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Originally Posted by Indiana
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Dear Indiana and other Posters,
I had never read the two short entries Indiana referred to. They are devastating. The pledge was bad enough but the attitude toward the dear believers, oh my. The verses used to justify the terrible fellowship contained in the publication are so upside down. Those who expressed concerns in the late 80s were the ones concerned about those causing dissensions and hindrances which were contrary to the teaching which we had learned. Eventually many of the original brothers and sisters had to turn away from them. How ironic that it was John Ingall and John So and many others who were branded.
The Greek word in Romans 16:17 for dissensions or divisions is a special word that means a division within the larger whole. It is to form a special group aka to be faithful to the Lord is not enough but you must also be faithful to the Lord’s Recovery as WL declares in the publication. Thus you have Romans 16:17. Within the circle of those who are faithful to the Lord is a smaller circle, “those who are faithful to the Lord’s Recovery.” When the entire experience of the late 80’s was unfolding brother after brother had a strong anointing to stop all contact with the LSM and WL. In 1989, I was visiting the brethren in Switzerland. One morning about 15 brothers were gathered together. The Lord’s presence was so strong you could almost cut it with a knife. Suddenly as we were praying and ministering to the Lord and fellowshipping the word came that we should just drop the efforts to work through things with LSM and WL and move on. I never attempted to contact them again. At the time, I was not thinking about Romans 16:17 but it is so clear that it applied. It was a bull's-eye.
I also consider the visits and letters WL received from so many “concerned brothers” were in the mode of a warning as mentioned in Titus 3:10. Unfortunately WL insisted on continuing his activity and the activity of the LSM office to create division and factions and eventually produced publications such as “Fermentation” and this one I have just discovered “The Ministry of the New Testament and the Teaching and Fellowship of the Apostle.” It is all very shameful and such a pity.
Rom 16:17-18, Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
Titus 3:10: Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,
May the Lord have mercy on us all.
Hope, Don Rutledge
A believer in Christ Jesus who is seeking to be a true disciple.