Quote:
Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!
I remember reading a book I got so much enjoyment in my spirit from - and an incredible amount of grace (the most pleasurable aspect of grace - bubbling up from deep in my spirit). It was called the "Speciality, Generality & Practicality of the Church Life" by Witness Lee (1983). In fact, I can't recall being graced by any other book, apart from the Bible, more than this one! It showed how one we really are. This book talked about how to not focus on the minor doctrinal points and differences between believers - and, of course, there's a lot of them! The Lord spoke this to me in a way I could never forget --- most all Christian divisions are silly and vain works of the flesh. Lee said the only things we should hold firm to, with others, were just the key things of our faith, such as Christ's divinity; Him and His atoning work being the One Way; the Bible being the Word of God, etc. All else should be laid aside to not stumble a brother and to keep the oneness (that is, we should be very general about these noncritical things).
I just dug up my old coffee-stained copy of this book and quickly leafed through it again. I see nothing about the need to doggedly hold to a "one church - one city" doctrine as a central article of our faith. So, while I think OCOC is a sound principle illustrated in the NT, and I thank God for it, I don't think anyone should hold to it as a key article of their Christian faith - lest they cause a division by it.
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I'm actually going to quote myself regarding this book, because it just occurred to me that this book was the first light He showed me regarding this matter. As I look back on the nearly 50 years of my Christian life, I see where He was always leading me to something and protecting and leading me away from something else. I marvel at His faithful preservation work over me, as I am certainly not smart enough to have figured these things out for myself!
He gets the glory!
Through that WL book (which was pretty much all I was reading in those days + maybe a very few other "approved" authors) the Lord planted a seed in me. But after reading it, I continued to believe there was nothing of value outside the Recovery for some time. When we left Columbus OH, I had hooked up with a company that transferred me into the middle of the California Mojave Desert. I condemned myself over this, because I thought I had left God's only real move on the earth. In fact, I thought God would probably whack me good for it . . . But now I realize He put us there to dry out (that's what happens the desert) and prepare me for something new.
But for years I continued to think that the LC and its ministry were the one and only. This was until in utter despair I found myself at a Christian bookstore desperately looking for something to eat (after fasting in the desert). There were a ton of things there that were really just "junk food" Christianity or legal Christianity. It seemed as if it was all confirming what I believed was true - only the LC had the genuine article. I wandered around & around in that bookstore for over an hour, searching in despair . . . (it was a very big store)
Something said in me that I shouldn't go back to the LC, but what else was out there!? I was quite frustrated with God, and more than a little disillusioned.
But then Praise God!
He led me to a book with the title, "Desiring God" by John Piper. There was something different about this book that drew me in. As I read it, words and life were leaping off the page! Could it be?! Could I have found something that was worthwhile outside of the Recovery!!?? I excitedly purchased the book and went home and started enjoying page after page over the next few weeks. This brother (Piper) had some very real and fresh experience of Christ!
Through my reading and seeking Him, my heart softened towards God. I was just starting to see what He was showing me. He then immediately led me to a group of seeking lovers of Jesus nearby, and began to show me about His love.
He is faithful!