Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
Many of us former Local Churchers (me included), have to one degree or another, talked ourselves into believing that theology/teaching/doctrine can actually be separated and/or removed from our experience and practice. I think this faulty, and potentially dangerous, understanding came from Witness Lee himself, who was constantly emphasizing experience and practice (Calling on the Lord, Pray-Reading, going to meetings, etc) over against traditional notions of studying, contemplation and meditation on God's Word.
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I see what you are saying, but in a different way.
We cannot separate our theology from our practice. But our practice is a window into the value of our theology. However, there are two levels of theology — that which you have argued yourself into thinking is right and which you will argue for, and that which has become true and affects your life. And we often cannot tell the difference between the two. But it shows in our practice.
While I will not say that war is immoral, or that there is no sin, when we speak of those &@$*# homosexuals, ISIS insurgents, liberals, illegal aliens, or whatever, we may hold to "love your neighbor as yourself" as theologically true, but it is not the theology we live. And it is therefore not really our theology. We talk like it is, but we don't believe it enough to reject our natural hatred, bigotry, etc., and live like it is. So our practical theology is not what we say is our theology.
And many who still speak in that manner study, contemplate, and meditate on God's word.
What is true is that our actual theology is never separated from our practice. If our theology is colored with Americanism, we will tend to believe in the ability of anyone to do anything they set their minds to. And some will take it further and believe a prosperity gospel, followed either by self-confirmation when they succeed, or by condemnation when they don't. If your theology is colored with "I'm part of God's best, unlike others" it will show in the way that you look down your nose at your brothers in Christ who do not follow your way. If your theology is all about evangelism, you will focus on "bringing people to Christ" but at the expense of other sound theology.
Truth is, we are all part of God's best because we are all part of the body of Christ.
And if our theology is mostly mental assent, then we will simply give mental assent to the truth and live in a different manner because we believe something else stronger. In liberalism or conservatism. In money or self determinism. In nationalism or globalism. And on an on.
There is an army of pseudo-theologians that now study, contemplate, and meditate on God's word using Lee's overlays and they are convinced that life is about ground, pray-reading, uniformity, and "the unique ministry from the minister of the age." And their living shows it.