Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - The God-Men: An Inquiry into Witness Lee & the Local Church

NeitherFirstnorLast · 11-24-2012, 07:02 AM

Chapter 1 Cont'd: "Contagious Zeal"

This portion is on the need to reflect on the nature of zeal - that it is not, in itself, proof of orthodox Christianity.

"...'Zeal for Thy house has consumed Me', Jesus Christ's dramatic cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem reminded his disciples of that line from Psalm 69:9. Christ's zeal for God's house laid a foundation for the Christian church. It set a pattern of zeal for God's people to follow.
But the Bible also warns that zeal may be misplaced. Paul lamented over his Jewish kinsmen's plight: "they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened." (Romans 10:2). ...His counsel was to avoid such people.

The followers of Witness Lee both stress and exemplify the way of commitment and zeal in church life. They see themselves as "the Lord's overcomers," the "recovered church" of the last days. They are understandably excited about what they believe to be their unique participation in God's plan. For Christians outside their movement, however, the Local Church raises many questions that are difficult to answer satisfactorily.

By examining the Local Church movement closely, we hope to achieve an understanding of its teachings and practices. Thus we hope to discern whether those who follow Witness Lee's direction are zealous in ways that please the Lord and deserve our emulation, or whether their enthusiasm masks a departure from an authentic understanding of God."

Here we see SCP's stated purpose for the book. Is their statement unbalanced or unfair? Doesn't Scripture afterall admonish us: "test everything; hold fast that which is good." 1st Thessalonians 5:21.

11-24-2012, 07:02 AM	#61
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	Our Reading Continues Chapter 1 Cont'd: "Contagious Zeal" This portion is on the need to reflect on the nature of zeal - that it is not, in itself, proof of orthodox Christianity. "...'Zeal for Thy house has consumed Me', Jesus Christ's dramatic cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem reminded his disciples of that line from Psalm 69:9. Christ's zeal for God's house laid a foundation for the Christian church. It set a pattern of zeal for God's people to follow. But the Bible also warns that zeal may be misplaced. Paul lamented over his Jewish kinsmen's plight: "they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened." (Romans 10:2). ...His counsel was to avoid such people. The followers of Witness Lee both stress and exemplify the way of commitment and zeal in church life. They see themselves as "the Lord's overcomers," the "recovered church" of the last days. They are understandably excited about what they believe to be their unique participation in God's plan. For Christians outside their movement, however, the Local Church raises many questions that are difficult to answer satisfactorily. By examining the Local Church movement closely, we hope to achieve an understanding of its teachings and practices. Thus we hope to discern whether those who follow Witness Lee's direction are zealous in ways that please the Lord and deserve our emulation, or whether their enthusiasm masks a departure from an authentic understanding of God." Here we see SCP's stated purpose for the book. Is their statement unbalanced or unfair? Doesn't Scripture afterall admonish us: "test everything; hold fast that which is good." 1st Thessalonians 5:21.