The LCS Factor

[Matt Anderson]

Originally Posted by Shawn

But let me get to my main point; We each have our own idols that we must deal with, when we point fingers at others idols we are stepping over a line we were never intended to cross.

Let me use some general examples. Have you ever tried to help a recovering substance abuser? As the Lord delivers him from his addictions he is finding grace to overcome his demons, but for one inexperienced in this matter, who is trying to help him see his idol, it usually ends poorly because you just don't know what that person is going through. This is not to say you have to become an substance abuser before you can treat one, but the most effective teachers are the ones have been there, and know how to bring others through it.

I agree with your sentiments about dealing with someone who has acknowledged they are a drug abuser. Your statements are correct. However, is that what we are dealing with here? No. I am talking about those who have not acknowledged "drug abuse".

Question: If you have a friend who is a drug abuser, do you tell them you think they are abusing drugs? Or do you say nothing? <-- This is where your argument breaks down.

Note: I recognize that some have acknowledged their "drug abuse". Others have not. I am especially concerned about those in leadership who have not been able to acknowledge their "drug abuse". If these ones regain prominence and/or influence while still holding on to portions of their "old habit", then they make others sick. The ones who have not acknowledged their drug abuse have basically said, I haven't and don't take drugs. In some cases, this may be true. This is where concrete evidence comes in. You have to have evidence of the abuse.

I did not introduce the "drug abuser" example, you did. I used it, but no one should come back at me in response. I am primarily pointing out the flaws in your thinking using your own analogy.

On the subject of this thread there has been discussion about "Christ plus something." One of the key responses has been to justify that "Christ plus something" is okay.

2Co 11:1-4
Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me. (2) For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept

This more heavily applies to the leadership (current and ex), but it also applies to the commoner in the LC. I can tell you from my own experience that even though my parents didn't teach me to "disdain" other christians outside the LC it was still integrated into me through the strong influence of the LC environment. I knew I was better than other Christians. It was built into me implicitly by the fact that I had grown up in the LC. "We" had all the knowledge of Lee (<-- This is one of the drugs) and therefore could sit atop the mountain and look down on "poor, poor Christianity". I didn't have to choose to be in the group. I just grew up there and I got infected with this "bad habit".

It has been proven that Lee was operating in a false manner, so we know his teachings are leavened.

To the ex-Leaders/Midwest Leaders: What was the leaven of Lee? Are you clear about it? Is it as Hope says, primarily "Delegate Authority"? What about the underpinnings of "Delegate Authority", which was Nee's "Spiritual Authority". Is it correct? What is the leaven in his teachings?

To anyone who is an ex-leader or a current leader in the Midwest. Tell me what was wrong with Lee's teachings? Do you know? Do you see it clearly? Hope posits that it was A) Delegate Authority.

I feel scripture is very clear, that we each are responsible for our own life and in dealing with the sin, flesh and idols that come with it. I cannot deal with your sins, flesh and idols, but I can help you by encouraging you to pray for our Lord to expose the dark, hidden things in your life, that by His light and in the power of His grace the dark things can be confessed and washed away in His cleansing blood.

Shawn

What you expressed in your final paragraph is unbiblical. It is correct that we are responsible for our own life, but it is not correct that we have no responsibility for the sins of another brother/sister in Christ if we see their sin.

This has been established before from the Word of God and can be established again for your benefit.

We cannot "fix" someone else. This is where a lot of leadership oversteps. We are to be faithful to point out sin, but it is so that our brothers/sisters can go to the Lord. It has not been my attempt to "fix" others, but it has been my attempt to point at sin.

Matt