[alwayslearning]

Originally Posted by Terry

Another excerpt from chapter 15:

"Aside from adjusting the source teaching that overly indulges the idea of spiritual authority, accountability is a key factor here. What would happen if a number of influential elders set a policy for leaders: “You will not be given free pass for rude, abrasive remarks and public shaming. Insults from the podium will no longer be treated as the Lord’s Word from an angry prophet. Instead, it will be seen as sinful human weakness and will be met with censure. Outbursts of anger are works of the flesh. It is simply childish to insist on something and then make snide remarks (especially from the pulpit!) when you don’t get your way. If you continue to act out in unchristian ways, regardless of your elevated status and past history, you will be asked to step down.”
What would happen if such policies were adopted? No doubt, it would be called rebellion. Yet spiritual authority does not offer someone a deferment from virtuous conduct. It certainly does not sanction manhandling ministers and neutralizing them."

Not only do I see this quote being applicable to leaders from Cleveland or Anaheim, it can also apply to a general prophesying meeting. Where you would no longer be permitted to use the prophesying meeting to denigrate Christians that don't meet with you. Christians who happen to meet with other Christian assemblies across the city.

Titus Chu and his spiritual father Witness Lee were masters at several manipulation techniques:

• Using the public platform to denigrate those in disagreement
• Using spiritual language to justify their behavior to victims of it
• Using regularly scheduled elders and coworker meetings to influence the churches at the local level
• Using curriculum to control the content of the local churches
• Using money as a means of influence among coworkers/full timers
• Using back room "fellowship"/gossip to plant seeds of discord among coworkers and elders
• Using "The Recovery" as the bigger than any individual end that justified any means they used
• Using credible by association methods to prop up their stature e.g. Witness Lee/Watchman Nee and Titus Chu/Witness Lee
• Using an excessive number of conferences and trainings to create a loyal following for their extra local ministry allowing them to side step the elders and appeal to "their" audience in times of dispute
  
• Using pretense and a cloak of false humility to cover up all of the above e.g. I am just a humble slave of Christ. What church do I have in my hand? What church do I control?