Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - The God-Men: An Inquiry into Witness Lee & the Local Church

NeitherFirstnorLast · 12-10-2012, 07:04 PM

Chapter 3 Cont'd: Techniques for getting "In the spirit"

We've explored the nature of Lee's sensuous theology - his doctrine that puts a demand to be 'spiritual' above every other command in Scripture. This next section goes into what we know he taught about how to get in touch with God and "mingle".

PS: I've been asked to be more clear when I quote The God-Men, as to when I am quoting, and when I am exposting on my own. I have tried throughout this thread to present quotes from The God-Men in blue, with interjections of my own (within those quotes) in these colors (umber). Any preamble in font size 1 is mine, and anything after my asterisks at the bottom of the quote (usually in black) is likewise mine. If I have to quote another author in my post-script, then I pick a different color. I hope this doesn't cause to much confusion!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The God-Men, page 67-68

"The techniques Witness Lee offers for jumping from the shadowy world to Reality are practiced most effectively by the corporate church. Although other activities includes singing and prophesying, the main techniques are "pray-reading" and "calling on the name of the Lord". Except, perhaps, for the church itself, what Lee calls "eating and drinking the Lord" is the primary "means of grace".

Pray-reading is also the Local Church's substitute for Protestantism's ministry of preaching and teaching. For Witness Lee, preaching and teaching are only of the soul; pray-reading is far better, being of the spirit. "We really enjoy pray-reading the Word together in the meetings. It is much better than preaching or teaching, because it includes breathing. When we pray-read the Word, we just breathe the Lord Jesus into us..... We come together not to receive some teaching, but to be breathed upon by the Lord Jesus - to take in the Lord Jesus by breathing." (WL How to Meet, pg 42)

*****************************

It should not surprise us, given what we've seen so far of Lee, that he would come to disregard preaching and teaching of the Word of God within a meeting. Preaching and teaching are grounded in the Bible, whereas Lee's theology leads ever away from the Bible to subjective experience - and by default leaves Lee with unquestionable authority in his own church.

I think expository preaching is essential to the growth of the Christian church. The Lord has spoke to me many times through the preaching of men who are truly after God's own heart... although finding such godly preachers and teachers is not easy. Preaching and Teaching are spiritual gifts, given for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11 – “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...”

There are plenty of lists in the New Testament with gifts like these. What is so special about this list is that all these gifts have to do with one fundamental part of being God’s church – the Word of God. The work of all these people – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers – are all to do with delivering the Word of God to people. The Holy Spirit uses people to deliver (minister) His Word to His people.

12-10-2012, 07:04 PM	#279
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	Our Reading Continues Chapter 3 Cont'd: Techniques for getting "In the spirit" We've explored the nature of Lee's sensuous theology - his doctrine that puts a demand to be 'spiritual' above every other command in Scripture. This next section goes into what we know he taught about how to get in touch with God and "mingle". PS: I've been asked to be more clear when I quote The God-Men, as to when I am quoting, and when I am exposting on my own. I have tried throughout this thread to present quotes from The God-Men in blue, with interjections of my own (within those quotes) in these colors (umber). Any preamble in font size 1 is mine, and anything after my asterisks at the bottom of the quote (usually in black) is likewise mine. If I have to quote another author in my post-script, then I pick a different color. I hope this doesn't cause to much confusion! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The God-Men, page 67-68 "The techniques Witness Lee offers for jumping from the shadowy world to Reality are practiced most effectively by the corporate church. Although other activities includes singing and prophesying, the main techniques are "pray-reading" and "calling on the name of the Lord". Except, perhaps, for the church itself, what Lee calls "eating and drinking the Lord" is the primary "means of grace". Pray-reading is also the Local Church's substitute for Protestantism's ministry of preaching and teaching. For Witness Lee, preaching and teaching are only of the soul; pray-reading is far better, being of the spirit. "We really enjoy pray-reading the Word together in the meetings. It is much better than preaching or teaching, because it includes breathing. When we pray-read the Word, we just breathe the Lord Jesus into us..... We come together not to receive some teaching, but to be breathed upon by the Lord Jesus - to take in the Lord Jesus by breathing." (WL How to Meet, pg 42) ***************************** It should not surprise us, given what we've seen so far of Lee, that he would come to disregard preaching and teaching of the Word of God within a meeting. Preaching and teaching are grounded in the Bible, whereas Lee's theology leads ever away from the Bible to subjective experience - and by default leaves Lee with unquestionable authority in his own church. I think expository preaching is essential to the growth of the Christian church. The Lord has spoke to me many times through the preaching of men who are truly after God's own heart... although finding such godly preachers and teachers is not easy. Preaching and Teaching are spiritual gifts, given for the building up of the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11 – “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers...” There are plenty of lists in the New Testament with gifts like these. What is so special about this list is that all these gifts have to do with one fundamental part of being God’s church – the Word of God. The work of all these people – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers – are all to do with delivering the Word of God to people. The Holy Spirit uses people to deliver (minister) His Word to His people.