Quote:
Originally Posted by countmeworthy
We're told in Revelation 2:6-7 as the Lord is reprimending the church in Ephesus thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches He repeats it again in vs 15.
Recently I've given these scriptures some thought and have been doing some studying/research on the meaning and practice of the Nicolaetians..
|
At first glance, David Yonggi Cho and Witness Lee could hardly appear more dissimilar. Cho established a worldly-appearing megachurch, exactly the kind of "fallen Christianity" that Lee so often decried.
Yet both men allowed their unspiritual progeny free rein in the church, with disastrous consequences, and these disasters were covered and even furthered by the machinery of protection both men had built around themselves. In each case, underlings were enlisted to quietly and carefully do the dirty work so that the leader could save face, and appear pure.
It doesn't matter whether it's Chinese, Korean, Roman, or German - it's the way of the gentiles, the way of fallen humanity. This will not stand. Faith in Jesus is the foundation, and love for the 'other' the building material. Anything else will not last.
With both Lee and Cho, self-interest came into play, abetted and enlarged by shared understandings and values; in both cases, aides were enlisted who furthered their own selfish ends by promoting the interests of the leader. Eventually, the founder was gone but the "protection racket" remained, seeking new accomplices and victims. But it's not the kingdom of the heavens, and ultimately it will fade to obscurity. It's not built to last.
If you seek temporal ends, your building work won't remain. What a lesson for us all.