Local Church Speak - Merged with The Lexicon

[OBW]

I'm sure that there is a legitimate way to understand this phrase. But does it actually have a real meaning, or is it LC-spiritualeze for "something I've been thinking about" or praying about, or concerned about.

Or what?

Is it like "cool"? Cool can mean "groovy," "great," all the way down to "I guess I can live with that." So if you say "cool," what did you say? And if two people say "cool," did they say the same thing?

So what is "exercised in your spirit"? Does it have a somewhat singular meaing? Is the meaning variable based on the context? Is "my spirit" necessarily involved just because I use the term? Is it just a LRC cliche?

Opinions? Does Lee or someone else ever give this term a somewhat difinitive meaning? Or is it just jargon?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by OBW

I'm sure that there is a legitimate way to understand this phrase. But does it actually have a real meaning, or is it LC-spiritualeze for "something I've been thinking about" or praying about, or concerned about.

Or what?

Is it like "cool"? Cool can mean "groovy," "great," all the way down to "I guess I can live with that." So if you say "cool," what did you say? And if two people say "cool," did they say the same thing?

So what is "exercised in your spirit"? Does it have a somewhat singular meaing? Is the meaning variable based on the context? Is "my spirit" necessarily involved just because I use the term? Is it just a LRC cliche?

Opinions? Does Lee or someone else ever give this term a somewhat difinitive meaning? Or is it just jargon?

That's easy: Jargon

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Dave

That's easy: Jargon

Agreed. I never really got what the meaning of that statement other than the "implied" meaning. I know that they pull out this verse a lot when some asks what exercising the spirit is: Tim 4:6 "But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness."

I know that the screaming at the top of the lungs and fist pumping is considered being "exercised in spirit". I think that maybe Lee left the meaning somewhat vague on purpose. In many cases I've seen the idea of being "exercised in spirit" as a way to correct people: so and so is argumentative, so they are not "in their spirit". A brother is too quiet when he's sharing, so he's not "exercised" enough. It is kind of a catch-all tool that the leading brothers can use to direct everyone. Because the meaning is unclear, no one questions it, they just assume they messed up somehow. I know that because it's been used like that to "correct" me many times.

[zeek]

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

That's a list of every verse using of the word exercise in the KJV New Testament. "Exercise of the spirit" is not among them. Thus, exercise of the spirit is an extra-Biblical expression of uncertain meaning apparently coined by Watchman Nee. Before one could know what it means to exercise the spirit one would have to know what the spirit is and that is never defined by Nee or Lee as far as I have heard or read. I have given my definition on another thread and you dismissed it. What, if anything, you mean by spirit, OBW, I haven't seen you define either.

[Mephibosheth2]

Originally Posted by zeek

That's a list of every verse using of the word exercise in the KJV New Testament. "Exercise of the spirit" is not among them. Thus, exercise of the spirit is an extra-Biblical expression of uncertain meaning apparently coined by Watchman Nee. Before one could know what it means to exercise the spirit one would have to know what the spirit is and that is never defined by Nee or Lee as far as I have heard or read. I have given my definition on another thread and you dismissed it. What, if anything, you mean by spirit, OBW, I haven't seen you define either.

According to WL, the spirit is an organ for apprehending spiritual things just as the body is an organ for contacting the material world. He adds on and goes further to say that the spirit is actually a 'vessel' purposely created for containing God.

[rayliotta]

Originally Posted by Mephibosheth

According to WL, the spirit is an organ for apprehending spiritual things just as the body is an organ for contacting the material world. He adds on and goes further to say that the spirit is actually a 'vessel' purposely created for containing God.

Witness Lee had a lot of teaching about the human spirit, exercising the spirit, etc.

A line in a hymn said, "Get out of your mind, get your spirit in gear!" As a kid, I heard a lot that I should "get out of my mind."

Is there something in the Bible that indicates we should "get out of our mind"?

A rapper named Lil John has a track called "Get Outta Your Mind." It's a little unpleasant (Lil John is famous for screaming a lot), and I'm pretty sure he's talking about getting wasted. This reminds me that someone mentioned awhile back that Philip Lee was known to have shared marijuana, on occasion, w/some church young people.

Considering Recovery culture, I have to say that pot use does not strike me as all that out-of-sync w/being a member of the Lord's Recovery. While it may not be particularly helpful for fist-pumping spirit-exercising in the meetings, it really doesn't hurt when you're in that mellow, not-asking-too-many-questions, post-meeting mode.

[zeek]

Originally Posted by Mephibosheth

According to WL, the spirit is an organ for apprehending spiritual things just as the body is an organ for contacting the material world. He adds on and goes further to say that the spirit is actually a 'vessel' purposely created for containing God.

Thanks for the response Mephibosheth. The idea that the spirit is an organ is, I believe, wrong. That idea makes the spirit an object. As such it is peripheral to you as the experiencing subject. That is a mistaken notion of spiritually deadly consequences as I can testify because of my experience in Witness Lee's cult. Remember the diagram of the three circles? That symbol got it right because it shows spirit in the center. The spirit is the true you. Accept no substitute.

