Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Many on here refer to the local churches as the LC or the Local Church.
Whether you call it that, or LCM, or LSM or LC, to me makes no difference, if we truly believed we are the local church in the city. It is all referring to us as a denomination or organization, which I disagree with, but I see no need to press the issue in every discussion.
Here is the irony and the hypocrisy - many take issue with us calling ourselves the local church in the city, but have no issue with 100 churches in the city calling themselves whatever they like. That is the very definition of denominationalism. The word denomination comes from the word de-name-iate.
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EJellyz-
The Living Stream Ministry is an organization, you can disagree with this, but it is a fact, so you would be wrong. The Local Churches (at least in all of the cities that I am aware of in the US) are also organizations. For example the organization tax ID for the Church in Anaheim is 51-0179931 - registered organization. Interestingly enough, churches/religious organizations are not required to publicly file the 990 tax info - which I'm sure is a great relief for LSM/Local Churches. Many churches will post their financial information voluntarily, but I can't find a Local Church that has been willing to be this transparent (surprise surprise?).
You say that many take issue with "us calling ourselves the local church in the city, but have no issue with 100 churches in the city calling themselves whatever they like."
Who are the "many" you reference?
Many people don't take issue with your naming scheme. People take issue with your theology/beliefs/practices, there is a difference here. These same people may or may not take issue with the beliefs of other churches in the city.
Just think... what if non LSM affiliated church made the same claims that you make about your organization - one true church, recovering truth, the unique move of God, etc. Would you take issue? Or maybe just call the LSM attorneys?