The Local Church, Recovery Movement, Witness Lee
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:28 am
A few years ago I ran into a man who is well versed with the teachings of Witness Lee and the Local Church. We had fellowship for a full year, I broke off regular fellowship because of their teaching I disagree with and was tired of the disagreements. However, we are friends and keep in touch, and I sincerely believe he loves the Lord. His name is Mike, so I'll refer to him as Mike.
Mike seems to teach "Greasy Grace" or "easy believism" and "Lordship Salvation" or "inward sanctification." Some that aren't familiar with WL's teachings my ask how is that possible? For those who don't know, they treat the soul and spirit of man as two separate parts of man that need salvation. Meaning that, a man could receive eternal life through the salvation of their spirit, this they would consider the individuals "born again" moment, in which they receive eternal life. Then comes the process of their soul being saved, saved from the self-centered man, wickedness of the heart, and "entering into the life of Christ, or sanctification of the old man into the new man, inner growth, etc. etc. They say you can be saved eternally through the spirit, but the soul is a different matter, and those who don't receive the "soul salvation" will go through a 1000 yrs of punishment, remolding, refining (not sure exactly what they call it). Once they go though this 1000 yrs, they have equal status in heaven with the ones who did receive the salvation of the soul.
Of course, I don't accept the "LC" or Mike's view on this matter, especially their "two class" system of saved people and view of eschatology regarding Pre-TRIB, Pre-Mill. etc. etc.
Is anyone here that is familiar with their views and can help me biblically refute his position? I don't recall anywhere in the bible that states that this is a distinction between soul and spirit in regards to salvation. Thank you.
Mike seems to teach "Greasy Grace" or "easy believism" and "Lordship Salvation" or "inward sanctification." Some that aren't familiar with WL's teachings my ask how is that possible? For those who don't know, they treat the soul and spirit of man as two separate parts of man that need salvation. Meaning that, a man could receive eternal life through the salvation of their spirit, this they would consider the individuals "born again" moment, in which they receive eternal life. Then comes the process of their soul being saved, saved from the self-centered man, wickedness of the heart, and "entering into the life of Christ, or sanctification of the old man into the new man, inner growth, etc. etc. They say you can be saved eternally through the spirit, but the soul is a different matter, and those who don't receive the "soul salvation" will go through a 1000 yrs of punishment, remolding, refining (not sure exactly what they call it). Once they go though this 1000 yrs, they have equal status in heaven with the ones who did receive the salvation of the soul.
Of course, I don't accept the "LC" or Mike's view on this matter, especially their "two class" system of saved people and view of eschatology regarding Pre-TRIB, Pre-Mill. etc. etc.
Is anyone here that is familiar with their views and can help me biblically refute his position? I don't recall anywhere in the bible that states that this is a distinction between soul and spirit in regards to salvation. Thank you.