Quote:
Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah
e. “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself”. Seeking the truth is to be a doer of the word. Preaching the gospel, writing gospel tracts, raising up home meetings, these are all proper and healthy activities for a Christian. The fact that LSM and the elders want to completely control this, and even do everything in their power to prevent you from writing your own tract by ignoring you is a major red flag.
f. Pure religion is to visit the “fatherless” and “widows”. These are the people with no influence and power. In a society where men are the one with jobs, not having a father makes you powerless. Not having a husband makes you powerless.
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What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? James 2:14-16
Many times while meeting in the local churches I have heard "giving charity" being viewed with contempt. As it is works without faith. What is it when you have faith, but no works?
Someone looking from the outside may say that's hypocrisy. You say you love your neighbor as yourself, but is it so when your neighbor is without food? In my part of the country it is common for power outages to occur due to windstorms. If you love your neghbor as yourself would you say "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled"?
As much as disdain the book of James receives in the Local Churches, I can see why. It is exposing. Particularly in chapter 2 where our receiving is based more on reputations than it is in loving your neighbor as yourself.