[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by TLFisher

I have wondered had our Local Church history been any different had John Ingalls, Al Knoch, Don Hardy, Bill Mallon, etc had been blessed and prayed for publicly? Instead history has shown any offenses these brothers have caused anyone, there has not been any forgiveness.

I have more to say regarding Forgiveness and the Building Up Of The Body of Christ. It is not nice to say, but when I think of shepherdingwrods.com article on forgiveness, I think of 1 Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Truly I have not seen any evidence of forgiveness from elders, co-workers et towards ones who had left willingly or were not welcome to meet.
Steve Isitt was one not welcome to meet in Seattle area localities until he “got right with the brothers”. Elders and co-workers I knew who also knew Steve said they love brother Steve. Yet the evidence I saw was quite the contrary. There were several memorial meetings I attended which Steve also attended. In 2007 for Nat Washington Sr (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...on-dies-at-93/)
in Ephrata, Washington. What I witnessed was brothers shunning and maybe even glares of contempt in Steve’s direction. Then again in 2014 in Bellevue, Washington at my uncle’s memorial meeting. I saw brothers shunning Steve. No evidence of forgiveness.
Let’s take John Ingalls. He was a brother who met with the local churches from 1962-1989. He left willingly. Since 1974 until I believe his death in 2016 had lived in Anaheim, California. In years since his passing there have been several conferences/trainings around the world where blended brothers invoke the name of John Ingalls in a very negative sense. Why such unforgiveness towards John?
In my communication with John whether verbally or via email, he was never critical of Witness Lee. Rather he appreciated Witness Lee’s ministry. What happened after John left in 1989? In a very real sense one door closed and another door opened. Stephen Kaung was a colleague of Witness Lee whom John first met Stephen in 1952. Naturally the local churches churchlife kept John very occupied and couldn’t labor with Stephen until after leaving the local churches in 1989. Through the 90’s and 2000’s John spoke at many conferences. Some of which can be found at:https://www.christiantapeministry.co...00000000000078

In recent years prior to his death there have been reports concerning John where Full Time trainees allegedly were door knocking and knocked at John’s home. John was impressed by them, but perhaps one trainer in particular was quite upset and maybe took steps trainees were not to door knock in that neighborhood again? This report came from people within the local churches and former members as well.
There must have been a lovefeast or dinner in the Anaheim area, where someone had invited John. Someone recognized John, and even being gone for 25 years was still not welcome and escorted from the premises. So petty and childish. Makes me think of 1 Corinthians 13:11a “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.” Once again no evidence of forgiveness.

Everything I have heard and read concerning Steve Isitt and John Ingalls repentance was required. However nothing was ever said they were forgiven. This is a contradiction Shepherdingwords.com says in their article on forgiveness “Our forgiveness should not be conditioned on others’ repentance and apology. Brother Lee pointed out,

It is altogether wrong to require others who have wronged us to repent. The Bible does not teach us to demand that others repent; instead, it teaches us only to forgive others” (CWWL, 1984, vol. 5, 8).

Shepherdingwords.com puts in print saying all the right words, but without love it is nothing but a noisy gong.