[UntoHim]

Thanks for your reply Curious, I really appreciate your contributions to this thread. I wanted to repost one of your earlier posts, because I think it kind of illustrates the "truth" that you speak of:

Originally Posted by Curious

You know I was thinking, the core or original error might just be the separation from the established denominations and forming a Christian Church in China that had no accountability or connection to any balanced Christian group. Doing this too soon, without having learned much foundational lessons needed before branching off and separating themselves.
If they had moved towards autonomy gradually, and experienced healthy accountability, (as many protestant denominations have had good systems of internal accountability), they could have grown into something valid and productive.
They became autonomous and independent to 'young', to immature, and too bound to Chinese culture and spirituality. In their rebellion, immaturity and cultural blinkers, they were bound to go astray in a multitude of ways. They missed figuring out what had really happened to cause denominations to be formed in the first place, judging them negatively but not giving it all deeper thought. And they had not dealt with pride, vanity, and egotism first. There was no internal checks and balances to keep things on track. It's therefore no surprise that the superior and exclusive spirit has risen up amongst them, as well as many other human vices.
Its their first steps that set them in a bad direction I'm thinking. Their history that is the first thing to blame.

Excellent and comprehensive treatment of the history of the Local Church movement.

I guess my burden was/is to address the greatest errors in doctrine and teaching. (not so much addressing the practices, although many of the practices are unbiblical and unhelpful at best, and many are actually very harmful in my view) Actually, it's very difficult to judge one's "motivation", even if they straight up tell you what there motivation is. A person, especially a Christian, can have the best of intentions and motivations, yet find themselves totally out of the will of God, and even worse, operating in a manner which is in opposition to the will and purposes of God. One could have the best of intentions and motivations and find themselves teaching and preaching another gospel and another Jesus. How I see it, the actual root of many (most) of the problems we see in the Local Church of Witness Lee have their fundamental roots in the false and heretical teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. All the outward aberrations and errors in practice have their roots in the false teachings, and not the other way around as you brothers have proposed. But hey, maybe it's just two different sides to the very same coin. You guys are probably right. It's not a hill that I'm ready to die on, much less even fight over......now pass the mashed potatoes and gravy!
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