Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
The book is saying the exact same things we say. That denominations are sectarian, divisive and unbiblical. I have written this many times on this forum. In fact the information in the book sounds like it was quoted from one of Watchman Nee's books in the first place.
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But it was not quoted from Nee or Lee. And if you really read more than a summary sentence, I think you will see that what they are seeing is not the same thing that Nee and Lee saw. They are not concluding that the answer is a better name. It is not that changing the name makes everything right. It is not that following someone who says that makes everything right.
Actually, it is a view expressed from the most superficial analysis of the Christian landscape. There is no hiding that this landscape is very complex and nuanced. But oversimplifying things in the way Viola did is not really that meaningful. Viola and Barna have both made their names trying to shake things up. And from what I have read of them in the past (I did not read this one) is that they have some points to make. But too much of the time their primary rhetoric is at least a little over the top. (Sometimes more so.)
The whole idea that certain things are pagan is probably more of a correlation between things than any clear evidence that it is contrary to scripture and instead a following of a pagan practice. And someone in the LRC should be quick to avoid that kind of thing because they have been accused of following many pagan practices just because of outward similarities without any evidence that the source was actually pagan.
And don't forget that lack of a clear word for is not the same as a clear word against. (Which is not that same as saying just because there is not a clear word against, it must be clearly for.)