Quote:
Originally Posted by YP0534
I think it's pretty clear that the root cause of the thing is that there was a general lack of love, a lack of understanding about love, a lack of experience of love, just whatever there is related to love, there was a serious lack of that. Love is the most important theme in the New Testament yet it was completely displaced by Lee's focus on teachings regarding administration and dispensing. A friend of mine has suggested what we really need is a "Love-Study" of the New Testament.
Many seem to think that the camaraderie experienced inside the Local Church towards the saints is the evidence of the proper love. With regard to many situations, we surely did love the saints. Yet is there fear there? If the love is there, than it cannot be that there is fear. If there is fear, then that cannot be love.
I think I understand that Lee taught that "love is the expression of life" but if that's so, the lack of love would seem to indicate that there isn't really much life in the Local Church after all.
The abounding and overflowing love of God in our lives, originating in the operation of divine life that we all share, should clearly be obviously expressed within families, to people we work with, to the saints around us, to unbelievers, to our enemies, everywhere.
After all, love is how they know we are His disciples.
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Great post. Spot on! Tell your friend that
about that "Love study" need.
Also, love never fails...
There has been a lot of talk about "the vision" but the real vision is "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son...."
(that was reduced for us to something "old" as the spotlight turned our eyes away from the simplicity in Jesus to lock them in for decades on so many other things--the vision of true church, God's economy/admistration, etc.)
"Love one another as I have loved you ..." and He said this to the disciples before He went to the cross. His example was loving and caring for individuals who were sick, wounded, hurting, old and young, etc. Yes we truly need a "Love study."
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart ..." Zero room in there for other things.
Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up
their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?
I think the apostle John, when he saw the love leaving, may have written the first "Love study," and he interestingly he ended it with "little children keep yourself from idols."
Thankful Jane