Quote:
One of the most striking things to me about this site and those who frequent it is how much impact the LC had on them. Some here have been away from the LC for over twenty years (not sure about you, Mike). That's a long time to still be driven to argue things. My take is it's because the LC really did have something, something that none of us finds outside it.
Back in the early 70's there was a conference in St. Louis where the theme was that we've all been "wrecked." I remember coming back to Indy and having a meeting where everybody kept jumping up and saying, "I've been wrecked for the Lord!" What a prophecy! We really have been wrecked. So very few have made it out of the LC into mainstream Christianity. Don Rutledge wrote movingly on how he is pretty much rejected by everyone in the Christian realm: the LSMers, the Christian he meets who always discover his LC past, even other LC churches who aren't in the LSM way anymore. I was deeply touched by that post. I have been wrecked in the same way. I have no where to go but to the Lord.
SC
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Ah Saints,
Were you "wrecked"? There was a broadcast today (March 30, 2011) by Chuck Swindoll on Insight for Living on just such a matter as this - and God's Word on the subject from the book of 2nd Peter. It was very illuminating, and in case you can't link to it (
http://www.insight.org/broadcast/), please allow me to post some of it here; from March 30th, 2011: "Insights from 2 Peter: Conquering through Conflict". ...It really sounds like he's addressing the LSM local church at some points here; I believe this message was originally recorded back in 1989...
Quote:
Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living - message mate
Almost as long as there has been the genuine, there has been the counterfeit. Whether
art or money, authentic products or original publications, education or religion,
phonies have been around. Such deception can lead to financial loss — as well as to
destroyed lives. Any act of fraudulence is hurtful, but none is more hurtful than false
prophets and phony teachers who present their lives behind religious masks. War
stories abound of those who have fallen to these deceivers! To the surprise of many, the
Bible reserves some of its severest words for those who act as though they are true but
are indeed false . . . and the first three verses of 2 Peter 2 is a classic case in point.
Counterfeiters are very, very good at what they do. They will bring their deceptions to you
and parade them alongside Orthodoxy so that they look and feel so right, so good.... but at
some point they will ask you to choose. To choose between what you grew up learning and
what they are teaching. To choose between what you've always known and this new thing
that they are talking about. These men are dangerous, and what they are teaching is a heresy.
Starting Your Journey
How do you spot false teachers? Here are three simple tips. First, STOP: deliberately
refuse to follow a teacher just because he or she seems okay. Second, LOOK: make
careful observations into the life of the teacher and his or her followers. Third, LISTEN: scrutinize everything you hear through the filter of the Scripture.
False teachers destroy lives; they are "mind benders" that can change the way you think.
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Let me tell you, there was far far less in the theology that came from LSM than was worth retaining. It was a beautiful mirage, with no substance. It didn't stand on God's Word, but Lee's interpretations. That's why the Saints are so strongly encouraged to read the Word
only with footnotes, and to study Lee's "Lifestudies" in place of God's Word. So that your pliable mind can be bent.
Saints, I ask you: Did Lee give up his life for you? Did Lee ransom you from sin? Is Lee your Father, Is Lee the Spirit, Is Lee the Christ? No. Christ ransomed you - and to Christ alone do we bow. You were bought for a price, and you owe your life to Him who bought you, and no other.
This blog talks about songs. Worldly songs can contain a taste of truth (I have enjoyed many myself of course), but they too are 'tainted' (please, I mean no offense using this term, but our very world is tainted - we, humanity, is tainted - sin did this; apart from Christ all things are tainted), and lack real wisdom. Let me quote from a popular Christian song today instead, when I say "It is not about what you've done, but what's been done for you.
It is not about where you've been, but where your brokenness brings you to."
It should bring you closer to Him.
Jesus Christ is Lord; behold - He makes
all things new. He cleansed the lepers and raised the dead, do you really believe that He can't do that for you?
In Christ,
NeitherFirstnorLast