Quote:
Originally Posted by Curious
According to the bible we are fallen. No where does it say we are 'absolutely useless', or useless at all, in our unsaved state.
|
But Nee was speaking to the elect, telling church members, "We're absolutely useless". But to me this brings a logical dilemma: if we believers are absolutely useless, so too is Nee's teaching, his ministry. So there's a conceit built in, a dodge as it were, in the thought-schema upon which the Little Flock Restored Church of Watchman Nee and its off-shoot the Local Church of Witness Lee were founded. There, they hold their faith to one believer who has the "mantle" or the "oracle" and whose speaking connects previously useless humanity, both believers and unbelievers, back to God's calling and purpose. That person's speaking and ministry isn't vain or useless. That person's "experience of Christ" is the bridge for the rest.
Ultimately one's faith in rescue from futility is that there's one fellow - not female, as they're by nature unstable [nevermind Jessie Penn-Lewis, Madame Guyon and Mary McDonough] - connected to God's will. Witness Lee officially termed that position "the Seer of the Divine Revelation", and put that appellation on WN, and later claimed that for himself by extension.
But what happened to the faith of those who heard Nee confess to producing and holding pornography? Not merely the unstable young believers like Lily Hsu, but 'senior co-workers' like Ruth Lee became bitter nihilists, believing nothing. Because to believe, to hope, to struggle and suffer for one's faith, produced nothing. Ultimately WN's statement came true. Human effort, including his, was absolutely useless. And likewise what happens to the ex Church Kids who find out that WL ensconced his ne'er-do-well sons in positions to prey on the flock? Again, their foundation-stone is shattered, and they stagger away into the world, believing nothing.
There is only One whose hope, whose faith, whose struggle, whose efforts withstood death and entered eternal perfection. That One is the Saviour of the world. The rest of us should not assume any pride of place, or ruin will follow. Ruin to ourselves, and stumblings to others.
But to Curious' point, I need look no further than Cornelius. The angel told him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." This was a gentile, a non-believer in Jesus. Yet this one tried.