The Acts 15 Conference

ZNPaaneah · 08-28-2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aron

Yes, the theory was attractive. No name. But in reality, as soon as we opened our mouths, other names came out.

Let me give you an example. In 1997 the push from Headquarters was for a presence on the burgeoning internet. So templates were given to each "local church" to create a website. Each website had tabs for the history of that local church, testimonies, what we believe, etc.

At the masthead each website read, "The church in ..........." "Lovers of Jesus affiliated with the ministries of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee."

So right off the bat they had 3 names: Jesus, Watchman Nee, and Witness Lee.

Then, of course, you got the Blendeds, Dong Yu Lan, Titus Chu etc.

Then you got "Living Stream Ministry", "The Lord's Move to Europe", "Continuing Steadfastly", "Bibles for America", "Christians on Campus", "Defense and Confirmation Project", "Affirmation and Critique" etc etc.

The idea of no names is good. I like it, as well. But in our christian practice it seems that we can hardly get through a sentence without some new name popping up, and insinuating itself into the discussion.

And even if we could somehow drop all names but Jesus, it still doesn't indicate that all the local assemblies should be "absolutely identical".

No, Paul put it well: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore and do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery". Christ sets us free from sin and death and fear and shame, and it seems hardly a week passes before we are again entangled in regulations and stipulations and traditions and subordinate clauses.

Think about that. If the church is truly local with the authority being with the local elders then surely they could create their own website. But if the LRC is a franchise, all with the same image, the same menu of LSM, etc. Then the elders do not have that authority. Instead LSM creates a standard template and designates what can and cannot go into it. I think the website is confirmation that the LRC is a franchise.