Quote:
Originally Posted by Elden1971
Concerning the "Locality law", brother Sparks wrote to us in Manila from London on April 12, 1962:
"I can only take any position on what I believe to be fundamental. For me, the basis (or ground) of the Church is quite fundamental. I cannot accept that the basis is what is called "Locality". I believe that where Christ truly is, even if it be in only "two or three" there the Church is in effect. Christ is the "foundation" (or ground), and "other foundation can no man lay". But when I have said that, brother, I feel that you are, perhaps unconsciously, involved in the "Locality" position. Do you know that that is precisely and positively the teaching and position of the people called "Exclusive Brethren"? This teaching first went to Shanghai with the leading Exclusive Brethren who tried to capture the whole work of brother Nee. Brother Nee refused to be made an official part of that body, but the teaching got in, and has gone on ever since. When I came to Manila and Hong Kong I was very sorry to see that in both Assembly Halls there were for sale many of the books from the Stow Hill Bible Dept. in England. I feared that this would lead to both exclusiveness and division, and as late as last year one of the biggest divisions took place among them. Their whole church teaching is based upon this "Locality" law. (That is, the church ground.) Brother Lee is the strongest exponent of it in the Far East. I love brother Lee and will do all possible to avoid separation from him. We must all fight hard to prevent divisions, and our ground must be Christ in all His own... I shall continue to pray for you all, and that the Lord will get a great victory over all the evil powers which are working so hard to bring dishonour upon His name everywhere... Give my greetings to all the brothers and sisters.
Yours in the love and grace of our Lord Jesus,
T. Austin-Sparks"
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In the LC, there is the narrative that TAS didn't 'see' the church and thus he split from Lee. From this letter, it is clear that it was just the opposite. TAS saw exactly where the ground of locality teaching was headed, he had the foresight that Lee didn't posses.
Lee, of course, didn't like the criticism of his prized teaching, and he acted accordingly. It was an easy excuse to split from others, and this was exactly how the ground of locality was subsequently employed.