Let's look at the progression of Lee's argument with the Shanghai elders:
1. Whether he is wrong or right is not my business.
2. We all owe very much to Brother Nee.
3. We all must admit that he was just like a father to us all.
4. My spiritual being came out of him.
5. It is not a matter of whether Noah was right or wrong;
6. It is all a matter of from where we have received our being
7. He is your father.
8. Whatever you are and whatever you obtained has come out of him.
9. I have no position to say anything about his wrongdoing
10. Because he is my spiritual father
11. My spiritual being came out of him.
12. I could never say anything against him.
13. I am under God's government.
Firstly, what is personal to Lee becomes mandatory for the elders.
Secondly, the story of Noah proves right or wrong is insignificant when you consider your "source."
Thirdly, it went from "like a father," to "my spiritual being came out of him," to "he is your father," to "whatever you are came out from him," to "whatever you obtained has come out of him."
Looking carefully at each of these three progressions, woven into a single conversation, the reader is taken from a Paul/Timothy relationship to a Father God/son of God relationship. How subtle! If you swallow this persuasion, then W. Nee is God Himself to you, since you can only say of God Himself that "whatever you are came out from Him," and "whatever you have obtained has come out of Him."
Is anyone besides God Himself really above the laws of right and wrong? Has there ever been any man of God who was absolutely above all accountability?