[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by leastofthese

In regards to LSM:
Should we warn others that have recently touched the church?
Should we continue to pray for deliverance for friends in the church?
Do you consider LSM and LC to be standing on solid ground?
Should we command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies?
Should we step in when we see believers led astray by hypocrisy and conduct that is not in step with the truth of the gospel?

leastofthese has posed some very relevant questions. My answers, in short, are Yes, Yes, No, Yes and a BIG YES! Nothing, absolutely nothing, can be more important, and even urgent, than what is "in step with the truth of the Gospel", especially when it comes to some dear brothers and sisters who have been led to believe that there is some "higher gospel", or higher truth than what has been plainly presented to us in the four Gospels and teachings of the apostles. The very foundation, the very core, the very essential content of the Christian Faith is found within the four biblical Gospels, Acts and the epistles of Peter, Paul, John, James and Jude, along with Hebrews. "The truth of the Gospel" is solely and completely invested in the canon of the New Testament, and NOT in any interpretation thereof. Sadly, and even tragically, our dear brothers and sisters in the Local Church have been led to believe that "the interpreted word", AKA "the Ministry", AKA the spoken/written words of Witness Lee, is equal to, or even supersedes the Holy Writ itself.

Speaking the truth in love is not a suggestion or an option when it comes to "the defense and confirmation of the Gospel". (Philippians 1:7) The Local Church/LSM has a sub-organization they have dubbed "DCP - Defense and Confirmation Project", but they have little to no interest in defending or confirming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather they are "in business" to defend and confirm the person and work of Witness Lee. Ostensibly, DCP was also established to defend and confirm the ministry of Watchman Nee, however, apparently the revered founder of the Movement is not in as much need of defense and confirmation as Witness Lee, because the fast majority of their efforts go into attacking (sometimes suing) Lee's critics.

All this being said, I would emphasize that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12) - Our brothers and sisters in the Local Churches, including the brothers over at DCP, are deserving of all the love and respect afforded to any and all of "those who are of the household of faith", even if they to not return the favor. Yet our love and respect must always and forever be decidedly linked to the Truth of the Gospel - The Gospel which is clearly presented in the New Testament.

Originally Posted by JJ

Participating in this forum is a good way to warn others. There is nothing more powerful than former members speaking from the Word of God, in the Spirit, and from experience. But, ultimately keeping our eyes on Jesus and testifying of His glory and triumph is the most important thing, and really the only thing that we Christians can agree about anyway

My motivation for that was to allow discussion of both positive and negative of TLR and LSM, test, and keep the good. I've gathered from two years of reading these boards that most of the saints here think it is best to throw out the whole leavened lump.

As far as JJ's last observation (in bold), I would say there is quite a diversity among the forum members. In my experience and observation over the past 40 years, there is an inherent danger in attempting to "keep the good", or try to "keep the baby while throwing out the bathwater", as it were. When it comes to the teachings and practices of the Local Church of Witness Lee, the baby and the bathwater are so intermingled and intertwined that they have become virtually indistinguishable. Furthermore, to one dear brother, there may be a teaching or practice that they feel is very good and well worth holding on to, while another brother may consider the very same teaching or practice something of the "leavened lump", and needs to be discarded in any event.

I would point you to the experiences of some of the brothers and sisters in the MidWest and Canada over the past number of years. I'm thinking mainly of Nigel Tomes in Toronto and John Myer in Columbus, and all the saints that stood with them. I believe they made a very gallant and determined attempt at discarding many of the unprofitable and divisive teachings and practices, while trying to "hold to what is good". But they ran into a very big problem - When they attempted to throw out the bath water, the baby turned on them with great resistance and indignation! In fact, the baby ended up telling them to stop throwing out the bathwater, or else they could just leave the tub! Soooo.....they both ended up just leaving the tub....after being sued and excommunicated, of course, by that rather contentious and litigious baby, who cares more for his precious bathwater than the other occupants of the tub.

These two brothers have gone on to seek, pursue and proclaim the Lord and his Word among the wider Body of Christ. Their efforts have produced some very good fruit, and some of this fruit has been shared with us on this forum. And many of the members of the forum have also blessed the wider body of Christ through their thoughtful and heartfelt postings over the years, and for this I am greatly encouraged, thoroughly blessed and forever grateful.
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