Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxjobox
Back in the late 70's, I thought WL had such a vision, I thought the elders in the church in my city had such a vision, then slowly at first, then quite rapidly during the early to mid 80's a shift in vision came through. It was no longer the building up of the assembly it was all about LSM. At first it was a clearing of the book room of non-LSM material, it was LSM material in every meeting. It was talk of oneness with " the ministry", only "the ministery" and get on the train so your not left behind at the station. The local needs of the saints, the local ministry, and really, the love of the saints was gone- sold out for LSM. Then it was a form letter in the mail that basically said we are 100% for WL/LSM. The meeting hall, the labor, time and money put into having a place to meet was turned over to LSM: the practical local church meeting in the Lord's name was gone. Some of the elders who could not accept it were gone, many saints including myself left- but really, it was not us leaving it was the " LC" leaving us. I knew I did not want to raise my kids in such a place.
Drake, I suspect many of us have a vision of the church- it would be really good if those who claim to meet as the "LC" would repent, drop LSM and start meeting in that vision again. They stole the meeting hall from the church, they stole the simplicity of meeting as the church, and turned it over to LSM. I don't want to meet with delusional thiefs. If repentance ever comes, I would be one of the first to return to breaking bread, fellowship, preaching the gospel, love feasts, meeting in the home, and enjoying the saints as the simple church in the city.
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Boxjobox,
First, I want to thank you for this post. It touched me. I read it several times to put myself in your shoes and try to understand if my experience was materially different from yours and why we hold different points of view.
So, here are my thoughts based on what you stated. Do not take anything I say personally for I do not judge you or your situation for I know neither other than what you have stated above. I don’t need to know any details for what I say applies to my every situation.
The vision that governs me is not Brother Lee’s vision or any elder’s vision. It is the vision imparted to me by the Holy Spirit. By that, I do not mean it is not the same vision for the most part. I mean that though I heard about the vision from ministers like Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, various elders, many gifts to the Body, and functioning members in the Body, at some definite point in time I received a direct visitation from the Holy Spirit imparting a vision into me. At that definite point in time that revelation of the vision, that experience of the vision, became mine and should those through whom I heard about this vision change their view, mine would not for I cannot deny what I have received directly from God. This vision carried me through turbulence in the church life not unlike that found in the Corinthian church. Outwardly, it a mess, nevertheless, the vision speaks it is still the church of God in Corinth. All in Asia forsook Paul yet Paul was faithful to the heavenly vision. That is the quality of a vision imparted by God. It endures, it guides, it keeps. Offending brothers may never repent but the vision is still the vision. Once you possess it, or rather it captures you, you have a treasure that is worthy above everything and everyone else for the vision is God Himself. The vision enables me to forgive 70x7. Without it I would hold an offense forever, or at least till the Bema of Christ. So, whether those who offended me repent or never repent I am not guided by their repentance but rather by the vision I have received. Man’s failures, sinful actions, or shortcomings do not dictate the path I chose and choose.
As to LSM specifically, in my view is it has always been an extension to the work of ministry. It is a reasonable expectation that the role of LSM be defined, yet it will not surprise you that I view their contribution as beneficial to the local churches and not the heavy handed control organization of the local churches you described. And just to calm any angst about what I mean, I condemn and have condemned the actions of Philip Lee and have stated that someone should have called the cops but he does not define what LSM is or their total contribution to the work of ministry. Still, even if a LSM were to publish Harry Potter books it does not affect the vision that guides me because I did not receive it from LSM.
Thanks again for your post. It’s sincerity and lack of malice allowed me to give thoughtful consideration before the Lord. Please accept my response in the considerate spirit in which it is intended.
Drake