[UntoHim]

Thanks for checking in Koinonia.

I don't believe that Jo has identified as "an atheist or agnostic". She did go through a very dark place in which she doubted God. Of course she can speak for herself.

You have identified a very troubling trend for younger Local Churchers coming out of the movement - an alarming number have turned away from the faith. I know that in the locality where I've been for over 25 years, a vary large number of the 2nd generation have not only abandoned the false religion of the Local Church, but have also turned away from the Lord. I couldn't give you a percentage, but it is well over 50%, and probably closer to 70%. I now understand that this phenomenon is not isolated to a few localities, but these numbers are common throughout the movement in the USA.

I think there is little doubt what the main reason is for what is happening in the Local Church among the young people - the Local Church has become part of the dead religion that they have decried for decades. Sadly, and somewhat ironically, they have become one of the poorest sects of "poor, poor, Christianity". The dynamic that Joanna has described here indicates that of a starving Christian. The "green garden" of the church life has become a barren wasteland. If they really had been "eating, drinking, breathing Jesus" there would not be the problems that the Casteels have described in this letter.

The reason that there is such an alarming number of young ones abandoning the faith is that Witness Lee and his followers have abandoned the Gospel. Lee's "higher gospel" is not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Gospel of the Scripture writing apostles. Lee's "high peak truths" are neither high nor truths. They are, in fact, "another gospel". Yes, they are novel. Yes, They are enticingly unique. Yes, they are even partially biblical. But they are without the true nutrition that is provided in "the faith once delivered to the saints". They are pseudo manna. They look like manna. They smell like manna. They may even taste like manna. But they are devoid of the life-giving nutrition that comes down from heaven. May the genuine "Bread of Life" have mercy on these dear people. May the genuine Light of the World shine on them and light the path to a new and living way.
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