[Freedom]

Back on the subject of James' history, I also noticed the part where he went into the matter of the "one flow". It struck me as a bit odd, but I guess I didn't really think about it until now. What I find to be the most interesting is how James (and others) have tied LC history to these ideas like "one flow" or "one ministry". The more common perception of LC history might just involve the understanding of what everyone left behind and dropped to be a part of the LC. Some left the Southern Baptists, others left other affiliations. Seemingly that understanding should be sufficient for a LC history, right? Wrong!

Even from the beginning of the LC in the U.S., it was never completely about simply dropping denominational ties and coming together to meet as the church. There was the simultaneous issue of who they were following and what external affiliations were present. Since they were so busy criticizing hierarchy, central control, denominational ties, etc. they certainly couldn't have the appearance possessing such characteristics. Herein lies an interesting predicament. There was really only one thing distinguishing the early LC from other groups like those associated with TAS, and that was Nee's teaching on the ground of the church. Unless someone had fully bought into that teaching, the similarity between some of these groups meant that someone could have been a part of other groups and still got along with those under Nee/Lee. I have read that Lee got his "God's economy" teaching from Sparks. At one point in time Lee had been willing to share the stage with Sparks.

Over time, I think Lee started wanting to find ways to distinguish himself from other groups that he had much in common with. That's where the whole idea of him being Nee's "continuation" is rooted. He wanted to find a way to discredit others. Part of that came by developing these notions of their only being "one flow" or "one ministry" and it came to be that only what Lee was doing was the "one ministry" and "one flow".

He got everyone's guard down by claiming that he was only continuing Nee's ministry (a ministry that many already trusted). It couldn't have been a more convenient tool for WL, because everyone bought into it. And it wasn't even until the late 80's and mid-2000's that everyone got to see how ugly this teaching really was. As it turns out, "one flow" wasn't enough. They went so far as to insist on one publication. Things just got narrower and narrower over time. It used to be that they could work with those who didn't even share the sentiment on the ground of the church. Now they can't work with someone who doesn't choose to exclusively utilize LSM publications.