Originally Posted by Barnabas

I am very thankful to the Lord for all the responses to my post. What motivated me to write was a deep need of fellowship and the result is a deep exercise to hear our Lord’s voice and follow Him. I have received all of your fellowship in love, and Joe’s advice to prove all things (1 Thes. 5:21). I still have not been able to write back to my dear friend, but I believe the Lord will give me the right things to say to him in love.

Originally Posted by Barnabas

I have spent most of my life in the LC. Around 1978 a dear brother left us and sent a letter to explain. We were told by the leading brothers that this was a great offense to the body of Christ and we were advised not to read the letter. Some years passed and this brother came to a meeting and sat next to me. He gave me a warm greeting but I purposely ignored him. Afterwards my conscience was bothered so I spoke to the leading elder about it. He told me not to be bothered because this brother had offended the body of Christ, and needed to repent. However, I still felt the need to confess this sin to my brother so I began to pray, asking God to enable me an opportunity. A few years later God answered my prayer and we were face to face. We had lunch together and I asked him to forgive me of that sin. From that time our fellowship has been restored and I consider him one of my spiritual companions.

Throughout this time, about twenty years, he has brought up doctrinal differences. Because I considered these differences non essential to the common faith and of little concern to my relationship with the Lord and this brother, I paid little attention to them. But in the past two years he has placed great importance on them and is now admonishing me to embrace his views and most important, to renounce and leave the LC. When I was a young believer, out of zeal for what I heard and believed to be true of the LC, insisted that all should leave the denominations and free groups, and meet as the LC. The Lord dealt with that sectarian behavior years ago and now my only desire with Christians is to have fellowship.

Now I promised my dear brother that I would pray in detail about his demands, so after reading his long emails and praying daily for about a week, I was at a loss as to how to respond. Last night I told my wife it has been heavy on my heart and I did not know how to answer him. Then early this morning a simple response came alive in my heart. I will consider carefully if this is pleasing to the Lord before I write back to him and I would like to know what you dear saints have to say.

Originally Posted by Kyle Yoakum

Barnabas, by the time I left, I had been appointed an elder in a small locality in So. CA for a few years. The first thing the Lord exposed was my lifting up of Witness to almost an idol. When I saw Lee's true nature, I was shocked to the core. The Lord showed me that my devotion was a mixture. Yes, I loved the Lord, but I had allowed the "Recovery" to compete with Him in my affection. I realized that for many years I had buried deep within things I saw and heard in the church and ministry that grieved me. I just figured it was me that was wrong. Then I started waking up fearing I was trapped in a cult. So it was a long process to eventually get the Lord's speaking it was time to leave. Once my wife and I left, I heard the speaking that He was going to remove all the outward stimulus for a while, so I could get to know Him alone better than I have ever known before. So no more speaking in front of large crowds with loud amens for support, no more being part of the "elders club" who got to go to special meetings with Bro. Lee, etc. Instead, all I had was the Lord and His word, my wife and family, and a few believers I knew. I have never looked back. I have no regrets. I am thankful for my LC days, learned a lot, learned many lessons, know now what to avoid, etc. The Lord is faithful to lead you. He is your Shepherd.

Originally Posted by Ohio

Sounds exactly like what you are trying to do . . .


Next time just be honest about it.

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

I'm with bro Ohio on this one. In 1974 I was strongly brought back to the Lord while I was in living in my Ohio hometown, and while calling out to Him very desperately one night while all alone. After He flooded me with His presence, I prayed that He would lead me to be with those that loved Him in this fresh and wonderfully living way I was experiencing right then. Through some very interesting circumstances, I wound-up hitchhiking across country and was lead in an amazing one week, 2000 mile journey (I can give all the remarkable details if you like), to walk right into "CJs Old Garage" on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley CA. I was greeted by a long-haired brother who asked, "What are you looking for - Jesus?" I knew instantly that this was home and where He'd brought me to in a direct answer to that prayer.

Eventually He lead me away from the California LCs, and I wound-up with my new family in LC gatherings in southern Ohio. And as our brother "Ohio" has pointed out several times, the Ohio churches were not nearly in the close orbit to Anaheim as many others were. Then in 1988 he lead our family out of the LCs completely and across country again, before everything blew up in the Ohio churches.

BTW - He reminds me frequently that He is still being faithful to that prayer!

Originally Posted by Jo S

Sounds like quite an adventure, StG! However I must say, statements like these worry me now-a-days. 1 Thess 5:21

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

"What are you looking for - Jesus?" I knew instantly that this was home and where He'd brought me to in a direct answer to that prayer.

Originally Posted by Jo S

I'm not invalidating your experience or anyone else's here, but I know there are people in the same boat as I was in that haven't yet been able to come to terms with the fact that it wasn't the Lord that led them into the LC's.

I too had circumstances that came to pass that if you were to ask me then I would have told you that I was certain they weren't mere coincidences and had to be from the Lord.

This brings up the point of the danger of following after signs and wonders because, after all, scripture does say that even the elect will be deceived if it were at all possible.

We tend to have the proclivity to chase after signs and wonders without properly vetting our experiences. Rather than praying and asking God whether they are from Him, we automatically make assumptions based on our subjective feelings. It's a tough lesson to learn but it's a necessary one.

Originally Posted by Jo S

I'm not invalidating your experience or anyone else's here, but I know . . .

Originally Posted by Ohio

In my situation I know with absolute assurance that the Lord led me to the church in Cleveland. There were too many specific answers to prayers and wonderous miracles arranged by the Lord.

Originally Posted by Jo S

I'm happy to hear the Lord is leading you out of the Local Church. I met with the Local Church group in my area for a short time. After the mask fell off and I left, I too thought it was the Lord who had led me in.

Originally Posted by Ohio

Brother Trapped and I will both readily admit that the fear of making decisions, especially "wrong" decisions, actually clouded our sight from seeing the path of the Lord. The Recovery seems to capture and prey on those who become indecisive over time. I was one. Most of the stories of my being manipulated during my decades in the LC's have not been told on this forum. Fortunately I have learned a few things since then.

Originally Posted by Jo S

I'm happy to hear the Lord is leading you out of the Local Church. I met with the a Local Church group in my area for a short time. After the mask fell off and I left, I too thought it was the Lord who had led me in....I'd rather not give any credibility to movements that are ultimately harmful if I don't have to. Just my .02. I do hope you're finding sufficient fellowship with Him in the time being. Perhaps that is what He is drawing you toward.

Originally Posted by Barnabas

You are right about fear of leaving. There is also fear of not being led astray. I do trust the Lord, but not myself.

Originally Posted by Barnabas

Thanks Brother, it is about Him. Since I am sure it was the Lord who led me to meet with the LC based on principles of oneness I saw in the Bible I believe it will be the Good Shepherd (John 9-10) who will lead me out. What I also need is fellowship.

Originally Posted by Ohio

It was really helpful for me to read the Gospel of John in light of the way many were treated when they left the Recovery.

Originally Posted by Kyle Yoakum

Barnabas, I love your openness. The other brother should not be pressing you to leave the LC. You seem to be sensitive to the Lord, He will lead you. Put everything in His hands and tell Him you only want Him.

Originally Posted by Ohio

Personally, when I left I was confronted with this same matter. In the elders/deacons meeting, I brought up the matter of loyalty to Anaheim vs. Cleveland. I asked some honest but pointed questions like, "who is loyal to the church here? Are we not the church OF the saints?" I was shut down. I was told to apologize to those who heard. Apparently I had "offended the body" while seeking what was best for the church. So I apologized to the other deacons, one by one, and that was my exodus.