[aron]

Originally Posted by NewManLiving

The chronic problem with WL "fleecing the flock" is a long and sordid one, reaching back into his early days in Taiwan. The problem with WL's ego and temper also has a long history, extending back to his relationship with Kaung, Sparks and others. Any honest person who has read the accounts and testimonies of many sincere brothers and sisters in Christ would certainly have to admit to this. WL had no peers because he eliminated them and elevated himself. In my observation his character never did change throughout his ministry. Perhaps on his death bed he had a sincere repentance.

There was a song that was popular in the early ('68-'72) days,

"Oh home in the church, where we’ve ended our search, with the brothers rejoicing all day; where Christ is our life, and we’re through with all strife, now we’re home. Hallelujah to stay! Chorus: Oh, home in the church, yes, it’s here that we’ve ended our search, and through all our days we will shout to His praise, Hallelujah! for Christ and the church."

Today I see that song and I'm like, "Whaaaa. . . ?!?! . . . 'We've ended our search' . . . ?!?!"

Jesus taught, "Seek and you will find", and "Seek first the kingdom of God". . . did WL actually convince us to abandon our seeking, and to end our search?!?

Apparently that's what happened - we ended, or gave up on, our search. Absolutely amazing, in hindsight; WL convinced thousands of Jesus People to quit seeking, that they were home in his church. But our home is really in the heavens with our Father! Even Paul wrote, "I have not yet laid hold". Yet WL had us lay hold, and laid hold of us, through something he called the "local ground", which was merely a vehicle for his "local church", later to be replaced by "the Body" and then "the Ministry".

Yes Philip told Nathaniel, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (John 1:45). Yes they did find such a Man. But what did Philip and Nathaniel find - a Man in a palace, or a Man selling merchandise? A Man fund-raising for a training campus and convention center? Or did they rather find a Man out on the street, with no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58)? An elusive Man, who'd continually withdraw from the crowds trying to make Him an earthly king(John 6:15)?

Christ is indeed the answer; He's surely the Way. Yet this answer, this way is a path, while here on earth - see e.g. Matt 4:19: "Come, follow Me". The way is not a fixed place, or static object. Even as you approach this One, of Whom Moses and the prophets indeed wrote, He recedes before you, inviting you to follow. This is His way of going before, and leading you back home to the Father. If you set down and rest, satisfied, you'll never make it. But WL convinced us to abandon our search, and to presumptuously sit down and declare, "We're home".

The danger of Babylon is that it convinces you to set up three tents, and stay there (Matt 17:4). Egypt is bad, but at least you know that you're not at home. Babylon tries to convince you that you're home, that you should abandon your search. Babylon lulls you into passivity. "Enjoy". Instead of the hungry, wandering, heaven-oriented, seeking church it becomes the complacent, torpid, earthly, self-oriented "churchy" church; with fat, heavy eyes, carefully minding its seating arrangements and ornamental trim.

Back to NML's post, above: WL knew what he was about; he was the same man who'd bullied and shamed the Shanghai elders into taking the sinful Nee back as unquestioned leader, who'd been caught smuggling gold. But now, coming into the USA, he was slow and careful. First, he convinced the frogs that a nice stainless steel pot was preferable to that muddy old pond. So clean, shiny! Enjoy! Then he slowly, slowly turned up the heat.

Our journey should be unremitting, while we dwell here in the flesh. Yet WL convinced the Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s to "sit down and eat and drink, and to get up and play", a la Exodus 32:6; cf 1 Cor 10:7. The idol was human culture, carefully manicured and disguised. Only one unquestioned and unquestionable leader, only one 'apostle' per age. One Ascended Master, and the rest being Small Potatoes. One Guru, who lives within the veil, whose every word has oracular status; the rest, without exception, are poor, pitiful, darkened and ignorant. Mooing cows, WL called us, and we passively absorbed all the calumnies he heaped on our heads.

The local ground and the local church were merely engines, devices to separate the flock, thence to be lulled into lethargy and stupor. Then WL could sell them his Rainbow Booklets and calendars. The merchandizer finally found the perfect market. Guru-hood.

But as NML says, maybe on his death-bed he had a sincere repentance. If so, may we all likewise be blessed, with a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Mea culpa; I was there too - promoting "the latest speaking" as if it were manna from the throne of God. I was there, supposedly at home in WL's "local church". But then the Holy Spirit thrust me back into the wilderness, thanks be to God. The hunger and thirst eventually returned, and the journey continued. Praise God!