[aron]

Interesting post by Dave that I read elsewhere about Oriental spiritual development. "He who overcomes" in Asian cultural reading...

Originally Posted by Dave

The LC was certainly in some upheaval in the late 70s but I think it started with the Revelation training which I attended. Basically because of the notion of the overcomers and unless you were in the top echelon you were short of achieving this superior state. You needed to do more and more to arrive at some spiritual pinnacle. Otherwise you would end up in some kind of purgatory. Kind of like reaching for perfection that the Buddhists try to achieve to get out of the six cycles of ghosts, semi-gods etc.

Also,

Originally Posted by rayliotta

Very interesting link, aron. Is anyone familiar with this site, or with Wright Doyle, the author of this WN bio? Apparently he is a professor at a seminary in Taipei. I wonder if he has more than a passing familiarity w/the history of the LRC in China...

Here is an assessment of the Christian character of Chinese Nationalist leader Chian Kai-Shek, also by Wright Doyle, on the web site. Doyle seems to be familiar with the intersection of politics, society, philosophy, religion, and culture.

"[Chiang Kai-Shek's] lifelong commitment to Confucianism makes some wonder whether his fundamental faith was more a matter of traditional Chinese ethics than Christian belief. Did his extraordinary self-control in public stem from dependence upon God, or upon the inner strength he had long learned to cultivate?

In defense, many have argued that Chiang’s autocratic leadership style is simply the norm for Chinese, and can be found in some of the most outstanding Chinese church leaders even today; that he was surrounded by mortal enemies and spies, and could really trust no one; that his murderous purge of communists in Shanghai was undertaken only after his enemies had formed a rival government, committed atrocities and put a price on his head; that war compels one to make decisions that will cost many lives, in order to save more people; that he matured in his Christian character as he grew older; and that a Christian’s true heart can be known only to God.

If his private diaries, public pronouncements, consistent support of Christian churches and foreign missionaries, and active involvement in the production of Christian literature which we have noted above mean anything, then we may perhaps say that Chiang Kai-shek’s Christian career represents the halting, stumbling, but steady pilgrimage towards the Celestial City of a sinner saved by grace."

Again, I stress that we use culture as part of shared meaning and understanding. It is part of who we are. But Lee sold us a story that he and Watchman Nee were somehow transformed beyond human culture, and the religious society they founded was guided solely by the "pure word" and the Holy Spirit's revelation.

Somehow Lee got beyond all that fallen human culture, and was leading us there as well. That is wishful thinking at best, and when continually pushed in the face of mounting evidence it becomes delusional.