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Originally Posted by UntoHim
I agree, but would expand upon this. The church in the New Testament is defined by it's actions which are informed by it's doctrines. For example, Witness Lee's exclusive and extremely sectarian teachings regarding "the ground of the church" influence, or inform as it were, the divisive and damaging attitude and actions his followers have towards their brothers and sisters in Christ.
In the early days of the movement in America, this was exemplified by Local Church members "marching on" the Moody Bible Institute (and church?) with placards announcing "Down With Christianity!" and other such absurd and obnoxious declarations. These followers of Witness Lee didn't just dream up these slogans out of nowhere - they came straight from the teachings of Witness Lee himself.
Although the public actions of Local Church members has become quite a bit more tame and civilized over the years, the underlying horrific and deplorable attitude instilled by the teachings of Witness Lee are still alive and well to this day, especially in the older members. Nothing of this history has been repudiated or repented of. In fact the Blended Brothers have doubled down on this in recent history by their attitude and actions towards members within the movement who disagree in the slightest.
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For example, everyone agrees that the parable of the good Samaritan likens the church to an Inn where those who have been beaten by the law can convalesce and recuperate. Therefore, a church that has those who are sinful, beaten up by the law, sick, and weak does not in any way suggest it is not a true church. On the contrary is a hospital that has no sick people truly a hospital?
No, what suggests it is a true church is the action of helping those whom the Good Samaritan brought to them.
Another example -- Witness Lee said that Jesus eating with Mary, Martha and Lazarus was a type of the church. It is not the number of people, but rather the experience of death and resurrection and the presence of Jesus that makes this a type of the true church. It wasn't Martha's teachings about the resurrection but rather Lazarus experience of it.
Another example -- Matthew 18 talks about the church and dealing with sin. Evangelical is not wrong to say that excommunication is a function of the church, he is only overly simplistic opening the door to being mocked. The reality is that the church is the place to deal with sins. That is a key function of the church. Therefore the "true" church will be dealing with sins, the false church will be covering them up. Once again, defined by the actions, not the teaching because covering up sins implies liars and cheats. A liar or cheat who teaches the people of God to sin and commit adultery, that would be Balaam and Jezebel.