Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Experiences of Christ were more frequent, more real, and varied when I came into contact with the ministry of witness lee and watchman nee. My understanding of the Bible was greatly enhanced because Old and New Testaments were presented and understood holistically.
The care and encouragement from the brothers and sisters in that ministry created a multiplier effect (grace upon grace) of experience and enlightenment under the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was as if the Lord had allowed me to search in many places (fundamentalism, free groups, pentecostalism) and when the time was right brought me into an abundant good land. Therefore, Igzy, I knew my journey found its destination and I was compelled by the Lord to stay in this place, at this time, and with these people.
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I agree that the ministry of Nee and Lee presents and understands the Old and New Testaments holistically, and that this can be amenable to the seeking person. I was also encouraged and supplied by the "one stop shopping" of the ministry. All problems of life could usually be reduced to "eating Jesus is the way" and "glorious church life, feasting in one accord" etc etc. Just sing the chorus 20 times and you're all set. In the heavenlies - no problems.
The entire ministry, which spans the entire Bible, can be summed up in a catchphrase that even the weakest and dullest among us could declare in a Tuesday night home meeting, or Saturday morning Bible study meeting. And if you came in and declared the catchphrase, all those smiling faces would beam back at you - "love bombing" and warm fuzzies all around.
My first indication that something was amiss was when the FTTA trainers told us, "Don't waste your time" with the poor, the aged, the weak and the sick, in other words don't spend any time or effort or attention to those who can't repay you in this age. Instead, go after the good building materials, which was explicitly spelled out - Caucasian college students. That was the prize, of the high calling of Christ Jesus, to come into the LC and go onto the college campus, and snare a Caucasian student for the building up of the Body of Christ and the Consummation of the New Jerusalem.
Etc. More and more I began to see disconnect between the holistic world of Lee, and the world of the Bible, of common sense, of Christian experience and testimony (our supposed "goodly heritage"), and our own still small voice i.e. our conscience. Just go with the flow, keep your mouth shut except to say, "Amen, praise the Lord!" Leadership is always right even when its wrong. As RG put it so succinctly, "We do what we are told". That's the holistic world of Lee, reduced to its primal essence.
On the other hand, I don't hold it against those who stay on the space ship. I'm qualified to judge no one. Some may feel, Hey, this is the best I can do, and decide to stay put. Others, however, feel, Hey, I can do better than this, and move on. Certainly I was in the latter camp.
Today sometimes I struggle with the scholars who lose sight of the forest for the trees. They can parse out one clause from Greek or Hebrew, but eventually you feel it has nothing to do with the larger narrative. I do appreciate Lee and Nee for continually trying to bring it all back full circle; I was probably helped and influenced by their work, in this regard.