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Old 06-08-2018, 05:05 AM   #2
zeek
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,223
Default Re: Poor poor Christianity?

Here are a few things Witness Lee had to say about Christianity recorded in a book entitled Three Aspects of the Church: Book 2, The Course of the Church for your consideration.
Quote:
The worst titles that the Lord gives to the church are “great harlot” and “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 17:1-5). Babylon in Greek is equivalent to Babel in the Old Testament. Both words refer to confusion and fornication. Today the so-called churches in Christianity are Babylon. (Three Aspects of the Church: Book 2, The Course of the Church, Chapter 4, Section 3)
I think Babylon in Revelation symbolizes Rome not the church. What is the bass for claiming that it's the church? Elsewhere Lee says that Christianity is not the church.
Quote:
The modernists in today's Christianity preach Christ, but they do not believe that Christ came in the flesh; they are wooden and earthen vessels. Wooden and earthen vessels refers to false believers who are not truly saved. Because God is great, His house is a great house. In His great house there are vessels of gold (those who are divine), vessels of silver (those who are redeemed), and wooden and earthen vessels (those who are constituted with the fallen human nature). We were all earthen vessels, but we have been redeemed and have had a change in nature inwardly to become vessels of silver and gold.

The church today is in desolation and has become a great tree (Matt. 13:32). In this great tree, that is, in Christianity, there are all kinds of preachers and workers, such as Paul, Timothy, Hymenaeus, and Philetus. In the desolation of the church, the Lord wants us to cleanse ourselves from dishonorable vessels, from those who are fleshly, worldly, and natural. The Lord wants us to become vessels unto honor. Although we should not argue with people about doctrines, we need to discern their nature. We should discern whether the nature of someone's work is wooden and earthen or if it is gold and silver. Is it a work of wood and earth or a work of gold and silver? Some people build with wood, grass, and stubble; others build with gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12). We must discern the nature of the work.(Three Aspects of the Church: Book 2, The Course of the Church, Chapter 5, Section 2)
It's generally true that modernism which is based on modern science is antithetical to religious supernaturalism. Modernism can receive the ethical teachings of Christianity for critical consideration and accept those which pass rational and empirical evaluation.

Quote:
Today Christianity is under the teaching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitans. In Christianity there are idols, wealth, position, and authoritarian control. However, it is difficult for people in Christianity to enjoy Christ, much less the hidden manna. If people refuse human teachings and organization and live a hidden life before God, they will be able to experience and enjoy the hidden Christ. This is why we do not advertise. We are willing to serve the Lord for our whole lives without being recognized by others. We are not willing to do anything in the name, organization, or realm of Christianity. The desire for even a little fame is a Nicolaitan thought. Some people eloquently argue that if we would just slightly change our methods, we would be well known in Christianity, and our work would be more effective. Their words are very persuasive, and if we were like Balaam, they would be like the bait on a fishhook to catch us and carry us away. (Three Aspects of the Church: Book 2, The Course of the Church, Chapter 7, Section 3)
Lee compares favorably to most of the televangelists I know of on this parameter.

Quote:
If we want to know what attitude we should have toward today's Christianity, we must understand God's attitude toward Christianity. We should have God's attitude toward Christianity in the present age.

GOD'S ATTITUDE
The light and prophecies in the New Testament show God's heart's desire and His attitude toward Christianity in this age. On one hand, God is dissatisfied with the desolated, confused, and transmuted condition of Christianity. God condemns divisions, mixture with the world, human organization by human will, falling into Babylon, and affording opportunities to Satan. On the other hand, although God condemns these things, He does not intend to eliminate these things in this age or even to forbid them. It seems that God not only allows these things to exist but also to continually increase. Thus, the number of sects in Christianity will increase over time, and Christianity will become more and more worldly and confused. God dislikes and condemns these situations, but He seems to allow them to continue. God does not intend to eliminate them immediately, and He does not even limit them. It seems as though God does not control them but allows them to go on freely.

OUR ATTITUDE
On the Negative Side—Not Participating,
Not Interfering, Not Criticizing, and Not Mentioning
Based on God's attitude, we should have two attitudes toward Christianity. First, if we receive mercy from the Lord, we should not participate in the confused, deformed situation in Christianity. Although God does not eliminate or forbid such an improper condition, He does say, “Come out of her, My people” (Rev. 18:4). Simply stated, one who lives before God, cares for God's heart's desire, has inner light, and is willing to pay the price cannot remain in organized Christianity. I am not exhorting people to leave the denominations; this is not a matter of whether a person is in a denomination. Rather, it is a matter of avoiding mixture with the world.

Second, we are foolish if we think that we can alter the condition of today's Christianity. Such thinking assumes that we are greater and more capable than God. Some people say, “The churches are divided; let us make them one.” Twenty-five years ago I also felt this way; however, I now feel that to say such a thing would indicate that I do not know myself and that to try to do such a thing would be to try to do what God Himself will not do. To hope to correct Christianity and eliminate its mistakes is to be foolish and proud. Who can reform Christianity? We cannot do it because God is not doing it. Of course, if God wanted to do it, He would have a way. However, God's Word shows that He is not reforming Christianity. Since He is not doing it, why should we try?

Therefore, on the one hand, we should not participate in Christianity, and on the other hand, we should not try to intervene in its situation; we should not even criticize Christianity. It is not our place to criticize Christianity. If we understand correctly, we should not even mention the condition of Christianity. When we preach the gospel, give messages, and visit or fellowship with people, we should not mention Christianity. Christianity is not our topic, and we should not intervene in, criticize, or even mention it. Christianity should not be in our eyes and thoughts. This does not mean that because of pride we do not look at anyone else; rather, to have Christianity in our thoughts is a waste of our time because we have no way or ability to do anything helpful. (Three Aspects of the Church: Book 2, The Course of the Church, Chapter 19, Section 1)
Lee isn't practicing what he is preaching here as he he is criticizing Christianity even in the process of saying we shouldn't. This book is composed of messages concerning the course of the church given by Lee during a training on service in Taipei, Taiwan in 1956. And he didn't let up after this. He verbally attacked Christianity frequently in his sermons and lessons during the thirteen years I participated in the LCM.

I think Lee's counsel to imitate God's forbearance is wise, but I include the LCM movement under the rubric "Christianity" that needs to be forbeared.
__________________

Ken Gemmer- Church in Detroit, Church in Fort Lauderdale, Church in Miami 1973-86


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