THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCH
AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
THE RESTORATION OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
WEEK 10 – SUNDAY
Bible Reading: Luke 22:24–30
Read and pray: “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
AVOIDING THE ATTITUDE
OF SUPERIORITY IN THE WORK
It is a problem that the brothers in the West have an attitude of superiority. However, we should not oppose them because of this, nor should we react negatively or even look down on them. The only serious issue is our different view regarding the foundation of the church. Their attitude of superiority hinders deeper fellowship. Although unintentional, it was unconsciously revealed through their behavior.
Allow me to give an illustration. Because I come from northern China, I unconsciously speak with a northern accent. I did not plan to speak that way, but when I speak, the accent simply comes out.
I was born and raised in northern China and lived there for many years. I am composed of northern Chinese elements. Unless I am transformed, my northern accent will always accompany me. As long as I live, I will unconsciously have a manner and accent characteristic of northern Chinese people.
Similarly, the various influences of international politics over the past hundred years have caused brothers in the West to develop an attitude of superiority that is hard to remove. Furthermore, our history over the past few decades has led us to adopt an attitude of inferiority.
This is a problem in both the East and the West. I have been praying about this for a long time. May the Lord cover me with His blood: I would now like to confront this issue, striving to rid ourselves of the attitudes of inferiority in the East and superiority in the West. May these attitudes no longer exist in the future, when the saints from East and West gather to have fellowship and share.
At present, there is no issue with believers in the East receiving spiritual help from those who come from the West. We are already doing so. However, believers in the West will need to be humble in order to receive spiritual supply from believers in the East. Where such fellowship and open sharing exist, the Lord will reveal what we have already seen to the believers in the West.
I firmly believe that soon the brothers from the West will come and live in the East for a period of time in order to learn. Then they will understand what the Lord is doing on the earth today. They will understand the path the Lord is taking today. Only time will prove this word.
Many of you, my brothers, are in your twenties. If the Lord delays His return, you will likely live on this earth longer than I will. One day, who knows, you may remember this word. This is the Lord’s mercy toward us, and we should not become proud.
We must have clarity concerning what the Lord has given to the church over the past two thousand years and understand the importance of His raising us up in the East in this age. May we be faithful to learn our lessons and labor in the Lord’s work, and may we refrain from making comparisons with others. As long as we are faithful, the result is in the Lord’s hands, not ours.
Enjoy more: Hymn 102
“All-inclusive art Thou, Lord”
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