Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
later he more clearly says "in that locality" and further confines the discussion to the "ground of locality" that he has already created. He does say that we should not insist that any Christian "resign his connection elsewhere" or "join us." But what is missing from this paragraph is the part where he defines the "right way" that he is not going to insist upon. That is left to Lee who does insist upon it, even somewhat adding it to the basics of the faith. I know some have asked where that was, so I will try to find it again.
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Nee's definition of a "local church" is not the definition Lee later gave it. The only thing Nee's "local church" and Lee's "Local Church"
TM Have in common are the consonants and vowels in the two words.
I went on reading in the NCCL, consider:
"what is true of the universal church is also true of a local church. The universal Church comprises all those who have the oneness of the Spirit. The local church comprises all those who, in a given locality, have the oneness of the Spirit..."
"How are we going to determine who are our brothers and fellow members in the Church of God? Not by inquiring if they hold the same doctrinal views that we hold, or have had the same spiritual experiences; nor by seeing if their customs, manner of living, interests, and preferences tally with our. We merely inquire, are they indwelt by the Spirit of God or not? We cannot insist on oneness of opinions, or oneness of experience, or any other oneness..."
"Denominations are not scriptural, and we ought to have no part in them, BUT if we adopt an attitude of criticism and think "They are denominational; I am undenominational. They belong to sects, I belong to Christ alone" such differentiation is DEFINITELY Sectarian."
"... my fellowship is not merely with those who say, "I am of Christ", but with all who ARE of Christ.... Although these (other believers) say they are of Paul, of Cephas, and of Apollos, yet in FACT they are of Christ. I do not so much mind what they say, but I very much mind what they are.... they are my brethren."
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Our fellowship must with all the believers in a locality, not merely with all the 'un'sectarian believers in that locality. They may make denonminational differences, but we must not make undenominational requirements."
Last weekend I took my family to "Breakforth Canada" in Edmonton, where 15,000 Christians came for a missions conference. Do you know what I saw there? The most real and true expression of the Church Life as Nee foresaw it - a meeting together, a blending, of believers who hold only this in common: The Spirit of God indwelling them!
Praise the Lord! HE is doing the Recovery.... He is doing the building!
NeitherFirstnorLast