Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
But what was his actual talent in? At times I wonder if he was ever legitimately a Christian leader that went awry. Maybe a Christian with natural abilities and some natural desires who realized that he would rather be fed by followers than an employer. Who could see a "Christian" philosophy in Nee's work that he could make into his own and become the supreme leader.
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I understand that perspective. But I don't think anyone can deny there was a legitimate and powerful spiritual aspect to his ministry. If that weren't true, if there was nothing real about the man, we wouldn't be here. It's that dichotomy we are trying to figure out--how does one reconcile the contradictions?
I know you've decided Lee was next to nothing as a Christian teacher. But I gained too many genuine insights into the Bible and the Christian walk from him to just write him off. I remember the impact he had personally and it wasn't just human charisma. The man was at times as filled with the Spirit as I've seen just about anyone.
This is basically the problem I have had to figure out. How could Lee be able to share so many Spirit-filled things and yet be so flawed and wrong in other ways? But I've seen the plain fact is the same is true for so many of God's servants, from Abraham on. If we had to be perfect to receive ministry gifts from God we'd never get any, you and me especially. It's not about the man, anyway. It's about whatever Spirit and Truth he shares.
I think you go a bit too far in trying to discredit Lee. The man did have a lot going for him as a Christian teacher. He had a unique way of sharing some very insightful things. He had a ministry from God, just like Bonds had a talent for baseball. But, like Bonds, he abused it. So the good things he did have been tainted, but not negated.
One can acknowledge Lee's gifts without having to fall into the MOTA trap. One can give him credit for what he had without excusing things he did. Martin Luther ended up a Jew hater. Does that make you want to write him off as a man of God? Solomon had thousands of women. David was a murderer, as were Moses and Paul. How about them?
What the example of Lee should teach us is not that any of these weren't men of God, but that we should never elevate people to anything approaching the status of MOTA, else their bad side will take us down with them. That's the lesson, I believe. I don't think we get to strip a man of his gifts and drum him out of the Corps. Take the chicken, leave the bones.