[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by KSA

Lee described our union with the Lord in terms of "mingling". However, in 1 Cor. 6:17 our union with the Lord is likened to the union of husband and wife, who become "one flesh". I and my wife are one flesh, but it does not mean that we are "mingled" or that she is becoming me in life and nature.

"Mingle, mingle hallelujah!"....remember that one guys?

As it turns out, "mingling" is not a concept taught by the Lord Jesus nor by the scripture writing apostles. Lee took some rather unrelated Old Testament figures and types and tried to squeeze them into New Testament theology - really his brand of NT theology. The resultant mess is what is taught in the LC as "God's economy" - that God is mingling with man and man is mingling with God to make us into "God-men" who are "becoming God in life and nature" (..but not in the Godhead) This concept has been taught for so long now in the LC that they actually think it's "orthodox" and that the common teachings regarding sanctification in the evangelical churches are "poor and degraded".

This is one of the biggest drawbacks of Lee's theology - it is too mechanical and physical, rather than relational. In this way our humanity is devalued. We, humans, have to change... into God. Of course, many verses about transformation can be employed to back up this teaching about "becoming God". But you know what? The Word says that we are being transformed into the image of Christ. Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh. Through Christ, God showed us how the real man should look like. Therefore, transformation into the image of Christ is becoming real humans (as we were meant to be), not God.

Ah, there's the KEY WORD..."RELATIONAL". Thanks KSA. It took me a long, long time after coming out from underneath Witness Lee's teachings before I realized that God does not want to mingle with us...He does not want us to eat Him...and He certainly does not want us to become Him. What he wants IS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM! We don't have a relationship with food! But we DO have a relationship with our father and our brother. The Lord Jesus called God OUR FATHER and he called himself OUR BROTHER and OUR FRIEND. This all all titles of RELATIONSHIPS.

While I was reading and considering this I also was reminded of this verse, Hebrews 4:15..
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Yet another title for the Lord Jesus that indicates a relationship - High Priest. In this case a High Priest who is not only to be listened to and learn from and obey...but one who can sympathize with our weaknesses. Something tells me that the writer of Hebrews was taking a little jab at all those unsympathetic human high priests of the day. Or maybe it was the apostle Paul himself (suspected by many as being the writer of Hebrews) taking jabs at himself, as he was once a "Hebrew of Hebrews" and realized how unsympathetic he was towards others, and realized that the Lord Jesus was the real High Priest with whom we desperately needed a relationship.

Thanks again KSA! So good to hear from you again. Hope all is well with you and yours.