Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
The fact remains if we try to follow parts of the Bible that were not meant for us, we will fall into error. Whether that is building the temple, offering sacrifices, calling for judgement on our enemies or appealing to our own righteousness. This is all that Lee was pointing out. I find it nothing more than that. He did not call James an "epistle of straw", rather he indicated that was wrong by stating that the brethren did accept James. Neither did he try to remove it from the Canon.
That to me is a fair and balanced assessment of Lee's view towards James and the Psalms, to go beyond that is unfounded slander in my opinion.
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I used to think that James came right after the ministry of Paul as a kind of exam, to test us to see if we really got "God's New Testament Economy". I got that idea based on WL's ministry, but now I see it differently.
However, a verse in the New Testament really helped me which is
"No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]". (1Cor 10:13 Amplified version)
It occurred to me that things like Witness Lee, LRC, LSM, etc, these are not some new and strange temptation. I felt that if this is so, then surely the apostles should have given us a word to help us deal with this. Every book in the Bible has a purpose, just like every part in a car has a purpose. Which part of a car is "2nd degree" and which part is "1st"? You might think that the jack in the trunk is not as important as the engine, until of course, you need the jack.
Now I see that James did in fact fall prey to this judaizer doctrine, they were like a case of the flu that the church suffered. After repenting James had a burden to help (heal) all those affected (sick). What happened to the early church is not much different from what happens with any cult or with any false prophet. So the vision that James has is very similar to the vision anyone would need to "lay hands on the sick" or to "turn back those who wander from the truth". To me it is the "perfect gift of God" just as much as penicillin.