[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Nell

No organization by man can replace a walk with Him.

In my experience and observation, the main problem with the Christian church in America (which is all I'm qualified to judge) is that many of them are filled with people who have no personal walk with the Lord. They come as immature, hungry sheep, and years and decades later they are still an immature, hungry sheep. Of course the problem for those dear believers stuck in the Local Church of Witness Lee is that they have been duped into thinking that the so-called "ministry" has fed them and now they are mature. Those of us who have escaped know better, much better.

"The church" was not created to replace the individual believer's walk with the Lord. The church was created to fulfil the Great Commission - to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" and further: "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded". The Great Commission cannot be fulfilled by any individual Christian, no matter how strong their walk with the Lord is. The church, as the Body of Christ, must have functioning members to fulfill this Great Commission. It needs legs to go to "the uttermost part of the earth". It needs arms to be able to lift the beaten man laying in the road and carry him to the nearest inn. It needs a strong and healthy mind to relate the great truths contained in the Gospel and the writings of the apostles which feed and nourish the rest of the body.

Originally Posted by Nell

The point is: we don't have to find another church.

For many who have escaped the Local Church, they need to take some time to get away from all the noise and excitement. They need to "be still" for a period and look to hear the voice of God. For some this may be months. For some this may be years. At some point God will speak. He always does. To be sure, we don't have to find another church.....for many, the church will find them. This is what happed to me. After a significant period of time away from meeting with the Local Church, I began to have a desire for corporate worship. Luckily for me, I was not starting from scratch. I had significant Christian experience prior to meeting in the Local Church. I knew the voice of God. I knew what it was to worship in spirit and in truth. Eventually I was led to a place with healthy teaching and a team of believers who could lead the congregation to worship in spirit and in truth. I was not looking for a church, but by God's grace and mercy the church found me - To put a finer point on it, a place to get healthy teaching and worship in spirit and truth found me.

For those who were raised in the Local Church this process might look totally different. It may take extra time. It will certainly take extra patience, extra grace and mercy from the Lord. I want you to know that many of us on this forum are here for you. Maybe it is just to pray and talk with. Maybe it is just to listen or a shoulder to cry on. We are here for you.
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