[Drake]

In evaluating this article we will start with the basic premise of Tomes' argument which he repeats throughout:

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Tomes>"Basic Christian integrity requires the full disclosure of all aspects of his ministry—both the innocuous and the potentially offensive should be presented.

Tomes>"It would mean that LSM-radio’s sanitized version is presented to “outsiders,” the wider Christian community, while the “uncensored version, the real Witness Lee,” is reserved for “insiders,” members of LSM’s Local Church network and those delving deeper into LSM’s publications. "

Tomes>" LSM’s radio’s presentation of Witness Lee falls far short of the transparency65 and full disclosure which ought to characterize every Christian work and ministry."
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First, Tomes fails to establish a basis for his assertion that "basic Christian integrity requires full disclosure" and again, in the claim that "full disclosure ought to characterize every Christian work". And at first blush this sounds right if you think of it synonymous with telling the truth but Tomes isn't arguing for the telling the truth he is arguing for telling everything to everybody all the time. That is were his argument is flawed.

This is merely Tomes own idea and I suspect he only applies as a method to find some point of attack on Brother Lee or the serving ones associated with his ministry. I doubt that even Tomes discloses to those outside his own household everything he discloses to his wife, his children, or his family. That would be foolish and unwise and most of the time not even necessary.

Furthermore, I doubt that he discloses in his article everything he discussed with those who helped him create it. I have no proof yet I think he had help but not the best he could have received for the following reason.

A quick examination of scripture will help us see if his doctrine stands.

Starting with the Lord Himself, no doubt the author of Christian integrity. Did our Lord fully disclose everything with everybody? No, He did not. For we see many instances which the Lord spoke one way to the disciples and another to the crowds (Matthew 13:10-14; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10). Those examples alone refute Tomes' argument. So by Tomes' standard the Lord Jesus was not meeting the standard of "christian integrity". Hmm, wonder how that is gonna go down.

But wait, there's more.....

Paul told the Corinthians that he gave them milk to drink, not solid food (1 Corinthians 3:2). Whoa Doc! Paul was holding back something....not living up to your standard for "basic christian integrity" "which ought to characterize every Christian work and ministry" as you put it.

Yet another....

The writer of Hebrews says that some cannot take solid food but need milk (Hebrews 5: 11-14).

So much for Tomes' "full disclosure" doctrine to put everything out there.

Fact is, whether in family life, work life, social life, or church life we each measure our words according to the audience and their ability to receive it. These few verses alone establish that principle from the scripture. Tomes is making up this standard of Christian integrity just to attack brothers in the name of God no less.



Drake