A little background

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Very well stated boughtbyJesus. Some people around here get a little bent out of shape when "a different gospel" is mentioned regarding the teachings of Witness Lee, but the simple fact is that Witness Lee and his followers actually preach two gospels - one is at lease close to the genuine, biblical Gospel as preached by the Lord Jesus and the original disciples, but they also have "the gospel of 'God's economy' ", which is really and truly "another gospel" as Paul mentioned in Galatians. As the years have gone by, there is little doubt that these dear Christians have actually convinced themselves that Witness Lee's gospel is more important than the actual Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord have mercy.

If I accept that LC'ers teach "another" gospel, then I must also condemn all Pentecostals and Charismatics for the same thing, since after being saved, they are always stressing the need to speak in tongues, focus on the gifts, and get delivered thru the laying on of hands. Like boughtbyJesus has said, "that never felt right" for me, though I have prayed about it.

Paul used the term "another gospel" in direct opposition to the way of circumcision as promoted by the Judaizers. This negated the need of the cross of Christ, as Galatians rightly says, as if some minor surgical procedure could guarantee our salvation. How about we not use this loaded phrase outside of its intended context?

[boughtbyJesus]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Paul used the term "another gospel" in direct opposition to the way of circumcision as promoted by the Judaizers. This negated the need of the cross of Christ, as Galatians rightly says, as if some minor surgical procedure could guarantee our salvation. How about we not use this loaded phrase outside of its intended context?

I believe that if you "add" or "take away" ANYTHING from the Gospel Paul preached, the Gospel of Christ Jesus, by ANYONE or ANY Church, then it is no longer the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by boughtbyJesus

I believe that if you "add" or "take away" ANYTHING from the Gospel Paul preached, the Gospel of Christ Jesus, by ANYONE or ANY Church, then it is no longer the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

I think that is a little simplistic. Then we have to define 'what it is to "add" or "take away" ANYTHING from the Gospel Paul preached.' I have never found any church that is not "guilty." The LC's I knew never added one thing to the gospel Paul preached. Oh sure, things got added and heaped upon the brothers and sisters, but they never affected the WAY of salvation.

[boughtbyJesus]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I think that is a little simplistic. Then we have to define 'what it is to "add" or "take away" ANYTHING from the Gospel Paul preached.' I have never found any church that is not "guilty." The LC's I knew never added one thing to the gospel Paul preached. Oh sure, things got added and heaped upon the brothers and sisters, but they never affected the WAY of salvation.

I think Galatians 1:6-10 is pretty clear!

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one your received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." ESV Ed.

Paul emphasized twice the preaching of a gospel contrary to the one he received from Christ.

I do not believe that it is insignificant to add or take away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe this is how the enemy is actively operating in many churches - by changing/distorting/twisting the Bible. I don't think it matters the opinions, interpretations of a pastor, preacher, whomever, or their nuances, the only thing that matters is the author's intended meaning and its application to us today.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by boughtbyJesus

I think Galatians 1:6-10 is pretty clear!

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one your received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." ESV Ed.

Paul emphasized twice the preaching of a gospel contrary to the one he received from Christ.

I do not believe that it is insignificant to add or take away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe this is how the enemy is actively operating in many churches - by changing/distorting/twisting the Bible. I don't think it matters the opinions, interpretations of a pastor, preacher, whomever, or their nuances, the only thing that matters is the author's intended meaning and its application to us today.

I agree with those verses completely. I love those verses. I memorized those verses long ago. I fought many on behalf of those verses.

But let's be fair, if you say that the LC's "ADD OR TAKE AWAY" from the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you have to prove it, and not just make some unfounded claim. Secondly, you must apply the exact same standard to every other Christian and church, including your own.

[InOmnibusCaritas]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I agree with those verses completely. I love those verses. I memorized those verses long ago. I fought many on behalf of those verses.

But let's be fair, if you say that the LC's "ADD OR TAKE AWAY" from the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you have to prove it, and not just make some unfounded claim. Secondly, you must apply the exact same standard to every other Christian and church, including your own.

Exactly. There is no stronger accusation than this. Accusing someone of preaching a different gospel is to say, "let him be anathema". You must be prepared to say that WL is going to hell. You must also be prepared to be judged, in the case LCs are not preaching a different gospel and in fact true brothers and sisters in Christ, according to Mark 9:42. Tread carefully.

[UntoHim]

boughtbyJesus' claim that the LC preaches another gospel is hardly unfounded. I have been making such a claim for over 10 years on these open forums. I think "the proof" can be found in many of the tens of thousands of posts on this very forum. This is to say nothing of the many Christian apologists who have been making this claim for decades. As I have always said, Witness Lee actually preached and taught two "gospels" - He taught the genuine, biblical Gospel along side of his "another gospel" of "God's economy". Unfortunately, it seems that the Local Church has gravitated more towards Lee's false gospel than the genuine Gospel, and boughtbyJesus has experienced this first hand.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

But let's be fair, if you say that the LC's "ADD OR TAKE AWAY" from the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you have to prove it, and not just make some unfounded claim. Secondly, you must apply the exact same standard to every other Christian and church, including your own.

How many times has the following passage been discarded?

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

[Lisbon]

Originally Posted by Terry

How many times has the following passage been discarded?

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

I heard WL say this doesn't work and who am I to speak against the Oracle? That's part of the Holy Script he chooses to scrap. Huh?
Lisbon

[UntoHim]

Ok, strike that part about about "a little bent out of shape"

Also, our dear friend Ohio, God bless him, has an occasional habit of jumping the gun and reacting to just part of post without reading and CONSIDERING the entire post, and it looks like this got the best of him in reading my post, which was really only a direct reaction to your post.

But I see now that boughtbyJesus already smacked him down

You go sista, you go!