Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger
Regardless of who passed it around here in America, the idea of “deputy authority” was firmly ensconced in Witness Lee’s heart all the way back in China.
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It seems so,
Roger, based upon what I have heard. While WN was alive in China, apparently WL "
wrote nothing, spoke nothing, did nothing" ... except what WN did or said. WL told that story a thousand times, as if that were a healthy pattern for us all. Ones like BP sure picked up on that message in the USA. Based on what I have heard of our history, it seems that ones will only espouse that view, when they believe that there is much more in store for them personally.
WL took the increase of the church in Taiwan in the early 50's as the divine proof of his position as the deputy authority of God. He never mentioned that having Mao's army breathing down their necks was the sovereignty of God for their salvation.
SC has mentioned the "culture thing" being very important in LC ecclesiastical development. The more I consider it, I have to agree. Growing up in China, studying only the Chinese history of the succession of dynasties, the concept of "deputy authority" sounds almost "scriptural." To a naturally ambitious man, the teaching must have sounded like a contrasting, Biblical alternative to the only form of government their country ever knew.
I have also heard that WN shared some proper "checks and balances" to this teaching that LSM has conveniently left out. Without audiovisual records and the actual context of his messages, we are left with the biases of note takers, translators, and editors.