Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
YP0534, clearly there's no getting around the denomination issue. Until the Lord returns, this is the environment we're faced with. What we can do is have the right heart in order to pursue the oneness of the spirit.
For example in my old neighborhood there was a community church, 7th Day Adventist, Lutheran, Prebyterian, Baptist, etc. I don't advocate practices of any particular assembly/congregation/metting place, but when I meet an individual from one of these congregations I can seek a oneness in the Spirit. We each have the Bible as our one unique standard.
Am I making sense?
Terry
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Yes. Total sense.
A fundamental problem with the LCs is that, for all their talk, they never really had the courage of their convictions.
If they had really been for the practical oneness they envisioned, they would have ceaselessly contacted all the Christian groups, patiently explained their beliefs, and encouraged practical oneness, doing whatever it took to break down barriers. They would have been more than willing to turn over leadership (like in that old LC legend that the leadership was offered in return for oneness in China). They would have constantly prayed for fellowship and favor with other Christians.
Instead the LC movement settled for moving into cities, setting up shop, ignoring the rest of the Christian community, raising barriers, and acting beligerantly, like they were ipso facto the kings of the hill. In other words, they thought they were special. Most LCers are hooked on being special and above the rules. They can't imagine a Christian life where they aren't some kind of elite Christian group. This desire is, in fact, of the devil.
To address
Toledo's problem, of how former LCers can go on, I think a big part, Toledo, is to
forget about being something special. We need to see how thinking we are special actually isolates us from people and alienates them,
the very ones we are called to serve. How can you serve when you are constantly angling for a reason to think you are better than all those poor saps out there. When you don't think you are special you don't judge people.
Jesus was a great example of this. To paraphrase, although he was God he didn't think of equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself.
Now, substitute "being in God's unique move" for "equality with God" and ask yourself if LCers saw that as a thing to be grasped. If they did, ask yourself if they thereby expressed Christ.