[UntoHim]

My dear old friend Cassidy,

Thanks for the New Years greeting.

First of all I’m the owner of this forum like I’m the owner of my house. This forum, just like my house, has a big fat mortgage against it. When I started this forum I made a promise to God, just like I made a promise to XYZ mortgage company when I started my home. So, before my analogy totally falls apart here….my promise to God was to provide a venue for former and current members of the Local Churches to come and dialogue regarding the teachings, practices and history of the Movement. Of course I fully realized that the person and work of one Witness Lee would come into major play here. I also realized that there would be “3rd party” interests that would come into play. I was hoping (maybe hoping against hope?) that we former and current members could come to come here to some kind of “neutral” ground and have some profitable discussions. I’m still hoping, I’m still praying…and I’m still paying the rent while faithfully doing the first two.

Funny you should bring up the term “propagandist”. Witness Lee was the most influential propagandist I ever knew. Some of his propaganda was biblical, some of his propaganda was just his personal opinions and private interpretations, and some of his propaganda was some of the most harmful and divisive propaganda Christianity has ever known. Hey, but I’m sure you will come back with something like “one man’s propaganda is another man’s ministry”.. or something like that. – Sock it to me bro!

“you will need to establish an environment where their views can be expressed freely and without antagonism”

Dude…when’s the last Local Church meeting you were at? (Don’t answer that…oh wait I don’t have to worry about that…you never do). Really my brother… “without antagonism”? Do you mean without somebody not saying “AMEN!”? If I did that, that would violate my promise that I just told you about. The promise that I made (as weak, feeble and lame as it was) was for a venue…mmm I don’t have time to google the word “venue”…I’ll just have to trust you’re with me on that. I made a promise (to me and God) that this forum would be open to all current and former members. My promise did not include a vow to current members that it would be a Local Church meeting, where everything is positive towards “the ministry” (the person and work of Witness Lee). Conversely, my promise was not to provide a venue for any and all to come and bash said ministry just for the sake of bashing said ministry.

You have a forum now that is very supportive of ex-members needs. You also give voice to those with an anti-local church agenda. I think those are the two sweet spots of your forum so why not leave at that?

How can I be supportive of somebody who doesn’t bother to even show up? I also give voice to those with a pro-local church agenda. You’re living proof of that, aren’t ya? (you set yourself up for that one) The sweet spot has never been hit…and that’s the very reason I started this thread.