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Mephibosheth

According to WL, the spirit is an organ for apprehending spiritual things just as the body is an organ for contacting the material world. He adds on and goes further to say that the spirit is actually a 'vessel' purposely created for containing God.

Yet the verses that Nee listed to define the spirit were quite interesting. And anything but a "vessel." In fact, they looked a lot like the same functions as the soul. In fact, despite the claim of discovering unique functions for each of the three "parts of man" — body, soul, and spirit — it seemed that the spirit was more like an aspect of the soul than something so independent. Probably one of the reasons that it took a sharp, two-edged sword to separate them. But the fact that it indicated that the Word was such a sword, that did not mean that a list of verses was the wielding of that sword.

That is just a list of definitions. And while the things that scripture defines is important, I'm not sure that it is definitions that separate soul and spirit. The spirit knows. But so does the mind. And so on. Given that kind of differentiation, they begin to look more like slightly different aspects of one thing than completely different things that can be defined into separation.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Agreed. I never really got what the meaning of that statement other than the "implied" meaning. I know that they pull out this verse a lot when some asks what exercising the spirit is: Tim 4:6 "But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness."

I know that the screaming at the top of the lungs and fist pumping is considered being "exercised in spirit". I think that maybe Lee left the meaning somewhat vague on purpose. In many cases I've seen the idea of being "exercised in spirit" as a way to correct people: so and so is argumentative, so they are not "in their spirit". A brother is too quiet when he's sharing, so he's not "exercised" enough. It is kind of a catch-all tool that the leading brothers can use to direct everyone. Because the meaning is unclear, no one questions it, they just assume they messed up somehow. I know that because it's been used like that to "correct" me many times.

The Release of the Spirit….The breaking of the outer man and the release of the spirit. What has happened in the LC is that WL and the BB can retain their outer man and break everyone else. People become so weakened (or broken) they are unable to think for themselves (or exercise their mind) and bound forever in “brokenness” making it impossible to break away because that would be the exercise of the outer man. WL and the BB hold themselves up to have been broken but the fruits of their lives don’t reflect that experience. They hold dominion over others.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Dave

The Release of the Spirit….The breaking of the outer man and the release of the spirit. What has happened in the LC is that WL and the BB can retain their outer man and break everyone else. People become so weakened (or broken) they are unable to think for themselves (or exercise their mind) and bound forever in “brokenness” making it impossible to break away because that would be the exercise of the outer man. WL and the BB hold themselves up to have been broken but the fruits of their lives don’t reflect that experience. They hold dominion over others.

You can add Titus Chu to your list.

[awareness]

My experience in the LC was that "exercise your spirit" was a euphemism, for "get with the program."

[rayliotta]

Originally Posted by Dave

The Release of the Spirit….The breaking of the outer man and the release of the spirit. What has happened in the LC is that WL and the BB can retain their outer man and break everyone else. People become so weakened (or broken) they are unable to think for themselves (or exercise their mind) and bound forever in “brokenness” making it impossible to break away because that would be the exercise of the outer man. WL and the BB hold themselves up to have been broken but the fruits of their lives don’t reflect that experience. They hold dominion over others.

Ron Kangas used to talk a lot about being broken. (Probably he still does.) He gives the example of when they rented out their house in Texas after moving back to California (if I'm remembering the details correctly), and the house was subsequently trashed by the renters. That was part of the breaking of his outer man.

I think people admire him and respect his sharing because he is seen as someone who has gone through this "breaking process". I know that's how I heard him when I was there.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Dave

What has happened in the LC is that WL and the BB can retain their outer man and break everyone else. People become so weakened (or broken) they are unable to think for themselves (or exercise their mind) and bound forever in “brokenness” making it impossible to break away because that would be the exercise of the outer man. WL and the BB hold themselves up to have been broken but the fruits of their lives don’t reflect that experience. They hold dominion over others.

It is a means to hold dominion. How can we tell if you are in your mingled spirit, or exercising your human spirit? If you yell loud enough?

It is sold to the prospective new ones, the so-called contacts, couched in Bible-ese. "Cry out and shout, o thou inhabitant of Zion"; you are told to "call on the Lord" and so forth. You are encouraged to "Draw from the wells of salvation", and "Eating Jesus is the way". I noticed immediately that this was one of the loudest meetings I'd ever been to. I mean, no amplification, just everybody in a circle in someone's living room, and it felt like the walls were shaking. So I got in, and "when in Rome", I began to make a lot of noise as well. "O Lord Jesus" and "amen" and "praise the Lord" and "hallelujah" over and over again.

So it was an overwhelming sensory experience. And I was weakened thereby, and surrendered control. Subjectivity reigned. I "felt the spirit/Spirit". So it was actually a charismatic dodge, looking back. I have had many charismatic experiences since leaving the LC and I have learned to trust none of them. The only charismatic experience you should trust is when/if you get to the Bema and you hear the voice, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of your Master." Until then, trust no one and nothing. Especially your self! Especially your senses!

