The problem, Mr E, is that God's normal is radically different from Witness Lee's normal. God's normal is vividly described and displayed in his Word. It has also been displayed in and among his people in general for multiple thousands of years.
God's normal includes human relationships of all kinds. One of them is friendship. In fact, this notion of friendship is so vital and intrinsic to human existence and our relationship to God that the Lord Jesus made this stunning declaration:
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
(John 15:15)
Witness Lee's reasons and motivation for discouraging friendships among his followers has become painfully obvious to anyone who is not still immersed in the culture of the religion he invented. His reasons and motivations have been comprehensively exposed on this very thread. Lee could not afford to have one drop of natural affection be directed at any person or persons outside of his person and work. All affections and energy was to be expended upon "the one apostle with the one ministry for the age". This dynamic is still alive and well in the Local Church of Witness Lee. May God have mercy.
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