Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Where I live there are multiple churches, assemblies, congregations etc. They vary from Baptist, Community, Prebyterian, etc. On any given Sunday I could walk into an assembly and partake of the table. The matter of the table to me is about Jesus as our Christ. If something other than Christ becomes primary to taking the table, that something is horribly divisive.
Terry
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I think this is as good an answer as any to
Only By Grace's question. Where do we see the "real" assembly of the called-out ones? Answer: where the saints receive one another. In the local churches where I met, we were strongly cautioned against meeting with "divisive" and "degraded" christian denominations. Some LC saints told me how for many years they had only met with the LSM-affiliated local churches. There was the unstated assumption that to meet with other groups of christians would necessitate leaving the "ground" of oneness and thus the "blessing" of God which follows.
In hindsight, I see something different. We local churchers would receive christians, and made a big point about that, but it was only to receive them on our ground. In other words, we are inclusive, we will meet with you, but only if you come to our meetings and partake after our fashion. In a nutshell, we will allow you to meet with us, but we will use this meeting as a basis to recruit you into what we deem to be the proper assembly life.
I think the 'scattered' groupings in each geographic area and population cluster can fall into the same thinking. Each group will allow others to enter the Lord's Table and break the bread and share the wine; they receive others as brethren, but are not likely to reciprocate as they are doing it the "preferred" way and we don't want to change. Usually the "right" way is dressed up with a few Bible verses so it seems like God's ordination and not man's preferences.
But it is better than the LSM model, because at least the believers CAN go to the different assemblings and fellowship. With the LSM model, the "Table of Oneness" and the "Ground of Oneness" seem to by definition exclude all the other "Tables" and "Grounds" out there. At one time it seemed to me that a stand for the "oneness" was preferred to the "divisions" in each city; now it seems more perniciously divisive, both because of the logical inconsistencies Igzy mentioned, and also because of the poisonous fruit now openly displayed. You don't see the Baptists and Presbyterians suing each other for the right to be the "Church" in some area.
What irony! We laud the departure from the monolithic RCC system 500 years ago as a rescue from God, then we endeavor to set up our own (Well, as long as
I am in charge, it's good, right?).
OBG, I apologize that something so simple (believe into Jesus and receive one another) could get so horribly complicated and convoluted and full of contingencies. The fact that an "outsider" is willing to consider fellowship on an "LC" forum is a great blessing to us. Please be patient as we unravel and detoxify ourselves!