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Hope · 12-20-2008, 02:54 PM

Dear Brother Unto,

Perhaps this may be interesting.

During the sixties, I heard from WL on several occasions and from other Taiwan Saints of an event that occurred in the fifties in Taipei. There were about 500 believers who had escaped from mainland China who had been in the local churches associated with WN. They began to meet and preach the gospel. A significant number was saved and added. The elders, co-workers and WL were very concerned about practicing the practical oneness of the local church. There were seven other assemblies in Taipei which were not associated with any mainline denominations. The elders approached them all and made them all the following offer. The church in Taipei would turn over all property and accounts and ask all the members to submit to the elders in the other group. The local church elders would resign and submit to the elders in the other group. The local church elders and co-workers also said they would reframe from speaking or ministering anything for six month. They were turned down by every group.

This story was told to us in the early days as a case study of how we in the USA should endeavor to practice the oneness of the local church wherever we might be meeting. I have told in my first chapter about the early days in the local church in the USA. One of the practices that Benson Philips was particularly ardent for was the seeking out of other Christian groups and our being willing to meet with them and to submit to them. I was rebuked by him on at least two occasions for my attitude and conclusions about groups we were seeking out. In those two occasions, it was clear to me that we were wasting our time but Benson was under the compulsion of Witness Lee’s charge and wanted to go the ninth and tenth mile with these groups.

Eventually he too realized they really meant it when they indicated they desired to maintain a special fellowship that did not include the whole Body of Christ. Benson was quite disappointed that we were not able to join with another group. Benson may be many things but he has never been lukewarm or half way about anything. If there was anyway, we could have joined with another assembly and submitted to their elders and practiced the practical church life of one church, one city then he would have lead the church that way.

Hope, Don Rutledge

A believer in Christ Jesus who is seeking to be a true disciple.

12-20-2008, 02:54 PM	#142
Hope Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Durham, North Carolina Posts: 313	Re: "Early Nee" vs. "Later Nee" Dear Brother Unto, Perhaps this may be interesting. During the sixties, I heard from WL on several occasions and from other Taiwan Saints of an event that occurred in the fifties in Taipei. There were about 500 believers who had escaped from mainland China who had been in the local churches associated with WN. They began to meet and preach the gospel. A significant number was saved and added. The elders, co-workers and WL were very concerned about practicing the practical oneness of the local church. There were seven other assemblies in Taipei which were not associated with any mainline denominations. The elders approached them all and made them all the following offer. The church in Taipei would turn over all property and accounts and ask all the members to submit to the elders in the other group. The local church elders would resign and submit to the elders in the other group. The local church elders and co-workers also said they would reframe from speaking or ministering anything for six month. They were turned down by every group. This story was told to us in the early days as a case study of how we in the USA should endeavor to practice the oneness of the local church wherever we might be meeting. I have told in my first chapter about the early days in the local church in the USA. One of the practices that Benson Philips was particularly ardent for was the seeking out of other Christian groups and our being willing to meet with them and to submit to them. I was rebuked by him on at least two occasions for my attitude and conclusions about groups we were seeking out. In those two occasions, it was clear to me that we were wasting our time but Benson was under the compulsion of Witness Lee’s charge and wanted to go the ninth and tenth mile with these groups. Eventually he too realized they really meant it when they indicated they desired to maintain a special fellowship that did not include the whole Body of Christ. Benson was quite disappointed that we were not able to join with another group. Benson may be many things but he has never been lukewarm or half way about anything. If there was anyway, we could have joined with another assembly and submitted to their elders and practiced the practical church life of one church, one city then he would have lead the church that way. Hope, Don Rutledge A believer in Christ Jesus who is seeking to be a true disciple.