[UntoHim]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mahatma Gandhi

In reading over the last number of posts this quote by Gandhi came to mind. I'm not quite sure how so many Christians seem to have this idea that the Church is going to be "perfect, without any spot or wrinkle" in this age. This is a not what the Bible says, and this is not reality. Nee & Lee especially went way off in this respect. Before you know it you have a bunch of young people - teens and young adults - all being cooped up in some austere, colorless "meeting hall" - slap a white shirt and skinny tie on em and away you go. Oh, and whatever you don't let them get exposed to the real world out there (you know, that world that we're supposed to share the good news to)

Thank God there are many Christian leaders, visionaries and church planters out there who have actually paid attention to the world around them, got themselves a diverse and comprehensive Christian education, and have started to make a real difference. If it sounds like I am encouraged about the future of poor, poor Christianity...you're right, I am. Thankfully God has made sure that small, insignificant groups like the Local Church of Witness Lee stay that way...small and insignificant.

So MacDuff, while I can’t fault you for your cynicism, you don’t seem like a guy who gives up so easily. Keep digging, keep looking. Have faith in your fellow man (pun intended)….more important, have faith in God….that he has not left himself without a true testimony. Remember what Martin Luther wrote: "And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us; We will not fear, for God hath willed. His truth to triumph through us." I’m sure you know very well who the “devils” were….he was not referring to the heathens. He was referring to the Christian leaders at the time. Nevertheless, Luther was able to lead a number of other “protestants” out of the darkness around them, and he did this mostly with THE TRUTH. The truth, the truth, the truth. God has willed for the truth to triumph. Never give up your search until you find the truth.