Quote:
Originally Posted by kisstheson
Amen, dear ones. The recent posts on this thread contain some excellent discussion and cover a very important point.
The reality of our oneness with all believers and the need to be open to receive all genuine believers are key points in the NT. These things, of course, have their practical application first and foremost in the place where we live. The NT record should serve to remind us that God’s testimony on this earth requires an actual expression of oneness amongst God’s people.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Oregon,
Actually to be honest we must see in the NT believers in a house referred to as the church in that house.
I know, Nee taught that the church in the house is really the church in the city, but this is really just his assumption based on his bias.
If you really study it you must admit that saying the NT house church equals the city church is really an argument employing the fallacy of petitio principii (begging the question) in which the conclusion is assumed in the premise.
In other words, if a person hadn't already decided that city churches are the only valid ones, he never would claim based on the evidence of the NT text that the house church equals the city church.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Be careful about striking the teaching regarding keeping the oneness by practicing “one church, one city.” It may prove to be a real tar baby.
First the NT never implies that we should endeavor to keep the oneness of locality. Rather we are urged to endeavor to keep the oneness of the Spirit and to arrive at the oneness of the Faith. On the other hand, if you just take a peek at the oneness of the Body of Christ, then the denominations and just about every free group would be guilty, at least to some degree, of dividing the Body of Christ. LORD HELP US!!!
A big source of the problem is the mixing of oneness with headship or authority. The headship of Christ, the authority of the Holy Spirit, is realized not universally but locally. There is no genuine headship exercised in the so called universal church. If so, then that authority is a human, institutional authority and has nothing to do with the headship of Christ. The LSM has many sins but one cardinal sin is the usurpation of the headship of Christ from the local assemblies. In God’s administration, God has chosen to exercise Christ’s Headship locally.
The oneness of the Body of Christ is mainly, but not exclusively, local and practical. But the oneness of the Body of Christ is not prescribed and is not the result of a teaching or formula. The oneness of the Body of Christ is intrinsic. It was created at the cross and given life in the Lord’s resurrection. We have it as soon as we are born again. BUT WE MUST THEN BE DELIGENT TO GUARD AND KEEP IT.
When the Lord walked the earth 2,000 years ago, if you were not there and at the right time in the right place you would have missed Him. BUT TODAY, one new man is walking the earth. Christ the head with His believers, the Body, is walking the earth in many places in many settings at many times. Today, locally and practically we can see Christ and experience His love, care, and shepherding, speaking, light, and life and be in on the very fellowship with the Son and the Father. Hallelujah!!!
The New Testament refers to the church in the city over and over but not as a rule to keep the oneness. The believers in Corinth were very divided but Paul referred to them as, 1 Cor 1:2a, “to the church of God which is at Corinth.” Merely having a teaching to protect the oneness such as one church, one city does not work as we have sadly seen. On the other hand, to seek a universal oneness, annuls the headship of Christ as we have sadly seen.
In my life, and as a result of my research in church history, I have found very little of the manifestation of the headship of Christ. If believers practice division they will forfeit His headship. This is too critical. We cannot be casual about it. During the last few years, I have had much more experience of Christ’s headship than I did from 1973-1989 in the local churches. It was there in some degree before 1973. If brethren would be led to meet along the lines of the church in their city, it is mainly a matter of desiring to be under the direct headship of Christ. But to have His Headship you must maintain the oneness of the Spirit and have no oneness goal other than arriving at the oneness of the Faith.
Big subject. But we have made a good start. May we continue with this line. We all have much more to learn and see.
Hope, Don Rutledge
A believer who is seeking to become a true disciple.