Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Another issue I take with Lee's view of transformation is that he saw it as some kind of requirement for gaining a reward--as if to grow to be full grown was required before one could be "harvested." He used this to justify his view of multiple raptures.
But although the Bible encourages us to grow, I don't see the direct connection between growth and being rewarded. Reward is based on works and living. Growth is a consequence of work and living, it is not work and living itself.
There are other problems with tying growth directly to reward:
1) Causes the believer to focus unhealthily on his own progress above all, i.e. become self-centered.
2) What about believers that die shortly after becoming believers?
Although growth is a factor and certainly some kind of indicator of faithfulness, I don't think reward is based on growth directly. I think reward is based simply on the decisions a believer made in his or her life, decisions to obey, or to disobey.
|
I agree with mixed feelings.
If the "firstfruits" are taken first, then why? It can't be chronological since the Lord addressed that in a parable. (Matt 20.1-16) It must be related to "ripening" which does indicate growth.
Here is another misdirected thought sourced in WL and evident in his older followers. That is, God will judge us by the size of our fruit, referring to basically the size of one's following. This criteria apparently supersedes essential matters such as faithfulness and righteousness. Hence, we see ministers like WL, BP, TC and others fighting over the flock, to determine "whose fruit" that flock belongs to. In other words, the ends justify all means, and since God will judge (reward?) workers based on the size of their following, quarantines and backstabbing are acceptable means to that end.
This is verified by comments made by WL concerning those who had left. He would ask rhetorically "
where is their fruit." Places like mine, situated in the GLA, were "claimed" by both Cleveland and Anaheim. They were fighting over who the church here "belonged to" based on who "raised us up." When I responded that neither Cleveland nor Anaheim "raised us up," I was told that "
TC raised up the brothers who raised up the church here." To which Anaheim responded "
TC was raised up by this ministry, and the entire GLA is our fruit."