Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
A phrase I heard often in one lc in particular was "chewing the cud". With a pre-packaged ministry booklet it is comparable to chewing someone else's cud. Not saying it's wrong, but when it comes to prophesying I've wondered "does the person fully comprehend" or is it a case of gaining approval?
In the case of using a ministry as crutch and substitute, more often than not ministries of man are not comprehensive. There are portions of the Word that is preferred and there are portions that are discounted. There are portions of the Word that is not very positive and summarily avoided.
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I've never heard it described like that..I suppose it's fitting as there's some amount of regurgitation going on. It's partially about gaining approval and partially about feeling one with someone else...probably also about feeling like you've done what's expected of you. Unfortunately, it's usually the same 10-15 people who get up and share every meeting. I've often wondered what the meeting would be like if they all happened to be out of town or just didn't stand up one week.
As far as becoming normal...I think if by normal you mean a normal Christian then I think you're off to the right start. The normal Christian as described by Nee and taken up by Lee and LC has never seemed to me to mesh with Christians I've known--except those who are trying to shape their lives into the parameters of the LC's term. Normal Christians, as far as I can tell, struggle with daily life, struggle with sin, enjoy spending time with friends be they saved or not, enjoy sports, enjoy relaxing on the couch and watching something mindless from time to time to time. To mandate that these things be avoided, and to suggest that the normal Christian life be somehow an "overcoming life" (still not entirely sure what that means) is to be blind to reality.
The Lord's life is the only thing that should be governing you, and if you're genuinely seeking Him (and that includes praying with others, asking others how they see things in the Bible) I think being normal will be the least of your concerns. You will have a freedom that can only be found in Christ.