Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Imagine if LCers, with all their devotion and absoluteness, focused on good works in the community. I guarantee they would have grown and spread the gospel more than they have. Also, by having an attitude of care for the weak, they would have been far less likely to mistreat their own.
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Amen to that.
As time went on, WL used the matters of "dead" works and "natural" relationships to sever our relationships with those around us and reconnect us with his own programs. Instead of looking outward to love those surrounding us, his many warnings,
lodged in our psyche as strongholds, stopped us, and caused us to retreat to the safe havens of building his own empire.
The Bible is filled with exhortations to good works. Titus 2.14 directly connects God love in sending His Son to die for our sins with His desire that all His children be desirous of good works to express His own heart of love. WL distorted this with the warnings about dead works. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to distinguish them. Dead works, like circumcision, do nothing for our salvation, but good works, as a result of our salvation, express the Father's love to those around us.
WL's teachings about natural relationships was even more egregious. Instead of loving those who surrounded us, we were continually warned of the dangers. The not so subtle message eventually became obvious to even me -- the only "safe" love here on earth was to love the ministry. Every other love, whether your spouse, or your kids, or your family, or your friends, or your brothers and sisters in the Lord, all come with risks. The only love (
apart from loving the Lord) we should have on earth, without any deleterious side effects, was for him and his ministry.