[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by aron

Drake's 'argument' is to present an a priori conclusion - no variance with the LSM between the spoken word from the podium and what was eventually published. Any evidences to the contrary are dismissed out of hand.

This m.o. is not limited to the LC; it's unfortunately rather widespread in primitivist, 'revelatory' fundamentalist religion. The 'oracle' got a revelation and any and all to the contrary, scripture included, be damned. Whatever happened to "test all things - prove the good"?

For example, Witness Lee the supposed oracle of God is held to be "closely following the teachings of the apostles" until someone points out that Paul was eager to help the poor, e.g., Galatians 2:10 (cf Romans 15 & 2 Cor 8). You know what Evangelical said? That was Paul's thing, not Lee's. Everyone has their own gig, see.

As I said at the beginning of this thread: "Christianity" (if, as I take it, one means the mass in toto of confessing believers in Christ) is indeed arguably "poor" (if one wants to find lacks, failures, ignorance, hypocrisy etc). But by the exact same measure you measure others, you are also measured. And by this same measure the Living Stream Ministry of Witness Lee is impoverished to the extreme. A desert, a ruin. A wasteland, of owls and cormorants. Like Ninevah, Ashkelon, Moab, Ammon before.

The Lord will judge you with the same measure you judge Lee. So I hope your home is full of widows and orphans that you are taking care of. I would wager that any persons good deeds in the recovery are just as much or more than anyone else. I know some giving up to 90 percent of their disposable income. But spiritual condition is more important and the recovery is about the more important matters.