Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
"Oneness" is actually not quite the priority to God that we were lead to believe by Witness Lee.
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I have arrived at this same conclusion also. What dramatically changed my views in 2005, after 30 years in the LC, was examining the record of events surrounding the quarantine of John Ingalls. I had always held "oneness" and its numerous "sisters" such as "thinking the same thing" and "having no opinion," in extremely high regard. I considered the Lord's prayer in John 17 as His highest desire for the church.
Reading the accounts of many former members has caused me to carefully re-examine this matter. Sadly, I learned that much of the emphasis over the years on "oneness" and the "one accord" had other motives in mind. These items became vehicles employed to silence internal critiques which were then desperately needed. WL and the BB's have effectively twisted many Biblical truths for their own gain, and numbed the conscience of the faithful, using a distorted presentation of "oneness."
Unfortunately, it was the Roman Catholic, or should I say the "Holy Oneness Church" of Rome which has mastered this art. Since I grew up in that system, I suppose I was more vulnerable than most. Some of the most rotten things in church history were done in the name of "oneness." A oneness the Lord never had in mind when He prayed on His last day.
When we look at the present day LC's and how far down they have spiraled, perhaps the single most important factor is "oneness with the ministry." It all sounded so good. There was a time when many of the brothers around me were clamoring its benefits. Now we have the unique advantage of time. We can look back and ask the reasons why something "so good became so bad." Here is just a partial list of the bad fruit of this devious teaching:
- Changed the emphasis from Christ-centered to man-centered
- Changed us from pleasing God to pleasing man
- Changed us from the word of God to the teachings of man
- Changed from independent local churches to headquarters
- Changed from the Headship of Christ to the leadership of man
- Changed from the liberty of the Spirit to the regulations of man
I have watched each of these (and more) happen slowly over time. I don't blame any of the saints. The leadership failed us. They are rightly called evil workers. They have placed their own interests above Christ and the saints.