Posted elsewhere in 2003:
Author: Joe
Subject: Luke 18:15-30: sell everything you have and buy a BH
In reply to: Brother in Christ 's message, "Re: New thread on doctrine" on 09:23:05 10/25/04 Mon
This is how a March 2003 Chicago UBF "message" by Ron Ward began:
TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE
Luke 18:15-30
Key Verse: 18:22
"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, `You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'"
... For the last five years [five years? Hmmmm.] we have prayed for a Bible house in Moscow. ... Once, we tried to buy a house, giving $50,000 [of offering money] in earnest money [translation: something described by Sam Lee himself earlier as something tantamount to a bribe]. Someone took the money but did not allow us to buy the house. It seemed that we lost $50,000 for nothing. But we offered it as prayer for Russia. [A bribe was our prayer.]
... Our coworkers applied again. Last month they received permission to purchase a building. They signed a contract, paid the sale price and received the keys to the building.
This is how the same "message" ended.
"Today Jesus teaches us how to receive the kingdom of God and inherit eternal life. We must receive Jesus with simple faith like a little child. We must make a clear decision to sell everything, give to the poor and follow Jesus. Then we can enjoy God's blessing in this life [actually, Jesus only mentioned treasure in heaven here] and eternal life in the world to come. May God help us to do so."
So in a "message" whose key verse includes Jesus telling the rich young ruler to sell everything he has and give to the poor, the UBF headquarters Sunday "message" begins by rejoicing about UBF buying yet another property around the world. In the rest of this "message," there is no sign, not one hint of understanding that Jesus' words to the rich young ruler could possibly apply to UBF.
Also, see Question 12.
