"Early Nee" vs. "Later Nee"

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Oregon

At what point in time did division of the body become acceptable? It was condemned in Paul's day but now it is OK because to practice the oneness of the body is unworkable and therefore not necessary. So it is no longer important to God,. A simple hand shaking while we all stay in our practical divisions is the current move of God on earth.

Brother Oregon, from one "O" state to another -- I understand how your views are defined, having held them myself since the mid 70's. Then, a few years ago, I watched our leaders use these same definitions to quarantine, divide, and bring brothers to court. How I wished there could be a "simple hand shaking" with the many saints I love and once met with. So I had to "rethink" the definition of division which I loved so dearly.

The N.T. firstly convicts us for division by being "of men." For years I refused to admit that we were "of Lee." Without the vicious battles of the past few years, I probably would never have "rethought" my views on this subject. But I have. I now consider LSM to be more divisive than any of the Christians they for so long have condemned. They have delivered to us definitions which exonerate them, and judge all others. The definitions themselves are wrong, and must be examined against scripture.