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The Local Church is a controversial religious group - partly because they tend to sue Christians. Harvest House Publishers published a book by John Ankerberg and John Weldon, which criticised the group, and ended up being sued for libel.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/002/13.24.html
I first came across them a couple of years ago, when a large number of their members were on Leeds University campus, trying to explain the Bible to students.
http://europe-united_kingdom.localchurch.org/contact-us/region.htm shows where they operate in the UK - if my memory is right, then they have more places now then they did a few years ago.
The Local Church was led by Witness Lee until 1997. He produced a Bible version called the Recovery Version, which has extensive footnotes. Premier Christian Radio, who are available on Sky and Freeview, are broadcasting Bible studies featuring talks recorded by Witness Lee. Witnes Lee was a disciple of Watchman Nee, who was imprisoned for his faith in China.
Here is one footnote from the Recovery Version - showing their low view of both Protestants and Catholics.
Through all the centuries since then, religious people have followed in their steps, persecuting those who genuinely seek and follow the Lord in spirit and life, while still considering that they are defending the interests of God. Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as Judaism, all fall into this category, having become an organization of Satan as his tool to damage God’s economy.
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=8699
The Local Church is controversial because they may, or may not, teach modalism, rather than orthodox Trinitarian beliefs.Here are links to a couple of footnotes in the Recovery Version which discuss the Trinity…
Footnote to Matthew 28:19
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=1150
Footnote on John 6:63
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=2535
Tonight I listened to some of the radio programme featuring Witness Lee on Premeir Christian Radio
http://www.premier.org.uk/engine.cfm?i=129
This programme is on at 8pm Monday to Saturday. Tonight’s programme was the start of a series of Bible studies about the book of James.
The Local Church statement of faith says…
The local church believes that the Holy Bible is the complete divine revelation verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21, 2 Tim. 6:12).
http://www.localchurch.org/beliefs/beliefs.html
I don’t think I have ever read 2 Timothy 6:12 - what does it say?
Anyway, that would appear to say they believe the Bible is true.
Some of the Recovery Version footnotes however don’t seem to fit well with this belief.
Although James might not have had a clear view concerning the distinction between grace and law, his Epistle is distinguished and remarkable in its presentation of Christian conduct…
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=7531
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...In light of the content of this Epistle, it seems that James did not have a clear vision concerning God’s New Testament economy....
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=7532
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.... James was a wise and experienced man, having not only the experience of human life but also wisdom from the divine source through his seeking by prayer (v. 5; 3:13, 17). Yet it seems that his sympathy for and compromise with Judaism frustrated him from seeing a thorough vision of the wisdom concerning God’s New Testament economy, a vision that Paul saw and unveiled in his Epistles....
http://online.recoveryversion.org/FootNotes.asp?FNtsID=7541
How can God have “verbally inspired” the Bible, and yet James’ lack of knowledge have frustrated him from having a proper vision of the “God’s New Testament economy”?
This view of James being a bit confused came across on the show on Premier Christian Radio.
Premier Christian Radio is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.
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