Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
Yes, of course, there may be other "sincere and decent" men of God out there in "poor, poor Christianity," but they could not receive "fresh light" nor an "up-to-date" speaking from the Lord to further His move on earth for His economy in His Recovery.
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I think the operative word here is "could".
The root of the word "religion" means "to bind." It's a method of putting God in a box.
I'll testify even today that in my experience there isn't an abundance of help available in general Christianity. I get depressed sometimes in Christian bookstores by some of the things they sell to my brothers and sisters under the guise of it being "Christian" and there really isn't any insight or ministry to at least balance that junk, if not root it out and expose it as the work of the flesh that it is.
But to say that none other "could" share the "fresh light" or "up to date" speaking from the Lord is just religious gobbledygook.
Balaam's donkey "could" have just the word we need and in fact, the biggest problem with "flowism", in my opinion, isn't that it's single sourced (which is admittedly a big problem) but that it's target isn't every believer in general but only those who have joined the special club.
A "one publication" rule pretends to be a salvation to "avoid confusion" when in fact it is a religious edict that avoids competition. But God sends Balaam's donkey along when it pleases Him to do so and the front side of the "flowism" problem is gone.
I guess I'm harkening back to my recent arguments that there are no leaders without followers when I say this, but, those who self-identify by their relationship to this narrow concept of ministry, ministry to the select only, are the ones who err when they declare they are "of Paul" or "of Apollos". Not that a "flowism" leader doesn't have a large blame for the ministry that merely builds up an organization, but before the Lord, no one has the right to say "don't read TAS" or "don't read Penn-Lewis" or such to me or anyone else in furtherance of their "flowist" designs except that I willingly receive that from them.
If we are to receive all believers, we must receive all their diverse and imperfect speakings with discernment in love. We all see in part only. An objective measure such as "does this build the believers together in the assembly?" is an important help, but even that can be too strictly applied and quench the Spirit.
If anyone happens to visit your assembly from a dusty Galilean highway and speaks in the name of the Lord, you may confidently receive him in fellowship and gain from him such portion as he has been given. There's no need to consult an approved speaker list from headquarters in the functioning reality of the living Body of Christ. That Paul expressly recommended some was no bar to others.
And that there is but one New Testament ministry doesn't mean that there are no longer "diverse ministries" and only one publishing house.
Don't you believe it.
signed,
Balaam's donkey