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Originally Posted by A little brother
6. We need to maintain the gap between the Lord’s recovery and Christianity; the wider this gap is, the better, because it is a gap between us and the present evil age—Gal. 1:4.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Personally I see nothing offensive in the outline posts. When I was in denominations I was not offended by those statements either, because there was an element of truth in them. They are stock standard beliefs in the Recovery and reading material.
The far majority of material in the LSM outlines, 99%, is not about badmouthing denominations at all. It is very much focused on Christ and revelation. Statements about denominations are used to show and contrast the difference between the religious Christianity and genuine Christianity. There is often a positive focus, for example, we would not say "what this denomination does is wrong" for the sake of it, we might say "isn't it a shame this denomination does not preach the gospel more or use the Bible more". In my mind it is balanced. There is also positive things said about denominations too. I have been involved in a number of discussions where what some denominations are doing is regarded positively, or one aspect of them is said to be "very good".
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The problem is that the LCM hammers the failings of Christianity and white-washes its own failings. This is exactly the opposite of what the Bible tells us to do.
If the LCM was half as interested in rooting out its own corruption as it was with pointing out "Christianity's" corruption there would be no need for this board. It's a classic example on a movement-wide scale of having a log in one's own eye and pointing out the splinter in everyone else's eyes.
I realized this can work both ways. Some of us are pretty demanding of the LCM. (But they should be able to take it. After all, they are "God's best," so they should have high standards.
) But I can testify that I pray seriously to the Lord to guide what I write and to point out any hypocrisy in me. Having been in the LCM, I doubt they have the same care toward those they accuse with their "stock standard" condemnations.
What's most irksome is the way the LCM conveniently contrasts themselves with everyone else. They are the good guys, everyone else are the bad guys. Way, way too easy and nowhere near accurate. That outline that little brother posted could be paraphrased by this parable of Jesus's:
"The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.....'
LCM Version: "The LCM stood by themselves and prayed: 'God we thank you that we are not like the rest of Christianity: Deformed, degraded, false--or even like this free group over there. We follow the 'one ministry' and the 'unique vision', we... blah, blah....'"
[And Jesus concluded]
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Matt 18:11-12,14