Quote:
Originally Posted by Drake
To UntoHims last post #326, I did not originally anticipate the matter of judging, judgment would be a part of this conversation but I’m glad it came up for I believe it exposes an erroneous concept about the Lord and a root cause issue. Kevin’s post #308, on judgement, I thought, was pretty compelling. Paul did say something to the effect of our needing to judge matters in this life else how can we judge in the age to come.
I believe Brother Lee’s term “poor, poor Christianity “ was an example of judgement on degradation that should be pointed out.
I believe Evangelical says it rightly that we are to overcome the degradation not come out of the local churches.
Nevertheless, I appreciate all the sober and thoughtful responses.
Drake
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Judging requires discerning and examining. In Revelation, the Lord Jesus has eyes as flames of fire. His feet are polished brass indicating judging. As the High Priest He trims the wicks of the lamps to keep them brightly shining. He examines and He trims. No one and no church escapes His discerning judgement and His trimming.
And for those who prefer Jesus as presented in the gospels He is also the One who overturned the tables of the money changers to cleanse His Fathers house. So He is consistent both on earth and in heaven.
I have provided examples of “poor poor Christianity” that validates the term. Some have said that Brother Lee excluded the local churches from that characterization. I believe he did it in apposition but not strictly between poor poor Christianity and the local churches but between poor poor Christianity and the aspiration to be a Philadelphia, to avoid the mistakes of Protestantism division, the mistakes of the Brethren, that the local churches would aspire be all that pleases the Lord, His commendations, and avoid all His condemnations. In short, to cooperate to make ready to bring a Him back or if you prefer to be ready at His appearing.
Therefore, the greater part of Brother Lees ministry was directed inward. It would be inaccurate to give the impression that his focus was on poor poor Christianity. His ministry focus was on the local churches, to establish them and build them up. Even at that his ministry was mostly “life-studies” focused on the experience of the life of Christ but there was a fair amount of critique toward our own shortcomings, warnings, and sometimes action. This is not say that Brother Lee or his ministry did not have mistakes, shortcomings, and issues of their own. He and it did. However, I would not toss out the baby with the bath water.
Drake