[TLFisher]

There's too much to address in in one post.
I will start with Sociological Analysis of R.K.'s Religious Testimony.

• Dualistic Worldview - Local churches tends to express/frame talking points in positive versus negative. If one's conscience is bothered, you must have unresolved sins.
• Apocalyptic Perspective - this is typical with sectarian groups. Views tend to make Christ look very narrow. As if the Body can only be built and the bride prepared through their sectarian group. This is not about the local churches, but all sectarian groups. Such as the Plymouth Brethren, International Church of Christ, Igelsia Ni Christo, etc.
  The body of Christ is not so narrow. Apostle Paul made this very clear in 1 Corinthians 12:4-31.
  "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
  Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
  Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
  And yet I will show you the most excellent way."
• Ecclesiastical Exclusivity - I found that an odd take on The Normal Christian Church life. I had an opposite revelation. Reading The Normal Christian Church Life made me realize we (in the local churches) are not practicing The Normal Christian Church Life.
  One must consider the context of Ron's experience. This was likely the late 1960's. Fellowship within Christian congregations has changed through the decades. Congregations that were previously denominational have changed. They realize to take a name of a denomination isn't being inclusive. To be inclusive, drop the denominational name in order to be more attractive to fellow Christians within your community.
• Apostolic Succession - I've held the position for 30 years or so, Lee's narrative is only he was discipled/mentored by Watchman Nee. What happened to everyone else Nee mentored?
• Boundary Maintenance Through Opposition - What is the opposition opposing? I do agree there is boundary maintenance. In other words a wall is created as an obstacle to potential fellowship. Specific example the late Stephen Kaung. He was open to fellowship with the local churches, but they weren't open to him.
• Communal Life & Support - this was very much a practice at one time, but no longer. There used to be service groups to help those moving out of the locality or moving in. Through my parent's ordeal when the house they rented burned down. True a brother moved out of his house so we could have a place to live, but a bulk of clothes, appliances, etc came through Salvation Army.
• Insider Language - this forum already has a thread that covers insider language.
  For example fellowship outside the local churches sounds like a mutual exchange, but insider language it could be interpreted as tell-owship.
  Another insider language is vision. What it really means is the vision as interpreted through Witness Lee's ministry and not the vision one gleans from reading the Bible.