My views were once entrenched in one city - one church as much as any brother, but they have slowly changed, partly because the messenger(s) has lost so much credibility. Another reason is that there is no working model to confirm this scriptural pattern. For me it's kind of like saying "you must be born again," and yet never meeting anyone on earth who was. And ... that surely was my case ... growing up in the RCC and their school system. So ... I do feel it is unfair to extrapolate from a limited life experience ... but, of course, things have changed for me, and my horizons have expanded, and I have since then met thousands genuinely "born again."
Now with the practice of "one church - one city," we do have the advantage of examining the whole of church history across the globe. I just have not seen it work well and work for long. My nagging question is this -- if the "correct" church pattern were so important to the Head, then why is He not pouring out His blessing upon them. Why doesn't the Head vindicate this church model? Why is He blessing those "
in division?" Why are those "in division" receiving the anointing, getting saved, answered prayers, etc.
I do, however, agree with you concerning the scriptural pattern. It's there in the Bible. So is having "all things common." So is the matter of "church houses." I believe the Spirit of God is able to use many valid paradigms to meet God's need for His children. House churches are thriving in China. Does that mean we all must practice that way? We did, and much of that led to failure.
My question is WHY? I asked this question within for about a quarter century. WHY? My answer is simple. If the Lord leads you, He will bless. If you are just copying a way, even a scriptural way, He doesn't necessarily bless. The lesson is this --
He is the Way! No way can be the way. No way can be THE way. Only He is THE way.
LSM has long attempted to codify "The Way." They have repeated the history of the Pharisees. They have never been blessed for their efforts. Any "blessing" has been manufactured for sale at the trainings. But ... they will never learn. The Pharisees refused to learn also ... and it was God Himself in their midst.