Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel Tomes
Conclusion
Twenty years have elapsed since Bro. W. Lee unveiled, “the God-ordained Way,” designed to bring sustained increase. His “New Way” was guaranteed to double church membership yearly. He promised a48 “church can be doubled yearly. A local church of 100 saints could increase to 100,000 in ten years. This means that this church will increase 1,000 times in ten years.” Yet, despite the saints’ and churches’ best efforts, these expectations were not realized. Why? The “New Way’s” failure has not been adequately addressed. Some components (e.g. door-knocking, instant bathtub baptisms) were simply discarded, “swept under the rug.” The Recovery’s leadership has not assumed responsibility. Consequently churches and saints who “bought into the program,” with its promised results, experienced a profound sense of personal defeat; they had failed to produce abundant lasting fruit. Even today churches and saints are impacted. Only an adequate evaluation will bring a sense of closure, allowing them to move forward.
Our evaluation of “the God-ordained Way” has been forthright, but fair. Some may see this as an attack on Bro. Witness Lee; they are mistaken. It is not. Brother Lee has a long history as a servant of the Lord with numerous accomplishments. The 100-day revival in Chefoo, China; the 1947-8 revival which restored Watchman Nee’s ministry; the spectacular 1950s growth in Taiwan and the rapid increase during the “Jesus Movement” in North America are a few of his notable achievements in Christian work. Moreover, Bro. W. Lee’s 1991 decision to spread the Recovery to Russia and Eastern Europe after the USSR’s fall was clearly vindicated by the Lord. However, it’s time to admit that his “New Way,” launched in the 1980s, was not one of his greatest triumphs. Even the Apostle Paul failed when he regressed to Judaic vows (Acts 21). Evidently no servant of the Lord has an entirely unblemished record of service. Brother W. Lee is not an exception. That standard of perfection was only attained by One—our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Since Nigel wrote this article, it's been more like 25 years since the New Way. Even if localities try to revert back to the practice of door knocking, what is the motive?
Is it to add to the local churches or is it bring people to the Lord? It's relatively easier to bring people to the Lord, but to the local churches there have been Northwest elders that have said:
- If you're not here for brother Lee and his ministry, then you might as well not be here.
- The recovery is not for everybody
- It takes a special calling to be in the recovery
Point being if brothers own up to the fact the local churches are narrow, it is being imaginative to think local churches could grow at the same rate as bringing people to salvation.
I have heard the criticism of Billy Graham over the years. Why is he such a successful evangelist for generations? On one hand you can say he's not going beyond his measure. On the other hand he's not telling people where he thinks their home church should be.