[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by googlelight

I have discovered new Christian groups that have emerged in Norway, that are STRIKINGLY similar to the Lords Recovery.
However these groups over-emphasized two verses:
2 Cor. 8:5 "but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us through the will of God."
Hebrews 10:25 "Not abandoning our own assembling together..."
Can anyone suggest verses that balance the two verses these groups tend to use?

In regards to a balance to 2 Cor 8:5, the verses that strike me would be: Romans 10:2,3
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
The further away (both in time and space) we get to look at Witness Lee and his followers, the clearer it is becoming that much of the zeal and excitement we experienced was "not according to knowledge". I'm afraid that most of us in the Local Church were decidedly "ignorant of the righteousness of God". In my experience and observation over the past 40+ years, many Christians, especially younger people and those new to the faith, have a strong tendency to follow those who have the most zeal, but not necessarily the requisite knowledge of the righteousness of God. If the person and work of any Christian leader does not come into alignment with the righteousness of God, then his zeal for God becomes suspect at best, and usually gets exposed as illegitimate. We see this in the life and times of Watchman Nee. We see this even more in the life and times of Witness Lee, and by extension, those who have held him up as the one minister with the one ministry for the age, and the only person speaking as Gods oracle. May God have mercy.

In regards to a balance to Hebrews 10:25
This one is a little tougher. I guess I would defer back to Romans 10:2,3 again. God does not want his people assembling together just for the sake of assembling together. Those who name the Name of Christ but are false brothers assemble together. Those entrapped within false religion assemble together as well. Even unbelievers assemble together (well, at least they did before Covid 19 hit us) I would ask the question: Is our assembling together according to the knowledge and righteousness of God, or is it simply to show forth our zeal for God? Maybe it should be for both, but at the very least it should be for the former. I would not go so far as to say that most Christian assemblies are illegitimate (as Witness Lee did), but I would say that it is better to avoid assembling together with those who only have zeal, but seem to be lacking in knowledge, and whose teachings and practices do not seem to be in alignment with the righteousness of God.
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