Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
If this were a personal offense that needed action and reconciliation, I do believe BP would have acted on it ... years ago. The root of the problem was the authoritarian mindset passed down from WL. Now I must admit that I do not have a "working knowledge" of BP, since I never was with him close up. Some of my observations probably are drawn from TC and others whom I did know over an extended period of time, and whose mindset also matched that of WL.
For example, years ago I was close to one brother who was quite fruitful. At one point, he was seriously ridiculed during a message he was asked to give in Cleveland. It was an arrangement made by TC that various brothers would travel to other churches for 4 weekends, laboring with the elders and saints there, and then sharing in their meeting. This brother and a partner (we traveled two by two) were assigned to Cleveland Hall #1, where TC lived in the back yard. Looking back, this whole thing was probably a setup. TC came into the back of the meeting late, and promptly proceeded to tear into him publicly. It was ugly.
The brother then demanded an apology from TC, which was never going to happen. There were other times of conflict also, besides this one Sunday morning meeting. Later on I asked TC privately about restoring him, and TC's answer to me, "he has touched god's government." In other words, the brother had violated God's throne, he was basically "toast." The brother was history, and I should not waste any more of my time with him. With a mindset of predominantly Chinese authoritarianism, coupled with exclusive and elitist views of the Recovery as God's unique testimony on this earth, there was just no chance that TC, during the mid-80's, would understand that he needed to apologize to that brother for any wrongdoing.
Let me try to explain this for those who might not understand what happened to that brother, (or Jane Anderson, or any of the quarantined brothers, for that matter.) In the mind of TC, (or WL, or BP) his actions were no different than a judge who sentenced a convicted murderer to death. Would the judge repent for his actions? Absolutely not! He was only meeting out just judgment, and protecting society from evil. He was just doing his job. He was protecting the church, the Recovery, and God's testimony.
For BP to act on the inner turmoil which resulted from his abuses was akin to leaving the faith. His faith and Christian service had become inextricably intertwined with WL. BP had only done what WL had done. Remember the slogan, "What Would Witness Do?" For BP to repent to Jane A. would set in motion a chain of events that would question everything about WL. And that was not going to happen. This is why I heard TC say many times, "WL is my spiritual father. It is none of my business when my father makes a mistake." WL actions were one area that TC did not discuss. He would and did critique every brother he ever knew, but not WL
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1. "The root of the problem was the authoritarian mindset passed down from WL." Let's be clear, this may be a root cause, but it is not an excuse. The NT says we have the mind of Christ. No one has the right to take some excuse that "I learned this from WL". The reality is that the Lord said the Pharisees lorded it over the flock and they didn't get that mindset from WL. This is clearly something the Lord condemns.
2. "He was seriously ridiculed for a message he was asked to give in Cleveland". On these forums many of us, myself included, have ridiculed the messages given by RK, WL, etc. I believe you reap what you sow. This is a common weapon of the enemy, but the Bible says that at one day all will see Satan exposed and then they will mock and ridicule saying "this is the guy that everyone was scared of?" (I am paraphrasing, I think this prophecy is in Hosea).
3. "TC came into the back of the meeting late and promptly began to tear into him publicly." This is abuse, it also suggests that he was unable to deal with this brother according to the truth hence his need to take this approach (public ridicule and humiliation). This is a strong sign of unrighteousness on the part of TC.
4. "He has touched God's government". I had an experience like that once, I have already shared it, about the Professor at my University who slandered me to my parents. I didn't lift a finger in retaliation, it was the Lord that did everything and when I prayed that the Lord was too extreme he rebuked me. My point is that TC has exposed his hypocrisy, if the brother touched God's government then God will deal with it. Moses didn't give Miriam leprosy did he? He didn't dig a pit for the rebellion of Korah to fall into did he? How egotistical to think that if someone has done something you don't like that "they have touched God's government", second how hypocritical to say that and then usurp God and deal with it yourself. I believe TC will have to answer to the Lord for this, if true he is guilty of rebellion in usurping the Lord's headship, if false he is spreading evil rumors about brothers to bring in division.
5. "With a mindset of predominantly Chinese authoritarianism, coupled with exclusive and elitist views of the Recovery as God's unique testimony on this earth, there was just no chance that TC,
during the mid-80's, would understand that he needed to apologize to that brother for any wrongdoing."
The Lord tells us to repent of wrongdoings. We have no right to say that it goes against my mindset or views. The wrath of God is stored up for such as these.
6. "In the mind of TC, (or WL, or BP) his actions were no different than a judge who sentenced a convicted murderer to death. [I]Would the judge repent for his actions?"
Who made TC judge of the saints? The arrogance of these impostors is outrageous. The Lord has never given us any authority to judge other saints. We can judge sin, self, flesh, etc. But remember, with what judgement you judge you shall be judged, so it is best to focus all of this judgement on your own flesh, your own self, your own sin. If this account is accurate TC must repent because it is he that has touched God's government.
7. "His (BP's) faith and Christian service had become inextricably intertwined with WL."
I cannot answer this, only BP can. If this is true he must repent. Our faith should never be inextricably intertwined with anyone other than Jesus. BP has publicly condemned Catholics for having their faith intertwined with Saints and the Mother Mary. So, if this is not true nothing should hinder him from dealing with the sins of this case with Jane. If this is true then he needs to repent of this sin first.
17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
After reading this account, these verses in Romans refer to TC. He was clearly causing a division. It was clearly contrary to the doctrine we have learned in the NT. He obviously wasn't serving the Lord Jesus but his own belly. And his "he has touched God's government" was obviously designed to decieve the simple.