Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Former members I know do get involved with charities. I believe there are several thoughts to consider while meeting with the local churches, the system kept saints too involved with Lee's ministry, there wasn't time to get involved. Second thought being the recovery is in the central line of God's move and anything else (giving time or money to charities) does not line up to God's economy. As a result there is a void in social consciousness.
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About former members getting involved in charities, I do not doubt you.
As for current members, I plead with you all to consider what this "void in social consciousness" by the organization you are involved with means.
Christ was clear: Those who do NOT feed the hungry, visit the lonely, clothe the naked, or give drink to the thirsty, are bound for eternal punishment. He was not speaking about some kind of 'spiritual' "feed them Christ/give them Christ to drink/ clothe them in Christ" nonsensical idea. He was speaking of
practical needs being
practically met.
James 2:15-17 "
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."
Strong words that Lee despised, but words that God breathed into His Word - words accepted by the earliest members of the Church Universal as Truth. And yes, James refers here to brothers and sisters - but can we logically say then that the meeting of practical needs is reserved only to those within the Body of Christ? What of our unbelieving neighbors? Do we not know the parable of the Good Samaritan well enough that I needn't quote it here (Luke 10:25-37). In that parable Christ is telling us exactly who the neighbour we are commanded to love is - and here we see also that the religiously devout, so concerned with going about 'Gods work', did not have to time to stop and help the man beaten and wounded on the side of the road either.
If "God's Economy" prevents you from answering His clear call in Scripture, then it's high time to evaluate whether such a thing as "God's Economy" really exists. Read the Word of God, and read it without Lee's footnotes. Listen to what Christ says.
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From the
Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians (AD 100):
"
Let us not merely call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He says, 'Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will be saved, but he who does what is right." Thus, brothers, let us acknowledge Him by our actions...."