Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger
We might thump our Bibles and openly declare that this is of demons; at first I did. But, there are hundreds of thousands of genuine seekers who are just coming to the Lord through this preaching. Many of them really see the Lord providing them with just the right amount of money in an unexpected check to keep their lights on as the gentle care of the Father. Would we blow them away by saying: "Doctrine of Demons"
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Roger,
Good points. Paul hit this when he said no matter how Christ is preached, I rejoice.
I believe Nigel Tomes is touching on a key related point here in his present writings. His "translatable Christ" series (a new one is up at "keepitintune.net": "Christ Incarnated in Culture." It's a must read, I think.) is touching on the idea that God uses the existing cultures He comes to. John chose the word "logos" because the Greco-Roman culture understood it. Watchman Nee said the reasons we worship on Sunday is because it was a handy cultural set-aside (I paraphrase). The early apostles used the synagogues the same way.
Most of us here will agree that the BB in their quest to institutionalize the LC have sought to effect a kind of faux uniformity. Not only is it faux, but it isn't scriptural or in the tradition of the apostles teaching and practice.
As for the "Demons, Idols, and Other Things (did the Cowsills sing that?), I understand Matt and Jane's attempt to find the root causes of some of the problems in the LC. I don't agree with their conclusions (or even some of their premises) but I don't think it a senseless quest. I too have sought to find the "root causes" and my main conclusion is this culture thing.
SC