Quote:
Originally Posted by Indiana
from a piece by Nigel on G. H. Lang
LSM’s Vilification of G. H. Lang (excerpt)
The Brethren Bible teacher, George Henry Lang (1874-1958) was unjustly maligned by LSM’s ‘Local Church’ movement. LSM exhibits a schizophrenic attitude towards Lang. On one hand they laud him, saying “G. H. Lang [was] one of the greatest Bible expositors and scholars during the past century and the author of 40 Christian books...” Plus they appeal to Lang’s support of their ‘ground of locality’ doctrine. On the other hand, Lang was a whipping boy’ during LSM’s 1980s campaign against local church autonomy. Among members of LSM’s Local Church movement this latter aspect—the vilification of G. H. Lang--dominates their overall impression. LSM publications—books authored by Witness Lee--document over a dozen instances in which G. H. Lang is vociferously berated for teaching the autonomy of the local church. We argue that LSM’s maligning of G. H. Lang is undeserved; during his lifetime, Lang was an enthusiastic supporter of the Local Church’s ‘founding father’—brother Watchman Nee. Christian history scholar, Dr. David O. Woodbridge, asserts that Watchman “Nee...received enthusiastic support, particularly from...[G. H.] Lang.” This claim is substantiated by G. H. Lang’s personal correspondence with Watchman Nee—a resource LSM totally neglected. Moreover, Lang’s teaching on “autonomy” was not significantly different for W. Nee’s own teaching. It is hypocritical therefore to denounce G. H. Lang, while claiming to faithfully follow Watchmen Nee. It appears that G. H. Lang was simply a ‘scapegoat’ during LSM’s campaign to undermine a fundamental tenet—the autonomy of each local church. “The Body” was used to trump the local church. Meanwhile LSM’s soon-to-be ‘blended brothers’ began promoting W. Lee under the rubric of being ‘one with the ministry.’ In retrospect these events marked the start of LSM’s subversion of the local churches and began the globalization of Witness Lee’s ministry.
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A former longtime elder told me,
"We began with Christ as life for the building of the church and ended up with a man and a ministry."
It impressed me very much when I heard it
Both Nigel and I were in Chicago when this elder was serving there. Beginning his church life experience in the 1960s, he had served in at least 4 localities with several different elders and became very familiar with how things were done
under Witness Lee, LSM, and also with Texas brothers and the role they picked up in the churches. When Bill Mallon read this brother's email below he contacted me to ask who wrote it. He said it was right on the mark. And, we know that Don Rutledge has echoed in much detail this brother's fellowship, regarding Witness Lee and the Texas brothers.
Hi Steve
Regarding Bill Mallon's letter to Witness Lee. A tragic story. What kept going through
my mind was W. Lee's word of fellowship (I was there), You brothers have
never learned how to fellowship (with me). To understand this whole mess, you have to try and understand the Chinese mentality, their cultural background, ie, the way they think. And don't tell me that we are in Christ, the new man, and culture has nothing to do with it. Well. I'm afraid in reality, it has
everything to do with most of the frustration you are dealing with.
I remember many times listening to Brother Lee say never touch the Chinese
mentality. I never quite understood what he meant. In secular language, the
word inscrutable is used to describe the Chinese. To me this means, you can
never pin them down or get them to admit error. You can never figure them
out, and they seem sooo humble.
If you have following the negotiations with the US and China over the downed plane, you will get a clue about them; wanting the US to apologize for their errors. Against all truth, facts, reasonableness, logic, whatever... they want us to kowtow, bend our knee, save their face, their honor, etc. etc. It is crazy!! And yet to get our men and women back we had to say some kind of political ....We're very sorry.... to make a deal.
Now transfer all this and more to the way they dealt with Bill and others and
then you will know why you will go crazy trying to bring them to some kind of accountability.
When we attended the memorial service for W. L., we were amazed at the pomp, the exaltation. It was like attending a funeral for a head of state, or an emperor, or king, not a humble servant of the Lord!! Did Jesus have such a regal ending? Did any of the Apostles? No, all died just like their master
and Lord. When we brought this up with others, they said it was cultural and
his family's wishes.
When I was reading Bill's accusations of the way the office and Philip
handled things in the Southeast I was shocked at his frankness. I said to myself, you never, never talk to Brother Lee like that, in that tone. I surmised that Bill was thinking that surely B. Lee was not aware of all these underhanded dealings and if he only knew he would take steps to clear up everything and possibly restore his standing in the Southeast. NOT SO. It doesn't work that way in the Chinese culture. The one at the top is lord. You do not question, or criticize, never, ever!! or you are through, finished. All those elders mentioned by Witness Lee became a threat to his controlling and they had to be subdued or removed. I think you had a little taste of this recently with the brothers in Seattle and Bellevue.
The Texas brothers learned this early on and became the inner circle around
Brother Lee to defend him and explain how things work to the rest of the elders. You mentioned Ray Graver. Have you had any dealings with Ray? Do you know him? I would consider him the hardest of all the Texas brothers to touch. He has been loyal to the death from day one. He has been loyal without question to Brother Lee and LSM for thirty-five years. What makes you think he is going to change now? Maybe you know something I don't.
Their concept of the kingdom is.....Me King,,,,you dumb!....And this attitude
is passed down the rank and file. The smallest elder acts the same way. Those who had a mind of their own have left. Those who stayed have given up their own integrity and surrendered their person to Brother Lee and the system. This system has permeated the LC leadership. Can you change it? Can the Lord change it? Of course He will change it in HIS TIME. Judgment must first begin at the House of the Lord…. END