Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
For decades after coming to America, Witness Lee denied being an apostle. He even denied being an apostle under oath in a legal deposition (circa 1981). Not more than 7 years later Lee was boastfully declaring that he was the only person ON EARTH speaking as God’s oracle SINCE 1945, and most of his closest co-workers were declaring that he was “an apostle of the first kind”, comparing him to the apostle Paul.
Dear brothers and sisters, this kind of attitude did NOT just appear in the 1980s, or even the 1970s. There is ample evidence that Witness Lee held this kind of attitude all the way back to the Taiwan days, and maybe even before.....
Witness Lee already had a reputation of financial malfeasance (with church funds no less), and it’s a safe bet that his sons Timothy and Phillip were already well on their way to becoming a major disgrace to Witness and the denomination he lead. The simple fact is that by the time Witness Lee hit our fair shores, he did not even meet the most basic qualifications to be an elder, much less the leader and chief theologian of an entire Christian movement. Samuel Chang was surely aware of this, and you can be sure that the saints whom Lee defrauded were aware as well.
|
1. At least we can say there was discrepancy in the testimony of Witness Lee and it “blew the minds" of leaders. Some left, some stayed. But all would agree he was an oracle of God to them with more than basic qualifications.
2. He liked to avoid saying he was an apostle, but he described himself as one, even as a commander-in-chief and a wise masterbuilder. Benson and Ray Graver picked up what he was tacitly saying, THAT “I am an apostle” (in a certain sense) and need more serious support- they thus campaigned in the churches for him and his ministry. WL had said that he was forced to “speak foolishly” concerning himself and his ministry, as Paul did in 2 Corinthians. The brothers “read between the lines” and rose up to speak on his behalf, and 400+ brothers signed an agreement with them to follow WL as the one who “led them into God’s New Testament economy” in teaching and practice.
3. In one of my last meetings before being cut off, a major blending brother very "humbly" and carefully uplifted Witness Lee’s ministry as surpassing Watchman Nee’s and, yes, even the apostle Paul’s (in a certain sense). This statement might be roundly criticized, but broken down it means that Lee has come later and stands on their shoulders, and has entered into the spirit of Paul’s writings and expounded on them all in hundreds of pages of easily readable and well-edited New Testament fellowship.
4. LSM strategy is to
use Watchman Nee as a blocking fullback protecting Witness Lee and opening the way for him to run and for his ministry to spread. Watchman Nee’s name protects him and covers him, and also LSM, at every turn, though Nee would never himself cover him if he was present.
We should read carefully this testimony:
“The Daystar experience was a great frustration to the move of the Spirit.
In 1975, we were having a conference in Dallas. Before the meetings, we would pray in the large home on our property and then would walk across the parking lot to the large new hall we had just built.
One evening I was walking with Brother Lee. He stopped, turned to me and then put his arm around my shoulder. (Never before and never since have I seen him embrace a brother.) Thus, I realized he was about to tell me something very serious. He told me that he had made a terrible mistake with Daystar. He said that if he saw Brother Nee he would not know what to say since Brother Nee had warned him not to mix the church with financial matters or business. He then told me that he had once told Watchman Nee that he was not following him (Watchman Nee), but rather was following the truth and vision that Brother Nee taught. Furthermore, that he (Witness Lee) would not follow Watchman Nee if Brother Nee left the vision, but he (Brother Lee) would continue to follow the vision. He then looked me straight in the eye and charged me, “Brother Don, if I leave the vision do not follow me, but follow the vision.” I was a little speechless but I did manage to return the embrace and assure Brother Lee that I would remain true to the vision and the truth.” -Don Rutledge
Steve Isitt
12-31-2012