[UntoHim]

Great thread with some great contributions. Thanks HBJ for starting this one.

To me, the main problem with the Local Church is that the whole thing is based upon the personal mission of a man (men) - at the onset the movement was based upon the person and work of Watchman Nee. Since Nee's demise, the LC movement has been based upon the person and work of Witness Lee.

The mission of the church is clear: "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15,16) Over the history of the Christian church, the mission has not changed. As far as I know, the Lord Jesus has not returned and changed the mission. No angel from heaven has appeared and changed the mission. Even in the end days, according to Revelation, the mission will still not have changed. In fact, the mission will actually intensify - instead of of facing non-lethal persecution, the missionaries of this mission will face beheadings "for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God".

This is why the changing of, and corruption of, the genuine Gospel - "The Testimony of Jesus" - is the worst thing that can happen among those who call themselves Christians. The reason that it is the worst thing is that it hinders, and at times actually stops, the mission. The work of God is transformed into the work of man. The testimony of Jesus is turned into the testimony of Watchman Nee. The testimony of Jesus in turned into the testimony of Witness Lee. And now we see the end result before our very eyes - the testimony of Jesus has been transformed into the Local Church of Witness Lee/Living Stream/Hong Kong Book Room/Defense and Confirmation Project/Blended Brothers. May God have mercy.
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