Quote:
Originally Posted by Drake
However, if someone absolutely insists that the works of power, signs, miracles, etc. are the proof of apostleship, then by the same standard believers must prove they are believers by signs such as casting out demons, speaking with new tongues, picking up serpents, drinking deadly things without harm and laying hands on the sick, for they too, using that same logic, are the signs that follow a bonafide believer.
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Hi Drake,
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it. But, unfortunately, I think the above is not a compelling argument. The Bible never says that believers have to prove their validity as believers to each other. It also never tells us to test whether believers are true believers, and in fact seems to discourage such a course (parable of the wheat and the weeds, Matt 13:24-30).
However, the Bible does give us the ground to test those who claim they are apostles (Rev 2:2), and as you said, Paul felt to prove his apostleship.
There is a big difference between claiming to be a follower of Christ and claiming to be an Apostle of Christ. Apostles in the mold of Paul, Peter, John and Timothy had a special commission and authority. They bridged the gap between Christ on earth and the establishment of the New Testament Scriptures as God's unique authority on earth. They were the original "Living Bible."
It's easy to see why people claiming such authority in the latter days are problematic. How do we know they are what they claim? What if there is disagreement? This can cause deep, intractable schisms with reasons to believe either way. Such situations are exceedingly problematic. We have to look no further than LCM history for this concern to be validated.
It seems your argument is working against itself a bit, too. Paul proved his apostleship by performing miracles. This shows that God gave him the power to produce such proof. Why didn't he give it to Lee?
Witness Lee, the present Blendeds, and Titus Chu for that matter, are welcome to produce proof of Apostleship. Until they do, as far as I'm concerned they have no authority from God to order churches around. They might have good ministry. They might be good teachers. But without further proof, that's where it ends.
(Obviously, it is too late for Lee to produce proof of Apostleship. So as far as he is concerned, the case is closed.)