[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by A little brother

In your examples, ALL Israelites came out of Egypt (I am not sure about Babylon's case though). Lot's whole family came out of Sodom. That's what I referred previously as "all God's people" and why I said it is not division.

For the sake of this discussion, I will assume you are right.

But I found that scholars, mostly Jewish I guess, believe not all came out of Egypt.

See this article for example:
http://www.torahmusings.com/2012/01/...-out-of-egypt/

This is an interesting discussion in itself.

Originally Posted by A little brother

I think you have forgotten “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Anyway, I think your point on physical versus spiritual division is valid. I have been focusing more on the spiritual side (division in the body of Christ) along this discussion thread. I don't know enough about the reformation history. If Luther was still spiritually connected with the fellow true believers in the Catholic Church, that was not division in the body of Christ at all. If they were cutting out fellowship with the believers staying behind, than it would be wrong.

I have not researched this myself, but I'm guessing that Luther was not refusing Catholics, but Catholics may have refused him and other protestants. Over history, protestants have been more accepting of all believers, than the Roman Catholic etc who equate "the faith" with the structure and traditions of the church. But then I recall protestants may have fought and killed Catholics, so I could be wrong about this.

In regards to physical vs spiritual, many Christians are content to meet physically apart and believe in spiritual oneness. However Watchman Nee/Lee rejected the idea of visible/practical separation yet invisible unity. Nee wrote it was impractical, or an idealistic view of things. I believe that because of our invisible unity, we should meet in unity practically.

Originally Posted by A little brother

Is this what Catholicism follows? Good works to get to heaven? I may not know enough about it. I did some searching and seems they say good works are result of grace by God and some believers will not become perfect in this life so they will have to go through purgatory.

They don't believe in salvation by grace through faith alone in the same sense as Protestants. It is more faith with good works.

Originally Posted by A little brother

I won't jump into that conclusion of Catholic Church not being part of the body of Christ. If it is not part of the body, then who are the overcomers in Thyatira according to Lee's interpretation of the seven churches in Revelation?

I think only people are part of the body of Christ. People in the Catholic Church are part of the body of Christ. But the Catholic church as an organization or institution, I can't see how it can be considered to be part of the body.

The overcomers in Thyatira would be those in the Catholic church who have stood fast in her midst, or even come out of her (like Luther did). Nee/Lee recognized many genuine believers in the Catholic church.

Originally Posted by A little brother

You may find LC is not that different from all other denominations. In fact, I think there are more fellowship between different denominations these days than those between LC and all others.

Babylon is called "the great". It's large and very big. So, no surprise there.

Originally Posted by A little brother

And LC didn't break up with denominations because they were evil false brothers. The reason was just that they had a different view on locality.

Aron has it right - our common ground is not geography but the faith in Jesus Christ.

The faith in Christ is the spiritual aspect. The geography aspect is the physical aspect. Strangely, despite you and Aron saying that, the common ground is our faith in Jesus Christ, it seems odd that you might support denominations as well. Most denominations are based upon the faith in Jesus Christ, plus, plus, plus, plus.... and some very particular reasons why they have not merged together. Baptist and Presbyterian for example, very similar, yet remain content to retain individual identities.

LC didn't "break up" with anyone. It is a group of people that came out of denominations, to practice the church life. It is equivalent to the Israelites coming out of Egypt, the place of bondage. More of an escape than a breakup.