Quote:
Originally Posted by Steel
...But their repentance is between them and the Lord.
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As far as repentance being between them and the Lord, let's review the scripture ... Witness Lee knew BenM need to repent. Benson, Ray, DonR, DonL and Joe Davis knew it. Ray Graver knew it. The standard for elders are higher. Further, if Witness Lee had followed the scripture and set the standard with his own son and later with BenM, we might not be dealing with this scourge today. Witness Lee clearly feared his own son more than he feared the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (Joe Davis, Don Rutledge, Benson Phillips and Don Looper)
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
So elders are held to a higher standard. Please provide us with an example of *even one* instance of the Local Church excommunicating a sinning brother for *anything* much less sexual abuse of the sisters in the Local Church.
Don Rutledge's post:
Hope: #103
Regarding Ben McPhersons immorality, this is the report from a first hand witness: Ray Graver was the first to know. He contacted Benson Phillips who called for an urgent gathering at his home with Ray, Joe Davis of Houston, Don Looper of Austin and Don Rutledge of Dallas. This occurred the morning after Ben was found out. All the brothers there were furious. Don Rutledge angrily declared that they had all been betrayed. All agreed that Ben should be publicly excommunicated and publicly rebuked that all may fear. All agreed that the Lord could not bless the church in Irving due to Ben’s sin. Ben had confessed to Ray that this sin was not a one time thing but had been going on for some time including when he was in Arlington. Ben also admitted that he knew the Church in Arlington had lagged the other Dallas area churches in blessing due to his sin. At that time, none of these brothers would sympathize with any immorality and especially from an elder or co-worker.
While they were meeting, Witness Lee returned Bensons urgent message. After about a 30 minute conversation, Benson returned to the room where the brothers were waiting, still in a state of shock and outrage. Witness Lee urged them to consider Bens family and the harm to them if he was publicly exposed. He urged them not to publicly excommunicate him but simply ask him to move away. That is what Ray and Benson decided to do. The other three had big reservations but deferred to the Irving brothers to take care of the matter.
But then the lying started. Many people began to call wanting to know what happened to Ben. Since Witness Lee, Benson and Ray had decided to keep the real situation under wraps, what where these brothers to say. Looper and Rutledge would say that something must have happened in Irving and they did not know for sure – A LIE. Benson and Ray told various stories, Ben wanted to get away etc and not to worry since he was in fellowship.
Witness Lee urged Benson and Ray to spend time with Ben and seek to recover him, but they were too disgusted to seek to contact him.
Yes the worldly wisdom from Witness Lee and the unfaithfulness of the five brothers led to more tragedy. All five have an account to give at the judgment seat.
Hope
In Christ Jesus there is hope for us all.
I do have an example of a woman who was excommunicated publicly in the 1970's in The Church In Houston whose sin was fornication as a way of life. I was there in the room. It was a definite warning and there was fear among all who were there that night. I will never forget it. And, amazingly, the Elder who spoke in that meeting, excommunicating her, was BenM. Her sin was not between herself and the Lord. It was a church matter.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Nell