Experience about denominations?

[UntoHim]

David,
Thanks for coming and posting!

In my observation and experience when we "distance ourselves" from other Christians (for reasons good, bad or indifferent) we become a denomination unto ourselves. As Mike mentioned, there are exceptions - such as heresy and maybe gross sin.

I can't speak much in regards to the life and times of Watchman Nee (way before my time) but since Witness Lee took over leadership of the Local Churches they have become at the very least a denomination or sect - and there is lots of evidence to suggest they have become much, much worse.

God has called us out to be separate. As you know the word ekklesia (from which we get church) means called out ones - an assembly of called out ones. But what are we called out to be separate FROM? We are called out to be separate from the world certainly - from it's rebellion towards God, and from it's sin. In a sense we are also called out to be separate from ourselves, for we are rebellious and sinful by nature.

But have we Christians been called out to be separate FROM EACH OTHER? I don't believe so. I think an objective search and study of the New Testament would show us just the opposite. We can start with the words of the Lord Jesus - "That they may be one as we are one". Yes, this is a "mystical" oneness to be sure, but there is a very real and tangible practicality to this oneness. The apostle Paul got really practical with the Corinthians: "If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body', it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body." (1Cor 12:15)

It seems to me that the Local Churches are telling their brothers and sisters "because I am this part of the body, I am not part of the body". Or even worse, it seems they are saying, "because you are this part of the body, you are not part of the body". This is the practical outcome when the "one city one church" teaching is taken too far. This is where Nee and Lee went to far. The "boundary" of the local church is not the city any more then the boundary of the body is the skin.