[kisstheson]

Dear brother Ohio,

The many parallels you have mentioned between the Exclusive Brethren and the LC have driven me to some serious thinking. These parallels have helped me to formulate a clearer “model” of “Early Nee” vs. “Later Nee”, which I have joined together with a clearer model of “Early Lee” vs. “Later Lee”.

I present this model not for judgment upon anyone, but for our humble learning based upon our common heritage.

I see three phases since the 1920’s: “Early Nee”, “Later Nee/Early Lee”, and “Later Lee”. I break down these phases with the aid of four categories: “Inner Life Teachings”, “Relationship to Other Ministers of Christ”, “Prevailing Model of Church Governance ” and “Prevailing Attitude toward Outside Fellowship”. Here is the progression of these phases, as I can best articulate it:

“Early Nee”

1. Inner Life Teachings
2. Open to receive help from other ministers of Christ and open to co-work with other ministries
3. Localized model of church governance
4. “Open” fellowship

“Later Nee/Early Lee”

1. Inner Life Teachings
2. Open to receive help from other ministers of Christ, but no longer co-working with other ministries
3. Mixture of localized and centralized models of church governance
4. Fellowship still “Open”, but a noticeable tendency toward “Exclusive” fellowship

“Later Lee”

1. Inner Life Teachings
2. All the help that could be received from other ministers of Christ has already been received, disdain for all other ministries, and no willingness to co-work with any other ministries
3. Centralized model of church governance
4. “Exclusive” fellowship

Is this model helpful to anyone else?