Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
The performance-oriented "we enjoy Christ" rubric is a decisive step down the slippery slope because now "we" is the subject of conscious attention and activity, while "Christ" is merely an object to be shuffled about. . .either waved or ignored, depending on the perceived need of the moment.
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Aron, Thanks for your sharing. I agree the danger of "performance-oriented we enjoy Christ". On the other hand, there is another danger of we do nothing, focus on enjoying Christ and let the rest come naturally (WL and LSM have been teaching this for over half a century). Ends up people were so absorded into this ideal and became talkers and not doers. In my opinion, this second danger is the greater problem in the LC.
Take the example of what we have been talking about in this thread - the servants in Matt 25. The master left after entrusting the servants with the talents. If the faithful servants were busy looking for their master, they would have failed the assignment. In fact, their works with the entrusted talents were their linkage with the master. It was the third servant who played safe and did as little as possible while the master was not with him.
Again, I am not saying we don't have to focus on Christ. It is just that we cannot neglect either the focus on Christ and works (as in Matt 23:23 I shared earlier).
One common logic flaw I found from many of WL's messages is the "if it is A, then it must not be B". Christ and works are never mutually exclusive. If we as believers claim all our works could only be from our old selves, we could be rejecting the works of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Phil 2:13 For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure.
Let's also take a look at Paul's epistles. He usually did not just talk about "it is no longer I but Christ", he also included many practical matters (works) and greetings to individuals (not just Christ, but people in Christ) in the ending chapters. Take Ephesians as an example, Paul could have finished the whole epistle with that wonderful message of "be filled unto all the fullness of God" in end of Chapter 3. Yet he continued with another three chapters on practical church living. I think he had spoken clearly what was in his mind.