What about Inner Life?

[Sons to Glory!]

I've been thinking about this topic for months now, ever since our discussions in a few threads earlier this year (e.g., the "Daily Devotional Inspirations" and "Examining LC Spinoffs" threads). And the thread Trapped recently started, "Is God a Trinity?" actually inspired me to start this thread, because I saw that we on here could have a civil discussion around certain topics after all! May the Lord give us grace and light for this topic as well.

Here’s some of my background, which should give you a view into where I’m coming from. As many of you know, I was led to the LC very early in my adult Christian life (age 18), and my walk with the Lord was therefore greatly influenced by that exposure. However, even before coming to the LC the Lord spoke to me clearly through the inner Anointing on various occasions. For instance, He spoke to me that I was dead and that I had no need of man teaching me outwardly, as He would speak to me inwardly. (1 John 2:27) At that time, I was too young and inexperienced in the word to even know that these truths were in scripture! He also spoke inexplicably to me then that He was, “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” This let me know that He was the God of the Bible – again, I don’t remember that I’d ever heard this to that point (definitely never read it up to then). And then He put this specific longing in me and I prayed, “Lord, you have to take me to be with those who love you like I do!”

So even before coming to the LC, I had had experiences of His inner life and speaking. And I know, that I know, that I know that He was speaking to me directly and inwardly. His direct speaking and Anointing in me at that time was exceedingly wonderful!

Then I was led, in one week’s time (in 1974), across the country to miraculously “find” the LC in Berkeley (that’s a wonderful story for another time). There I found many other crazy lovers of Jesus. My experience of the LC for the next three years was a tumultuous one of leaving and coming back, due mainly to my immaturity and still having a love for the world’s things. Upon returning to Ohio (where I was from), I got married and started fellowshipping with a couple LC churches there, eventually winding up in Columbus with that LC. That lasted until 1988, when I got a job out west and we moved. The LC in Columbus was not as tightly in the LSM orbit as many other churches were, and was perhaps not as dogmatically focused on only Watchman Nee and Witness Lee authority. And I see it as sovereign of the Lord that He led us away from the LC in 1988. (of course, the Columbus group had a huge and rather violent split not too long after that). So, I think He preserved us in many ways, from much of the so-called “dirty LC bathwater.”

To some, the “dirty LC bathwater” may include their teachings and perhaps overemphasis regarding the inner life. That is, an unhealthy focus on the human spirit and spiritual things, often to the expense of the outward manifestations of Christian life and good works. I think there is some merit to this . . . (and one evidence of this could be said the be Lee’s disdain for the book of James).

After about ten years of minimal fellowship with any Christians (though I still prayed and called on the Lord’s name from time to time during these years), He led me to the fellowship here in Scottsdale. The group here is very focused on “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” and this is even written predominately on the inside front wall. Again, I convey this to give a background of where I am coming from. And my walk with God continues to be one where I see and greatly appreciate His Spirit operating in and through me and through those He’s placed me with.

So here’s the question: How much do you see the inner-life of Christ as being central to the Christian life? Personally, I see it as the focus of the New Covenant. But this is not to say that I think we should not be doing outward things. In fact, I’ve actually gained a good appreciation for the book of James in the last few years! I see much of what James is speaking about as not being possible without His moving in me to supply me to do those things. This is just like all the things Jesus spoke about in Mathew 5:1-12 (the “Beatitudes”) – does man have it in himself to do these things from the heart that Jesus spoke of? I don’t believe so, but through His indwelling and suppling us they are all possible.

Well, I must admit this has been a much longer opening post than I expected to do, but as I got to writing, it just came out, and I think some personal background is good to present here. I am interested in how important others’ view the working of the indwelling, inner life of Christ is, and how that corresponds with the more outward manifestations of good works – and I believe we children of the Most High can have a fruitful discussion around this. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, scriptures and experience!