The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-Q, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 19."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

There is a group known as "The Local Church," lead by a man named, Witness Lee, and they hold to a doctrine that calls for a mingling of the spirit of man and the spirit of God. And they call this mingling an intrinsic union between the spirit of man and the spirit of God. Could you tell me what the Bible has to say about such a union?

Answer

I don't even know what they mean by that. I don't know whether that is just sort of an esoteric approach to the true unity of the believer with God. I don't really know. It is very hard for me to answer that question because I am not sure that they know, either. It sounds sort of mystical. I do not know whether they are trying to say that men ultimately become God. But, that sounds, to me, like that's what they are saying--a co-mingling. I mean, you can go to 1 Corinthians 6, and it says, “He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” Is that what they are saying?

Question (continues)

I don't know. The person I talked to is into this group. Said that it is something like mixing water with tea, and that when the two are mixed up they become one. And, that this is not just one joining to the other, but that the two become an absolute intrinsic union.

Answer (continues)

Okay, the thing that would reveal what they mean by that is what is the result? So what. So what does that mean. Does that mean you are now God? If it does, that is wrong.

Question (continues)

They say that a person who becomes a Christian is now mingled with God, and is therefore a God-man.

Answer (continues)

Yes, well, that is heresy.

Question (continues)

What specific verses in the Bible could we use to refute this?

Answer (continues)

Well, what specific verses in the Bible could be used to indicate that? Put the burden on them. Show me. Where does it say that? You know, I think, we spend a lot of our time trying to find stuff to answer that they couldn't even find to begin with. So, put the burden of proof on him. Who said? Where does it say that? And, what does it mean? Does it mean you are God? Does it mean you are now perfect? Does it mean that everything you do is okay? Is that what it means? What does it mean that that is a supposed truth? Because if they are trying to say that they have ascended to being Gods, then that is heresy. And, I would put the burden of proof on them. I mean, that is my approach. Any time somebody gives me some kind of deal like that, I am not going to be in a hurry to defend it until they can show me where it is, and then when they show me a passage, I can interpret that passage properly for them, and show them that is not what it means at all. But, put the burden on them. Most people in those kinds of systems cannot defend themselves, anyway. They want to intimidate. And, if you get them out of their little bailiwick of little systems they are hopeless.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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