Consider this

[Amanah]

I'm reading a book by Watchman Nee: The Normal Christian Life
Published in 1977 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Nee tells us that God has given us a dual rememdy for our sin problem.

First the blood that was shed washes away all our sins.
But because of Adam we still have a sin nature.
Next we must reckon ourselves to be crucified with Christ.
It is a fact that we were crucified with Christ.
So while the blood does away with our sins,
the cross does away with our nature to sin, making us free from sin.

"the blood deals with what we have done,
the cross deals with what we are." (Nee 14-15)

thank you Jesus that I am cleansed from sin and free from the sin nature that I inherited from Adam.

I was crucified with Christ, it's a fact. Lord today as I go about my day,
help me to remember that my old nature is dead, and because I am dead, I am not a servant to sin.
I am your servant.

[Amanah]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchman_Nee

Watchman Nee's ministry used eight different means to carry out what he believed had been wrought into him by God: preaching the gospel, teaching the Bible, traveling and revivals, contacting people, corresponding with people, holding conferences, conducting trainings, and producing publications.

Nee suffered much for his belief that, according to the Bible, denominations are wrong in that they divide the One Body of Christ. Because of his firm stand for the oneness of the Body of Christ against the denominations, he experienced much suffering. Some denominations despised and criticized him, and some opposed and did their best to destroy his ministry. They also spread false rumours about him and misrepresented him to the extent that Watchman Nee once responded:

"The Watchman Nee portrayed by them I would also condemn."

By the time Nee was arrested in 1952, approximately four hundred local churches had been raised up in China through his life and ministry. In addition, local churches had been raised up in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Today the local churches have grown to over 2,300 worldwide through the ministries of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.

below is an Intro to Nee's Book, and a link to read it online

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nor...External_links

The Normal Christian Life, considered by many to be a spiritual classic of Christianity, is one of the best known books by Watchman Nee. As of 2009, it has sold over a million copies. It is based on talks given by Watchman Nee during and after his trip through Europe in 1938-1939. This book was originally published by Gospel Literature Service in Bombay in 1957 from a collection of Nee's spoken messages. It is based on the first few chapters of the New Testament book of Romans. In The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee presents his views on what the normal Christian life should be. His classic work unfolds the path of "Christian Life" in the light of God's desire and presents the eternal purpose of God in simple terms. This book has sold over 1 million copies and is available in many languages.

the Normal Christian Life is a Romans-centered exposition of what Christian living should be. The key verse is Romans 6:6: "Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves." Here in this book Nee brings an eternal perspective to the work of Christ (verses 7 to 11). The writings of Watchman Nee focus God's grace, which all the believers possess, and the goal of God's work with man through His Son by His Spirit in this age.

Here is the link to his book online
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.pdf

[Amanah]

I think it is interesting that Watchman Nee did not believe in denominations, but that the body of Christ is one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._denominations

there are reported to be approximately 38,000 Christian denominations, the link above attempts to list and trace the ancestory of the denominations

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think it is interesting that Watchman Nee did not believe in denominations, but that the body of Christ is one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._denominations

there are reported to be approximately 38,000 Christian denominations, the link above attempts to list and trace the ancestory of the denominations

In the beginning one body is what was following Christ. But, and this is my own opinion, Satan has used the old "divide and conquer" routine with the church.

I read an article where the Christians were being killed, not because they worshipped Jesus Christ, but because they refused to incorporate worship to all the other deities in addition to Christ. Pagan Rome had many gods and in the 2nd Century, they did not care if one worshipped whatever diety one may want, but that they had to worship them all and say all the gods were equal.

Christians refused to do that.

[bbyrd009]

Amen. I would argue that it's still one body that follows Christ. If we agree on the One thing, everything else should be semantics. I might, or might not, hold the same opinion as (you) on some other subject, be it tongues, rapture, or whatever, these diffs should not be cause for "splinters," and I then am able to respect your viewpoint (and even desire it, even encourage it to sprout), without necessarily agreeing with it. When you agree with me about every, single thing, one of us is unnecessary.

