However, LRC starts as home church as in early Christianity. We have been grown up in the Christian culture & concept that it was not a proper church if there were no pastors or priest. However, I witnessed at LRC that all people can read, study, meditate bible and preach gospel. Isn’t it the reason why Martin Luther translated bible so that all people can read bible instead of a few limited number of priest can access to read bible?

In 21st century, education level is higher than any other previous generations. There are so many books, commentaries, and even we can easily get biblical, historical or theological answers through internet. Also, we can listen to all the best spiritual sermons or lectures through internet. I think this is what God is looking for in this generation. ― All people read, study and meditate God’s word and preach instead of passively listening of one pastor’s prepared sermon once a week. And I think this is the Priesthood of all believers in the bible, the Body of Christ ― all believers functioning as a body ― Apostles, Prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, Healing, help others, administration, and speaking tongues.

Fourth, LRC emphasize one Body of Christ. I haven’t seen any other church worshiping with different nationality, languages or cultures together. It is not easy thing at all to be one with people with different language or cultures. It is against our nature to be one with people who are different in culture or language. So, it is only Christ lives in us so that we only die every day on the cross, and Christ should be replace our nature. I understood this as a concept, but I saw that they do practice oneness at LRC. Another thing I noticed was that LRC people are very careful to express themselves. They are very conscious to express Christ instead of themselves.

So, it was a kind of fresh impact on me that the way they teach and practice biblically. And I see a brightness of future churches in LRC. Right now churches and church members are decreasing in U.S. and in S. Korea. However, LRC members are increasing worldwide. Especially, many young people are increasing at LRC. I asked a few college age young people how they came to LRC. They said they saw LRC was more evangelical and biblical church than any other denominational churches.

I am not trying to say that LRC is the only church God desires. LRC says LRC is not a completion of church but a road to a completion of church. I don’t think all other churches should be like LRC. I don’t think one will be a better Christian if one moves to LRC from other denominational churches. Many people may be growing better at different churches. Catholic has its own good aspect or denominational also has some good programs(?) or own roles for spiritual growth.

When Catholic was degraded, there were pure believers too. Also, there was reformation by Calvin and Martin Luther. When you read the church history, you can see the history repeats itself. Through degradation and reform, we can see more spiritual light. Sometimes, those who saw the spiritual light was accused as “cult” and persecuted or even martyred. Many pastors or believers consider our time is in spiritual degradation. In U.S. lately, about 2500 churches are closed yearly, and in S. Korea, about 500 churches close its doors every year. I don’t see this is not a negative phenomenon. If church grows with mixed-shamanism, politically, different Christian programs or emphasizing morality, it may not last long. Of course, some may accept Christ and experience the love of God in those churches. I don’t think those churches are not what God desires. Even though it may not be a bad things or bad churches, even though it may help somehow help bring people to Christ, I think there is a difference between God’s allowance and God’s desire. What I realized and confirmed at LRC was that church should be maintained grow with Life of Christ. The Life of Christ is not doctrine. The Life of Christ is our daily spiritual food and experience. When I learned this, I also pray for the Life of Christ can be my daily experience moment by moment not remains as a concept.

I think LRC understood and saw the vision of the Body of Christ more clearly than other denomination churches. In my memory, I haven’t heard or studied much about the Body of Christ in my previous church life. Maybe, the concept of the Body of Christ does not fit in traditional churches. Most LRC maintain about 100 or fewer members per church. If more than 100 members per church, it may not function properly as a Body. But, what if there are over 100 members? Then, there will be another meeting hall will be branched out in same locality. So, for example there are 4 meeting halls at different locations in Anaheim. And if all members get together in one location (once in a while), it will be over 400 members. It is similar to the concept of cell meeting at traditional churches. (If one cell gets bigger than more than 7 families, it branches out to another cell.) And, other churches help financially if new church starts at different locality. Also, it is encouraged members to go and help a new church if starts at nearby locality. LRC history in Taiwan has over 70 years, and LRC in US has been over 40 years. I heard from a brother visited Taiwan told me that some brothers and sisters in Taiwan LRC live as community life. One of the young men in Church in Cypress told me his grew up in Iowa and his family and other dozen LRC families lived together as a community when he was young. LRC is not Mennonites, but sometimes, they live together voluntarily because they understand deeper the Body and naturally practice the one Body of Christ. LRC never encourage or mention this kind of life, but it voluntarily composes these communities when they want to. However, most denominations churches are too individualistic.

A few years ago, one of the guest speaker from Korea bragged in his sermon that one sister from Kwangju (a city about 160 miles south west from Seoul) comes to his church every Lord’s day to attend Sunday service. I wondered why that pastor was so proud of the woman who rode a bus for more than 5 hrs for attending his church in Seoul. His church was a mega church with over 50,000 members, and there were hundreds of churches in KwangJu too. A sister who was a pastor and came to LRC one year earlier than me told me she only saw branches when she was in denomination, but now she sees a Body in LRC. Now, I started to understand a little about a Body too. That is the main difference between LRC and other denomination churches. If one prefers to attend Lord’s Day service, some fellowship, some bible study and believe that is enough for salvation, it might be O.K. to go to traditional church. But, most members at LRC understand the meaning of the Church deeper than that.

Long time ago, Rev. Dong Ho Kim from Korea came to Bethel Korean Church for 3 day evangelical meetings. I still remember one of the stories he spoke in the meeting. One time, he accompanied one of the candidates for an elder candidate in his church for Elder test. There were some other candidates from other church for interview. While waiting outside for entrance, one of the candidates jokingly asked a question to Rev. Kim, “What is the correct answer if the interviewer asks a question who is the Head of the Church?” Rev. Kim said he also jokingly answered, “If the interviewer is a pastor, say it is a pastor, if the interviewer is an elder, and then say it is an elder.” I think this is reality of current situation of most churches, especially in Korea.

I tried to explain briefly, but ended up in 10 pages. If you have any opinion or advice, please correct me. I am still in learning process, and I need to see more light to grow. Also, I believe that when we see the Body of Christ more clearly, then we can come together as one body as God desires, not dividing as Catholic, Greek Orthodox or different protestant denominations. And I pray for that. Lastly, I would like to finish my testimony with a story form Philip Yancy’s book ―

The composer Igor Stravinsky once wrote a new piece that contained a difficult violin passage. After several weeks of rehearsal the solo violist came to Stravinsky and said that he could not play it. He had given it his best effort but found the passage too difficult, even unplayable. Stravinsky replied, “I understand that. What I am after is the sound of someone trying to play it. Perhaps something similar is what God had in mind with the church.

I remember hearing a similar illustration from Earl Palmer, a pastor who was defending the church against critics who dismissed it for its hypocrisy, its failures, and its inability to measure up to the New Testament’s high standards. Palmer, a Californian at the time, deliberately chose a community known for its cultural unsophistication. “When the Milpitas High School orchestra attempts Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the result is appalling,” said Palmer, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the performance made old Ludwig roll over in his grave despite his deafness. You might ask, ‘Why bother?’ Why inflict on those poor kids the terrible burden of trying to render what the immortal Beethoven had in mind? Not even the great Chicago Symphony Orchestra can attain that perfection.

“My answer is this: The Milpitas High School orchestra will give some people in that audience their only encounter with Beethoven’s great Ninth Symphony. Far from perfection, it is nevertheless the only way they will hear Beethoven’s message.” I remind myself of Earl Palmer’s analogy whenever I start squirming in a church service, Although we may never achieve what the composer had in mind, there s no other way for those sounds to be heard on earth. --- Philip Yancy, “Church: Why Bother?(End)

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