An outsider's look into a Local Church

[Unsure]

So, on the Sunday two weeks ago, I noticed a person sitting in the meeting that I didn't recognize. Turns out she was an independent blogger (journalist?) going around to different churches in the city and making notes on them. She sat through the singing, the prophesying meeting, had lunch with us, and then left.

Yesterday, I was browsing her blog and noticed that she had put an article up about us, detailing her thoughts on the worship service (we were number 55 on her mission to visit 100 churches in the city)

http://100churches100sundays.blogspo...aints.html?m=1

Funny read, to say the least. Never really thought of using the *facedesk* emote(?) to describe some of Witness Lee's theology, but it works. I did send her an email yesterday clearing some things up (including what the "Church of Saints" was actually called) and pointed her in the direction of some reading material from Steve Isitt and Jane Anderson as well as the Open Letter.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Unsure

So, on the Sunday two weeks ago, I noticed a person sitting in the meeting that I didn't recognize. Turns out she was an independent blogger (journalist?) going around to different churches in the city and making notes on them. She sat through the singing, the prophesying meeting, had lunch with us, and then left.

Yesterday, I was browsing her blog and noticed that she had put an article up about us, detailing her thoughts on the worship service (we were number 55 on her mission to visit 100 churches in the city)

http://100churches100sundays.blogspo...aints.html?m=1

Funny read, to say the least. Never really thought of using the *facedesk* emote(?) to describe some of Witness Lee's theology, but it works. I did send her an email yesterday clearing some things up (including what the "Church of Saints" was actually called) and pointed her in the direction of some reading material from Steve Isitt and Jane Anderson as well as the Open Letter.

It is really interesting to read the perspective of an outsider. It also confirms my suspicions that an outsider not already 'conditioned' for the LC would find it to be highly irrelevant.

[TLFisher]

I thought she summed it up quite well:

Yes I agree that there are a lot of Christians out there that follow ritual and have no concept of Christ in their heart, and that these people are making no progress towards being closer to God. That is concerning for their sake and can also give the rest of us a bad name. But I don't think this church is the answer to this issue.

[Freedom]

Well it was cold. That was for sure. When I got to the building at 10am I discovered the doors were locked. I was then informed by two people idling in their vehicle that the church would be opened soon. So I stood by the door.....in the cold.....waiting for someone with a key.

I couldn't help laugh when I read this, because it pretty much describes a reoccurring problem that I have noticed over the years in the LC. By that, I am referring to a locked or empty meeting hall near the time when a meeting is scheduled to start. I remember a meeting once where no one had the key to the meeting hall, so we were locked out and proceeded to hold the meeting outside. It blew my mind how the brothers could be that negligent in relation to a basic task.

Talk about a lack of responsibility and coordination. LC leaders think that practical matters will just "work out" somehow, with no need to put forth any extra effort to coordinate things. That also says nothing to the fact of how unwelcoming it makes the environment for newcomers or the atmosphere of indifference it creates with long term members. I have read the stories about the early days of the LC, where meetings always started early. That might have actually been intriguing to outsiders to drop in on that kind of environment. LC leaders would do well to consider just how they come across to outsiders. Maybe it's for the better. It scares people away. I don't wish the LC upon anyone.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I couldn't help laugh when I read this, because it pretty much describes a reoccurring problem that I have noticed over the years in the LC. By that, I am referring to a locked or empty meeting hall near the time when a meeting is scheduled to start. I remember a meeting once where no one had the key to the meeting hall, so we were locked out and proceeded to hold the meeting outside. It blew my mind how the brothers could be that negligent in relation to a basic task.

Talk about a lack of responsibility and coordination. LC leaders think that practical matters will just "work out" somehow, with no need to put forth any extra effort to coordinate things. That also says nothing to the fact of how unwelcoming it makes the environment for newcomers or the atmosphere of indifference it creates with long term members. I have read the stories about the early days of the LC, where meetings always started early. That might have actually been intriguing to outsiders to drop in on that kind of environment. LC leaders would do well to consider just how they come across to outsiders. Maybe it's for the better. It scares people away. I don't wish the LC upon anyone.

Not to be a party pooper here, but here's my take ...

A couple of the churches visited by that blogger were in Edmonton, Alberta, which is well nigh the North Pole in the dead of winter. In my LC, much further south I should add, I used to be the guy who would go to the meeting hall on Saturday afternoon just to crank up the heat, hoping to make it tolerable for the Lord's Day Meeting. Those old buildings never seemed to get warm. I probably needed a whole week to heat that place up in January.

Many times I went to the Meeting Hall hours early to pray on Sunday morning, then shovel snow with the brothers, and then we raced home to eat and get our families back to church on time, and somehow in the mix we forgot to leave the door unlocked. It would burn me up hearing other brothers whine when they arrived a little "inconvenienced."

Thank the Lord, however, for some warm food in a warm basement.

I liked this comment she made, "My conclusions on this church are simple. It was a good idea that kind of went sideways." I agree. Living Sideways Ministry it is.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Not to be a party pooper here, but here's my take ...

A couple of the churches visited by that blogger were in Edmonton, Alberta, which is well nigh the North Pole in the dead of winter. In my LC, much further south I should add, I used to be the guy who would go to the meeting hall on Saturday afternoon just to crank up the heat, hoping to make it tolerable for the Lord's Day Meeting. Those old buildings never seemed to get warm. I probably needed a whole week to heat that place up in January.

Many times I went to the Meeting Hall hours early to pray on Sunday morning, then shovel snow with the brothers, and then we raced home to eat and get our families back to church on time, and somehow in the mix we forgot to leave the door unlocked. It would burn me up hearing other brothers whine when they arrived a little "inconvenienced."

Thank the Lord, however, for some warm food in a warm basement.

I liked this comment she made, "My conclusions on this church are simple. It was a good idea that kind of went sideways." I agree. Living Sideways Ministry it is.

Since I'm from Southern California, we never really needed to have anyone arrive early to do anything. In fact, someone arriving on time to unlock the hall was usually sufficient. So maybe the criticism is a bit more applicable out here than in other areas of the country.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I liked this comment she made, "My conclusions on this church are simple. It was a good idea that kind of went sideways." I agree. Living Sideways Ministry it is.

This reminds me of a story I heard, I think from GG. He was saying that WL was asking what it was to be builded up. He answered with his understanding. WL said, "No, it's not like that", and proceeded to give his understanding.

The LC was a place where everyone got to offer their folk theology, and WL would then supersede it with his own folk theology. When I say, 'folk theology' I mean that you look at the text and says, "This means this (to me)". What it has meant to Christians through the centuries is largely irrelevant unless you happen upon some understanding that seems to align with yours. Then you can reference that, to show how your interpretation or subjective impression is so orthodox.

As Nigel Tomes wrote in the comments section: "W. Lee's writings (interpretation) trumps the Bible (which merely provides the proof texts which launch into his teachings)."

You have Witness Lee's folk theology, which incorporates unending hostility against all forms of religion (Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodox prominently included) which is itself become unquestionable (i.e. religious dogma) in a certain very narrow circle. Thus the strong aberrant ('sideways') flavor emanating therefrom.