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SpeakersCorner · 09-11-2008, 07:34 AM

It's been interesting to me to watch the normal LC detractors rise up against Matt in his claim that that LC is systemically idolatrous. I agree with those who are arguing against Matt's thesis, but I actually think Matt has a legitimate point. That point is that there was an element of idolizing Lee in the LC from as far back as I can remember. I recall a brother telling me in 1975 that W. Lee had a color TV ... just for watching the news. This was shocking since the saints around me at the time had cast out television. So here was a brother showing me just how above it all Lee was, having an evil TV but using it in a spiritual way.

I hated that kind of Lee rationalization then and I hate it now.

I also recall how I myself used to begin so many testimonies with, "Brother Lee said ..." I did that to give honest credit to my source, but it got so bad I was called on it by a sometimes attender of our meetings.

I recall how when Lee died, I received a tape from an Anaheim meeting in which saints came to the mike one by one and told glowing stories of him, one of them saying something like, "And just before he died his face shone like that of an angel." I almost vomited when I heard that.

So, yes, there was an element -- a strong element -- of Lee-dolatry in the Lc and I was party to it.

But here's where I differ with Matt: it wasn't displacing Christ. During my most fervent days in the "recovery" I found myself in the Word more, musing on Christ more, praying more, preaching the gospel more than any other time in my life. Lee was a servant who pointed me to Christ. My mistake -- and that of many others -- was to overly embrace this servant much as someone hugs the man who hands him the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstake check.

I have now put away that small idol. I still appreciate and respect the ministry of Witness Lee very much but I no longer quote him incessantly, no longer think he was just about 1 helium molecule away from float-off-into-heaven rapture. He was a man, flawed like all of us, who had a ministry which pointed people to Christ.

Matt is wrong to spend so much time trying to diminish this man.

SC

09-11-2008, 07:34 AM	#814
SpeakersCorner Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 273	It's been interesting to me to watch the normal LC detractors rise up against Matt in his claim that that LC is systemically idolatrous. I agree with those who are arguing against Matt's thesis, but I actually think Matt has a legitimate point. That point is that there was an element of idolizing Lee in the LC from as far back as I can remember. I recall a brother telling me in 1975 that W. Lee had a color TV ... just for watching the news. This was shocking since the saints around me at the time had cast out television. So here was a brother showing me just how above it all Lee was, having an evil TV but using it in a spiritual way. I hated that kind of Lee rationalization then and I hate it now. I also recall how I myself used to begin so many testimonies with, "Brother Lee said ..." I did that to give honest credit to my source, but it got so bad I was called on it by a sometimes attender of our meetings. I recall how when Lee died, I received a tape from an Anaheim meeting in which saints came to the mike one by one and told glowing stories of him, one of them saying something like, "And just before he died his face shone like that of an angel." I almost vomited when I heard that. So, yes, there was an element -- a strong element -- of Lee-dolatry in the Lc and I was party to it. But here's where I differ with Matt: it wasn't displacing Christ. During my most fervent days in the "recovery" I found myself in the Word more, musing on Christ more, praying more, preaching the gospel more than any other time in my life. Lee was a servant who pointed me to Christ. My mistake -- and that of many others -- was to overly embrace this servant much as someone hugs the man who hands him the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstake check. I have now put away that small idol. I still appreciate and respect the ministry of Witness Lee very much but I no longer quote him incessantly, no longer think he was just about 1 helium molecule away from float-off-into-heaven rapture. He was a man, flawed like all of us, who had a ministry which pointed people to Christ. Matt is wrong to spend so much time trying to diminish this man. SC