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

NeitherFirstnorLast · 01-04-2013, 07:55 PM

Chapter 4 In Conclusion: Everyone Else is Out of Step

The God-Men pages 104-105

"What shall we say about the Local Church's exclusive attitude toward other churches? We have uncovered some of its doctrinal roots in Witness Lee's teachings about God, about humanity, and about the way people come to know God. If our analysis is correct, we should not be surprised to discover that Lee's followers hesitate to fellowship with most Christians. Local Church teachings seem to conflict with orthodox Christianity at several key points*.

In his writings, Witness Lee depicts the Local Church as God's chosen vehicle for bringing "this age" to a close; it is the faithful manifestation of Christ's body in a perverse generation. Opposing the sad divisions in Christianity, Lee has ironically been instrumental in forming a new divisive sectarian denomination. He has cut himself and his churches off from the doctrine and practical life of sincere believers in Christ, holding out for their unity with the Local Church on what he perceives to be biblical principle.

Witness Lee's mentor, Watchman Nee, held views on church geographical locality and denominational affiliation that were definitely segragationist. Those views can be traced to Nee's close association with the Exclusive Brethren and Taylor Brethren groups in China. From such roots have sprung the isolationist policy of the Local Church in America."

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

The association of Nee with the Exclusive Brethren should not be missed, and neither should what became of their exclusivist sect.

In reading on the "My Brethren" site, I found this quote from an examination of the Exclusive Brethren; let me remove "Brethren" from the quote, and insert "Local Church" in it's place... you see if the shoe doesn't fit.

"The first thing which strikes us on marking the piety of the Local Church, is its exclusiveness. The theory of those composing it is, that all the churches are wrong – that all sects are unscriptural – that Christendom is in ruins. Were it so, the natural conclusion would be, to set to work and build up what has fallen, and reunite what is scattered. But no. To end sectarianism, as John Duncan used to say, the Local Church began by making a new sect, and that sect, of all sects, the most sectarian.” –

William Reid, Plymouth Brethrenism Unveiled and Refuted 1876.

1876: One hundred and thirty six years ago the group that grandfathered today's Local Church was doing the exact same thing that the Local Church is doing. And how many localities will fracture and go their own way, and do the EXACT same thing? How many times will division be the result and exclusiveness reign supreme? When will the children ever learn? The kind of theology that is taught by these groups is the recipe for church disaster, not church growth - it's been prove time and time and time again. God does not get the Glory. Christ does not reign supreme; His desires - prayed so ernestly before His Father, are ignored and trampled under foot by men seeking their own glory.

Remember what Christ prayed: “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” excerpts from Jesus Prayer to the Father, John 17.

*to be explored in follow-up post.

01-04-2013, 07:55 PM	#323
NeitherFirstnorLast Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 348	Our Reading Continues Chapter 4 In Conclusion: Everyone Else is Out of Step The God-Men pages 104-105 "What shall we say about the Local Church's exclusive attitude toward other churches? We have uncovered some of its doctrinal roots in Witness Lee's teachings about God, about humanity, and about the way people come to know God. If our analysis is correct, we should not be surprised to discover that Lee's followers hesitate to fellowship with most Christians. Local Church teachings seem to conflict with orthodox Christianity at several key points. In his writings, Witness Lee depicts the Local Church as God's chosen vehicle for bringing "this age" to a close; it is the faithful manifestation of Christ's body in a perverse generation. Opposing the sad divisions in Christianity, Lee has ironically been instrumental in forming a new divisive sectarian denomination. He has cut himself and his churches off from the doctrine and practical life of sincere believers in Christ, holding out for their unity with the Local Church on what he perceives to be biblical principle. Witness Lee's mentor, Watchman Nee, held views on church geographical locality and denominational affiliation that were definitely segragationist. Those views can be traced to Nee's close association with the Exclusive Brethren and Taylor Brethren groups in China. From such roots have sprung the isolationist policy of the Local Church in America." ************************** The association of Nee with the Exclusive Brethren should not be missed, and neither should what became of their exclusivist sect. In reading on the "My Brethren" site, I found this quote from an examination of the Exclusive Brethren; let me remove "Brethren" from the quote, and insert "Local Church" in it's place... you see if the shoe doesn't fit. "The first thing which strikes us on marking the piety of the Local Church, is its exclusiveness. The theory of those composing it is, that all the churches are wrong – that all sects are unscriptural – that Christendom is in ruins. Were it so, the natural conclusion would be, to set to work and build up what has fallen, and reunite what is scattered. But no. To end sectarianism, as John Duncan used to say, the Local Church began by making a new sect, and that sect, of all sects, the most sectarian.” – William Reid, Plymouth Brethrenism Unveiled and Refuted 1876. 1876: One hundred and thirty six years ago the group that grandfathered today's Local Church was doing the exact same thing that the Local Church is doing. And how many localities will fracture and go their own way, and do the EXACT same thing? How many times will division be the result and exclusiveness reign supreme? When will the children ever learn? The kind of theology that is taught by these groups is the recipe for church disaster, not church growth - it's been prove time and time and time again. God does not get the Glory. Christ does not reign supreme; His desires - prayed so ernestly before His Father, are ignored and trampled under foot by men seeking their own glory. Remember what Christ prayed: “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me*. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” excerpts from Jesus Prayer to the Father, John 17.* *to be explored in follow-up post.