Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
I'm not too sure how many were ministering under Nee, but from what we know about Lee, it seems that the pathway to the podium involved loyalty to Nee's ministry. Lee helped 'recover' churches to Nee's ministry, and he was awarded a prominent position. With this dynamic in mind, I find it ironic that Nee would be concerned with a lack of substance in the speaking of others. I couldn't imagine that Nee would of really wanted anyone who could say things that would be perceived to be more more substantial than what he spoke.
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The pattern I see with Nee and then Lee is that initially there is an open, free atmosphere where everyone is able to ad-lib and follow the dictates of the Holy Spirit as they are able. Some can speak, some can shepherd, some are burdened for the lost or the sick.
In this environment, people's abilities flourish and grow. But eventually there comes a "Rubicon" moment, where they have to either sublimate or even abandon their gift, or get out. Why? Because their star might shine too bright, and steal some of the apostle's greatness.
Anyone not willing to recede into the drab, faceless proletarian sea is accused of being ambitious and attempting to draw others in their orbit. Only the great man's gift is allowed to thrive unfettered. The ones who rise in this milieu are not those with exceptional gifts, but those whose purpose is to trumpet the "rich ministry" of the great leader.
So you see an "early Nee" who was localized and indigenous and free, and a "later Nee" whose goal was centralization, handing over, getting in line, and control. Likewise with Lee in the USA, circa 1960 - 1987. Two strains were seen: the initial one and the later one.
This was confirmed by the speaking of some of the party loyalists: they said that no one who left the LC ever became great, or amounted to anything substantial. This shows that: a) they felt that the leader of the LC was great, and substantial; and b) that (by definition) no one except the great leader could become great. Only one great man per age, thank you very much. Everyone else get in line.
So initially there was the appearance of freedom, but that (in hindsight) was a ruse to draw in the gullible seekers. Ultimately freedom was snatched away and only the True Believers remained. The "Rubicon" moment was: are you loyal, or not?