[Amanah]

wow, one of the denominations is a Gay OP Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Apostolic_Pentecostals

Gay Apostolic Pentecostals are people who adhere to the beliefs and theology of the Oneness Pentecostal churches, but who identify as LGBT, which is unacceptable in mainline Apostolic churches. Gay Apostolic Pentecostals first began to organize separately from mainline Apostolic churches in 1980 in Schenectady, NY. The concept of Gay Christians is still very controversial in the church world. The existence of Gay Apostolic Pentecostals is considered by some to be an oxymoron

The movement to create LGBT-affirming Apostolic or Oneness Pentecostal churches began in 1980 in the city of Schenectady, NY. The movement to create gay-affirming churches had begun in 1968 with the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church. The founders of the affirming Apostolic movement envisioned an international network of affirming Apostolic churches, including the more fundamentalist theology inherent with such churches. They began what was known as the National Gay Pentecostal Alliance (NGPA). The organization opened its first church in Omaha, NE.

Although NGPA was an Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal organization, due to the lack of affirming Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, NGPA originally welcomed all affirming Pentecostals to belong to their churches.[3] Once Trinitarian Pentecostals began to organize their own churches, NGPA became fully Apostolic.

Early in the 21st century, NGPA merged with a smaller organization, Apostolic Intercessory Ministries (AIM), under the new name Apostolic Restoration Mission (ARM). In March 2010, ARM merged with the larger Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals (GAAAP) under the GAAAP name. In recent years, other affirming Apostolic Pentecostal organizations have come into existence. These include the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, which is currently the largest such group, operating churches around the world,[7] Reconciling Pentecostals International and Covenant Network.

TheologyLGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostals share the same basic doctrinal beliefs as other Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostals. These include the Oneness of God, the plan of salvation consisting of repentance, water baptism by immersion in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of sins, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. One major area of difference is the belief that homosexuality is not sinful, and that God blesses same-sex marriage. Affirming Apostolics maintain that scripture in the original languages did not condemn homosexuality, but did record same-sex marriage.

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Amanah

wow, one of the denominations is a Gay OP Church

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Apostolic_Pentecostals

Gay Apostolic Pentecostals are people who adhere to the beliefs and theology of the Oneness Pentecostal churches, but who identify as LGBT, which is unacceptable in mainline Apostolic churches. Gay Apostolic Pentecostals first began to organize separately from mainline Apostolic churches in 1980 in Schenectady, NY. The concept of Gay Christians is still very controversial in the church world. The existence of Gay Apostolic Pentecostals is considered by some to be an oxymoron

The movement to create LGBT-affirming Apostolic or Oneness Pentecostal churches began in 1980 in the city of Schenectady, NY. The movement to create gay-affirming churches had begun in 1968 with the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church. The founders of the affirming Apostolic movement envisioned an international network of affirming Apostolic churches, including the more fundamentalist theology inherent with such churches. They began what was known as the National Gay Pentecostal Alliance (NGPA). The organization opened its first church in Omaha, NE.

Although NGPA was an Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal organization, due to the lack of affirming Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, NGPA originally welcomed all affirming Pentecostals to belong to their churches.[3] Once Trinitarian Pentecostals began to organize their own churches, NGPA became fully Apostolic.

Early in the 21st century, NGPA merged with a smaller organization, Apostolic Intercessory Ministries (AIM), under the new name Apostolic Restoration Mission (ARM). In March 2010, ARM merged with the larger Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals (GAAAP) under the GAAAP name. In recent years, other affirming Apostolic Pentecostal organizations have come into existence. These include the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, which is currently the largest such group, operating churches around the world,[7] Reconciling Pentecostals International and Covenant Network.

TheologyLGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostals share the same basic doctrinal beliefs as other Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostals. These include the Oneness of God, the plan of salvation consisting of repentance, water baptism by immersion in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of sins, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. One major area of difference is the belief that homosexuality is not sinful, and that God blesses same-sex marriage. Affirming Apostolics maintain that scripture in the original languages did not condemn homosexuality, but did record same-sex marriage.

Ah, well, I'm not buying it, this ignoring of the parts one doesn't like (possibly due to my intimate acquaintance with it); but, I have access to those manuscripts--we'll just take a gander, shall we?

Brave post, tho; and regardless of what (I) find, I believe provision is made for homosexuality, just like any other sin. But, "The Sacred, Blessed Church of Those who do not Sexually Fruit" is gonna be uphill for me. Would sure be convenient, tho...peace.

[Amanah]

If you were the Pastor of a Gay OP Church, what would your standards be like?

What would Watchman Nee say now.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Amanah

If you were the Pastor of a Gay OP Church, what would your standards be like?

What would Watchman Nee say now.

Don't know, wouldn't be pastor of gay church.

[Truthseeker]

I read his book about overcoming sin. Basically, he believed the more effort you put into trying to defeat the more you fail. Just stop trying and let Christ do it. He used examble of a drowning person has to let someone save them. Nee has good writings.