Speaker,
I think I remember you mentioning something on the other forum about you believing that the day would come when Witness Lee would take his proper (proper in your view) place in Church History. I think at the time I stated something to the effect that my view is that that proper place would be a speck, hardly noticeable to the human eye.
At any rate, you have made similar statements over the years. Maybe that is what has led some to believe that you are overly concerned with preserving Witness Lee's reputation.
Personally, I believe that not only Witness Lee, but all those who have gone before us should certainly be honored for whatever positive contribution they have made, while at the same time we should not spare any of them the critical eye. This is how we learn for the future.
I will give you an example. In my whole time in the Local Church the image of John Nelson Darby presented to me was nothing less than heroic. Of course, it had to be that way, because he was named in a long line of "Apostles for the age," Witness Lee himself being the most recent. Any criticism of Darby would have certainly opened the door for examination of Lee himself. Can't have any of that, you know.
I was delighted, yes delighted, to find out what a crumb JND could be. Actually, I shouldn't say delighted, but rather relieved. I no longer have to hold to the Apostle for the Age, succession thing. I can consider any of these brothers against any of their peers.
One of JND's peers who was never introduced to us in the Local Church was Robert Chapman. If you put his life against that of Darby, considering the matter of humility and brotherly love, it's clear that Darby should have been sitting at his feet.
Please forgive me for saying so, but sometimes it does indeed seem that you are a little overly concerned about preserving the reputation of Lee. But we must remember that that reputation is an illusion created by him, and expanded by the hero worshiping Blended Brothers. Shine the light on Luther, Darby, Chpman, Nee, Kaung, Lee and anybody else, and let the chips fall where they may.
One other thing: I don't know about you, but I didn't suffer the degree of abuse that has been described by some on this forum. I wouldn't dare tell them that we just need to move on and learn how to be stronger for having had the experience. While that may be true on some level, it displays a sort of insensitivity to their plight.
I can tell you personally of a dear couple I know who couldn't have been more gung-ho and absolute for the "Recovery," and in a very real way I can say, without mentioning the brother's name, that he was a crucial part of the backbone of the whole "Recovery," on the whole Earth.
Now they are gone, because of abuse, and even are having doubt as to Jesus being the Messiah. How do you tell them that they just need to dig deeper and learn to be stronger because of that experience?
My wife and I sat and prayed with this couple over the years. Our first-born are almost the same age. I worked with him for a time, and there is no doubt in my mind that he knows the Lord, and had a burning spirit that I haven’t seen among any of the LSM pretenders. No one can say that they are where they are because they never really knew the Lord. I haven't the least doubt that they are where they are because of their direct involvement with a brother who worshiped the ground that Witness Lee walked on.
One more, "other thing." Brother Speaker, I have to balance all that by saying that I have appreciated your thick skin over the time that we have been together on these two forums. Many times it is your thick skin that has left me without words. Now dats saying supum. Thick skin comes with age and experience. And I guess being the object of examination by classrooms full of teenagers over the years hasn't hurt either.
Roger
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