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Originally Posted by Terry
In my honest opinion Ohio, when Watchman Nee endorsed this doctrine in China, historically it made sense. Christianity in China was very denominated. Set aside your denominatons and come together in Christ.
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I believe this is correct. It appears likely that the "ground of locality" was an over-reaction by scholarly young Chinese against British colonialism in the form of rigid denominational mission boards. Didn't W. Nee's so-called "perfecter," named Margaret Barber, who supposedly "raised him up" by publicly rebuking him, apparently the "great-grandmother" of the local church movement, have a falling out with her own mission board.
By the time Lee got started in the USA, the denominational strongholds were dying. That was completely due their stagnancy and the move of the Spirit during the 60's "Jesus movement" than any of Lee's teachings.
Hence, Lee was forced to maliciously attack "free groups" which were springing up all over. Genesis Life Study Message #54 records Lee's thoughts on "Free Groups." It is forever on record as one of the most judgmental, disparaging, and deprecating messages in the annals of church history.
Witness Lee likens all those genuine children of God, born of the Spirit, outside of denominations in loosely connected "free groups," as today's incestuous children of Lot. His arrogance reached a "high peak" in that Genesis message. Today many of these free groups have become large independent community churches.