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Originally Posted by Koinonia
The issue is believers separating themselves from one another through self-identification. Even when it is not intended to be divisive, such self-identification inherently is (or has that result). Yet, ironically, the more spiritual-sounding "I am of Christ" serves the very same purpose. And my point is--that to say "we are 'just the church'" does exactly the same.
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This is the sort of gem that needs to be occasionally brought back to the fore and re-examined. "Separating ourselves from one another through self-identification"... how carefully Nee tried to avoid this, and how thoroughly it was accomplished nonetheless!
The only one who truly succeeded, (so I argue here) was Christ. The rest of us wander in and out, on the fringes where imitation meets failure.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by John 10:16-18
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.…"
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According to Jesus' narrative here, the Father loves Him because He lays down and loses self, even physical life itself, per the Father's will. In so doing, Jesus draws all to Himself and thus back to the Father. In this drawing together, the Father's love is realized, and centered eternally in the Son.
But in getting there, there must be obedience, surrender, and loss. Loss of will, life, self, and even identity. Only then, according to Jesus' word, is the Father's love apprehended and realized. And thus (through our faith in this divine act of obedience of the Son to the Father) the divine will gets transferred: "I have given them Your Name"... (John 17:6, cf vv. 12,26).
Temporarily, we're allowed to take other names: I may go on Tuesday night to the prayer meeting in John Johnson's house on 18 Willett Street in Avondale New York. On Sunday I may gather with others at the Podunk Corners Full Gospel Church, and listen to Pastor Bob. All those terms of nomenclature are acceptable, even necessary. But the LC of Lee, like Nee's Little Flock before it, spun through name after name, all the while proclaiming they had no name but Jesus, and condemning all for being "denominations".
-Lord's Move to Europe
-Continuing Steadfastly
-Amana Bible Trust
-Affirmation and Critique
-Defense and Confirmation Project
-Bibles for America
-Living Stream Ministry
-Christians on Campus
-Rhema Literature Distributors
etc etc etc