Non-LC member dating an LC member--help!

I've been reading through the original messages from 2015 (from the non-denominational woman who was in an on-again/off-again relationship with an LC-man), and I can very much relate to the confusion, frustration, and love that she has (had?) for this man.

I was raised in the southern baptist denomination. I currently enjoy fellowship with a non-denominational group of believers. I met an LC-man fairly recently. He and I enjoyed fellowshipping about the Lord together. However, as things got more serious, he was deadset on me being a part of the LC. I would question why it was so important for me to be a part of it and why he wasn't willing to fellowship with the group of believers I fellowship with. He would bring up the same thing that an LC-woman (neither of whom knew each other) would whenever I questioned this: "If there are four 'churches' on a street corner, how do you know with which one to fellowship?" (And, the arguing would continue as we attempted to discuss this.)

I could go in to a lot more detail, but suffice it to say, this discussion has helped me to realize that the prayer I prayed was very helpful. I prayed that God would do whatever it takes to get me to where He wants me. I prayed that prayer consistently, and I still do. I want to be in the center of His will for me, no matter the cost. (I caution anyone about praying this if you're not prepared for the consequences because God IS at work... constantly.) After I started praying that prayer, I believe God orchestrated it so that I could get out of the relationship. (I won't give the details of how that happened... in case this LC-man or his family happens to see this.)

It has not been easy. The LC-man continues to contact me on occasion. It usually ends up with us arguing about the LC even though he claims he is not arguing.

If you (the original initiator of this 'thread') see this, I hope it somehow helps. Your openness in sharing has helped me. Thank you.

[aron]

Originally Posted by undisclosed location

"If there are four 'churches' on a street corner, how do you know with which one to fellowship?"

It's a good question, and one all Evangelical Protestants and post-Protestants (non-denominational, etc) have to grapple with at some level. (I don't see it as germane to the RCC or Orthodox fellowships - for them the question is moot).

But if orientation toward the single, grand collective, i.e. the oft-stated 'ground of the church' were the answer, then by rights Luther never should have left the RCC. If it were all simply about the church as the Body of Christ and pillar and base of the truth, then 'justified by faith alone' became the lever of dissolution. Because if it were actually about such 'recovered truth' then what's to stop other believers from splitting apart every time one of them discovers some new important point in the Biblical text? And then you get your hypothetical problem of four 'churches' on a street corner.

And I write as a child of Protestantism - "I'm a Pharisee and son of Pharisees!", cried Paul, and truthfully. But he like the Galilean fisherman before him, had seen the Light. And the light is not 'the church' nor 'the ground' nor the 'one apostle per age' nor the 'one trumpet' or any of the subsequent and supposedly necessary corollaries.

Anyway, if you did get sucked in by such a question posed by your LC acquantance you'd eventually find it's ignored in practice. Because I knew of members who'd drive past one 'local church' assembly to get to another, whose leadership was more 'absolute for the ministry', or where child care was more amenable, or where they didn't squabble with other members. Once you get in the system, you learn to ignore the glaring hypocrisies.

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by aron

the light is not 'the church' nor 'the ground' nor the 'one apostle per age' nor the 'one trumpet' or any of the subsequent and supposedly necessary corollaries.

AMEN!!!!

to Aron: I agree with you.

In my opinion, too much emphasis placed on "church" and not on our Creator is the problem/issue.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by undisclosed location

I would question why it was so important for me to be a part of it and why he wasn't willing to fellowship with the group of believers I fellowship with.

What it comes down to is LSM publications is considered essential for fellowship. It's not about what assembly you meet with on Sunday mornings. For years I hosted a home meeting in my home and the brothers who came met with various assemblies on Sunday mornings. We all shared the life of Christ in us and coming together in the Word.
In my experience I have invited a brother I knew from the LC, a cousin I knew from the LC. Since the fellowship was not a LC home meeting, it's was as if saying, "thanks, but no thanks".

It's rather ironic that the LC claim to believe that denominations are a division of the body of Christ whenever they themselves are being divisive by only meeting with "LC" groups. When I tried to mention this to the LC man (who I mentioned above) as well as to other LC "members", they would all argue that they are not divisive but welcome any one into their meetings. It was always an endless, argumentative cycle.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by undisclosed location

It's rather ironic that the LC claim to believe that denominations are a division of the body of Christ whenever they themselves are being divisive by only meeting with "LC" groups. When I tried to mention this to the LC man (who I mentioned above) as well as to other LC "members", they would all argue that they are not divisive but welcome any one into their meetings. It was always an endless, argumentative cycle.

Dear Undisclosed Location, what you have just mentioned is only the tip of the iceberg of contradiction and hypocrisy at LSM-run LC's.

Originally Posted by Ohio

what you have just mentioned is only the tip of the iceberg of contradiction and hypocrisy at LSM-run LC's.

Oh, I'm 100% certain of that. It's rather sad that they claim to be the Lord's "recovery" (which of course in and of itself is not biblical) and yet they are just like all the rest of believers/followers of Christ/Christians. None of us is perfect. One day we shall be made completely like Jesus; but until that time, there will always be hypocrites within the body of Christ. And, we are all still a "work in progress." Praise God that He is not finished with us yet!