What It's Really All About

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

I disagree with the "social gospel" and the suggestion that the church is for helping the world even though that is an important and noble thing to do.

Jesus never gave such instructions.

The purpose of the church is clear:

Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Evangelical, you may disagree with a "social gospel," but doesn't LSM require you to agree with a "legal gospel?" How many ministries do you know have an on-board legal team named DCP, and require member churches to regularly donate to it? Before you deny my claims, please note that I was church treasurer and was intimately aware of what LSM did to Columbus and Mansfield, Ohio.

If I had to choose whether it is better that a "social gospel" or a "legal gospel" accompany the good news of God's love, I would definitely choose the "social gospel" because it corresponds with Paul's instruction to be "zealous of good works," (please read Titus 2.14) the very reason "He gave Himself for us, redeeming us from all lawlessness, and purifying us to Himself for His own possession."

I won't mention all the verses that warn us about suing others.

Originally Posted by Ohio

Evangelical, you may disagree with a "social gospel," but doesn't LSM require you to agree with a "legal gospel?" How many ministries do you know have an on-board legal team named DCP, and require member churches to regularly donate to it? Before you deny my claims, please note that I was church treasurer and was intimately aware of what LSM did to Columbus and Mansfield, Ohio.

If I had to choose whether it is better that a "social gospel" or a "legal gospel" accompany the good news of God's love, I would definitely choose the "social gospel" because it corresponds with Paul's instruction to be "zealous of good works," (please read Titus 2.14) the very reason "He gave Himself for us, redeeming us from all lawlessness, and purifying us to Himself for His own possession."

I won't mention all the verses that warn us about suing others.

I don't see what the abusive behavior has to do with your view of the gospel. Don't you have a Bible? Fact of the matter is that biblically speaking, the gospel is primarily the preaching of the Gospel and not solving the world's problems.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

I don't see what the abusive behavior has to do with your view of the gospel. Don't you have a Bible? Fact of the matter is that biblically speaking, the gospel is primarily the preaching of the Gospel and not solving the world's problems.

Evangelical, you protested what you called a "social gospel," to which I responded that acc. to the Bible, a social gospel was far superior to a "legal gospel," which you are also subscribing to by your loyalty to LSM. It is entirely reasonable that what you call a "social gospel" is what Jesus and the apostles referred to as loving your neighbor and good works.

"The abusive behavior" you mentioned is the abusive behavior exhibited far too often by LSM and DCP. It is the reason why I left after 30 years. LSM had become no different than the Pharisees of old, claiming to be the sole caretakers of all the things of God, yet bringing under subjection all those connected with them.

Whether the church "solves the world's problems" is not the thrust of the Biblical commands to good works. Good works help people, those people that God loves. Your comment here is disingenuous by creating a straw man argument, and then refuting it.

The LC's emphasize loving one another within their churches, which is great, but misses much of the Biblical directive. Jesus said, "If you love those who love you, what thanks is it to you? For even sinners love those who love you. For if you also do good to those who do good to you, what thanks is it to you? Even sinners do the same. " (see Luke 6.32-35) This instruction strikes at the heart of LC "love." They only love those who love them, and love their ministry. They exhibit little love to outsiders, unless they are potential members.

According to these verses, Jesus would consider many LC members no different from sinners, when it comes to loving and doing good to others. The LC even has an unwritten policy to recruit only "good material" from the campuses. This directly contradicts Jesus words, "But love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great."