[Sons to Glory!]

Welcome to the Local Church Discussion Forum! Here you'll find many who have had similar experiences such as yourself. Personally, I found the LC in 1974 and left in 1988. Many here will tell you it was different back in the 1960s and early 70s, but things quickly went down hill as a number of erroneous practices and teachings became manifested.

You mentioned a number of things to take issue with, and I agree. It has definitely turned into a personality cult of Witness Lee. There is strong control to just focus on his teachings, and a lot of central control is exercised over the various localities. And things are very exclusive and a very strong air of elitism has firmly taken hold, to the point that nearly all healthy fellowship with any other Christians has been broken by them. This is not what we see in the New Testament at all!

What they preach against - "poor Christianity" and denominations . . . well let's just say they don't see the log in their own eye and believe they are rich and in need of nothing, much like Laodicea.

Just wanted to add - sounds like you haven't been there long enough to drink deeply of the "there's nothing else out there kool-aid." My advice is to pray that the Lord would take you to a place full of His love, that teaches His pure word (not men's traditions), and has the freedom to allow His life in you to flourish!