Quote:
Originally Posted by alwayslearning
This idea of "rivalry with the ministry" demonstrates an insecurity which I think Witness Lee had. In common terms he was a control freak. He wanted to control the content consumed by the LC system and the elders. When things started getting out of his control he would either sideline the culprits (if they were quiet and discrete) or openly denounce them if they were outspoken about not wanting to be controlled by him and his lackeys.
The shame of the LC under Witness Lee is he was unable or unwilling to allow any of his coworkers to gain the stature that he had within the system. A sign of any good master workman is his ability to take on apprentices and teach them by instruction and more importantly by example until they ultimately become better at doing the work than the master. That should be a proud day for the master. Instead Witness Lee kept them down, made fun of them, called them names, publicly ridiculed them in front of their coworkers - he was full of jealousy and rivalry that anyone might become better or more liked than him. He ruined the LC.
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alwayslearning, since you seem to understand the dynamics of the Recovery, I wanted to propose another idea for comment. In many regards TC was identical to WL, and it's difficult also not to see many similarities with the exclusive Brethren leaders of the 19th century. On the one hand the leaders -- whether WL or TC or JND -- were immensely talented men who needed to be in complete control, but it often seemed that another factor was at work. This factor made them bullies
Many times these leaders would squash programs or spiritual burdens which did not originate with them, and ruthlessly belittle their proponents, Other times these leaders would hijack ideas or burdens of other leaders and make them their own, as if all good things of God must come directly through them. I understand this is a "control freak" characteristic of the first order, but, based on all I have seen and heard it seems there is also an obsession with vain glory. They demand the glory of men, and refuse to share it with any peers. The whole world can despise them, and that doesn't bother them in the least, but inside their movement they alone must be "honored," and they would never share that honor with another.
Personally I believe the glory of men is the root cause, coupled with enormous talents and controlling obsessions. Jesus told the Pharisees, "
How can you believe when you love the glory of men more than the glory of God?" I think the glory of men is the underlying cause of this Minister of the Age teaching, along with their skewed concept of church history -- "
there has always been one man ..."
Comments?