Some Good Things to Come Out of the Recovery?

Sons to Glory! · 06-12-2018, 01:56 PM

Alrighty, here's what we have thus far of good things to come out of the so called "Recovery":

1. Open meetings - encouraging all to function
2. The Emphasis on the Indwelling Christ
3. Calling on the name of the Lord
4. Taking in the Pure Milk of the Word

Now here's a 5th and perhaps final one (as I may be growing weary of all this):

One church; One city

Just speaking for myself, but while I know that this was used in a divisive way (perhaps inadvertently) by some in the LC, I think the basic principle is pretty doggone sound. For far too long it has just been accepted practice by Christians to divide and divide again, to the point that all this division just seems normal somehow. But as Paul asks, "Is Christ divided?"

And again, this "one church one city" teaching wound-up (like all teachings apart from Christ) as something that just puffed up and divided. As Paul told the Corinthians, "Some say 'I am of Paul'; some say 'I am of Cepheus', 'some say 'I am of Christ.'" The ones saying they were of Christ were doctrinally correct, but wrong in their prideful stance - which only divided them from others.

I remember reading a book I got so much enjoyment in my spirit from - and an incredible amount of grace (the most pleasurable aspect of grace - bubbling up from deep in my spirit). It was called the "Speciality, Generality & Practicality of the Church Life" by Witness Lee (1983). In fact, I can't recall being graced by any other book, apart from the Bible, more than this one! It showed how one we really are. This book talked about how to not focus on the minor doctrinal points and differences between believers - and, of course, there's a lot of them! The Lord spoke this to me in a way I could never forget --- most all Christian divisions are silly and vain works of the flesh. Lee said the only things we should hold firm to, with others, were just the key things of our faith, such as Christ's divinity; Him and His atoning work being the One Way; the Bible being the Word of God, etc. All else should be laid aside to not stumble a brother and to keep the oneness (that is, we should be very general about these noncritical things).

I just dug up my old coffee-stained copy of this book and quickly leafed through it again. I see nothing about the need to doggedly hold to a "one church - one city" doctrine as a central article of our faith. So, while I think OCOC is a sound principle illustrated in the NT, and I thank God for it, I don't think anyone should hold to it as a key article of their Christian faith - lest they cause a division by it.

06-12-2018, 01:56 PM	#14
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,622	Re: Some Good Things to Come Out of the Recovery? Alrighty, here's what we have thus far of good things to come out of the so called "Recovery": 1. Open meetings - encouraging all to function 2. The Emphasis on the Indwelling Christ 3. Calling on the name of the Lord 4. Taking in the Pure Milk of the Word Now here's a 5th and perhaps final one (as I may be growing weary of all this): One church; One city Just speaking for myself, but while I know that this was used in a divisive way (perhaps inadvertently) by some in the LC, I think the basic principle is pretty doggone sound. For far too long it has just been accepted practice by Christians to divide and divide again, to the point that all this division just seems normal somehow. But as Paul asks, "Is Christ divided?" And again, this "one church one city" teaching wound-up (like all teachings apart from Christ) as something that just puffed up and divided. As Paul told the Corinthians, "Some say 'I am of Paul'; some say 'I am of Cepheus', 'some say 'I am of Christ.'" The ones saying they were of Christ were doctrinally correct, but wrong in their prideful stance - which only divided them from others. I remember reading a book I got so much enjoyment in my spirit from - and an incredible amount of grace (the most pleasurable aspect of grace - bubbling up from deep in my spirit). It was called the "Speciality, Generality & Practicality of the Church Life" by Witness Lee (1983). In fact, I can't recall being graced by any other book, apart from the Bible, more than this one! It showed how one we really are. This book talked about how to not focus on the minor doctrinal points and differences between believers - and, of course, there's a lot of them! The Lord spoke this to me in a way I could never forget --- most all Christian divisions are silly and vain works of the flesh. Lee said the only things we should hold firm to, with others, were just the key things of our faith, such as Christ's divinity; Him and His atoning work being the One Way; the Bible being the Word of God, etc. All else should be laid aside to not stumble a brother and to keep the oneness (that is, we should be very general about these noncritical things). I just dug up my old coffee-stained copy of this book and quickly leafed through it again. I see nothing about the need to doggedly hold to a "one church - one city" doctrine as a central article of our faith. So, while I think OCOC is a sound principle illustrated in the NT, and I thank God for it, I don't think anyone should hold to it as a key article of their Christian faith - lest they cause a division by it.