We were arguably caught by the "sensual" nature of the ministry. Shouting in ecstasy, we thought we were "home in the church". And when the long knives came out, and we heard whispers of "rebellion", or vague references in the podium about being "negative", we trusted that sensual experience. When our conscience protested, we trusted that sensual experience. When the Bible was ignored or overturned, we trusted that original charismatic feeling. So we continued to "exercise our mingled Spirit". Don't worry, have another sip of Kool-Aid. Everything is fine.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I know that the screaming at the top of the lungs and fist pumping is considered being "exercised in spirit".

Can't you be "excercised in spirit" through silence? Instead of the generic "look at me I can be loud" exercise of vocal chords whether or not it produces being "exercised in spirit". At the minimum, it draws attention to yourself.

So what is "exercised in your spirit"? Does it have a somewhat singular meaing? Is the meaning variable based on the context? Is "my spirit" necessarily involved just because I use the term? Is it just a LRC cliche?

Opinions? Does Lee or someone else ever give this term a somewhat difinitive meaning? Or is it just jargon?

*Yes***"Exercise your spirit"****when I was there meant, "don't use your mind to think" don't carry on a normal conversation , don't question ,rather get with the program , be spiritually upbeat, ie. chant or shout amen lord Jeeesus! Use your a strong emotional tone and emphasize hand gestures to go along with it , like a small fisted up -swinging motion , while quoting a piece of witness Lee's message or slogans and then say amen Jeeesus again!

[Nell]

So the OP in this thread from 11/2014 begins with "Exercise your spirit".

Exercise your spirit is not a verse. It's not Scripture. It's LC-speak.

I think calling LC-speak "The Lexicon" is generous, but here you are.

Nell

[HERn]

Originally Posted by Nell

So the OP in this thread from 11/2014 begins with "Exercise your spirit".

Exercise your spirit is not a verse. It's not Scripture. It's LC-speak.

I think calling LC-speak "The Lexicon" is generous, but here you are.

Nell

I remember at the beginning when we first touched the church life that I asked the leading elder if there was a glossary of recovery terms to help me understand their teaching. He smiled and said he did not know of one. I was serious. I don't know why I didn't see that as a red flag.

[Nell]

1. I don't have the peace.
2. I just don't have the grace for that.
3. Turn to your spirit.
4. You're in your soul.
5. Get out of your mind.
6. Halleluuuuuuuuuuujah
7. Praaaaaaaaise the Lord
8. We only care for life.
9. Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, ...
10. Oooooohhhhhhhhhh Loooooooorrrrrrrrrrrdddddddddd Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssss
11. The Lord's Recovery (I personally believe that "the Recovery" is not recovering anything, and "it" is not of "the Lord." So why call "it" the Lord's Recovery?)
12. Kill the flesh
13. Arm pump while pray reading.
14. Let us EAT CHRIST
15. WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
16. ( Insert Catholic church basing x100)
17. Onenessssssss
18. BLENDINGGGGGG
19. Any kind of talk that sounds like they are diminishing another’s own ability to think/choose for them self and talking over them as if they know what is better.
20. "Drunken Noah" - Witness Lee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries, and making off with the church funds.
21. "Rebellion" - Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons. See also, "Storms" and "Turmoils"
22. "Proper" - Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
23. "Attack" - Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
24. "Critique" - When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
25. "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
26. "Saints" - Anyone on the "proper" ground. Once , in conversation, I said I was from a city with no LR church group. The listener frowned, puzzled. "Are there any saints there?" He asked me.
    "Yes, thousands of them" I replied. "You know what I mean", he said, nonplussed.

This should get us started on an updated glossary...is this helping, StG?

Nell

[jigsaw44]

11. Kill the flesh
12. Arm pump while pray reading.
13. Let us EAT CHRIST
14. WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
15. ( Insert Catholic church bashing x100)
16. Onenessssssss
17.BLENDINGGGGGG

[NZexCK]

18. Any kind of talk that sounds like they are diminishing another’s own ability to think/choose for them self and talking over them as if they know what is better.

[aron]

Originally Posted by NZexCK

18. Any kind of talk that sounds like they are diminishing another’s own ability to think/choose for them self and talking over them as if they know what is better.

We had a thread on this forum once: "Things Witness Lee knows but others don't". It was all quotes from WL saying, "Not may Christians realize..." and "Not many Christians appreciate..." or "Most Christians don't understand this, but..."

Somehow WL had these abilities - not only to know what most other Christians thought (even though he hadn't been to their meetings for years) and to know what was superior to that thinking. And these godlike abilities would be transferred to us if we just sat in the proper chairs, in the proper meeting on the proper ground, listening to the oracle of God for these present times. Then we'd likewise know what was best for everyone else.

19. "Drunken Noah" - Witness Lee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries, and making off with the church funds.
20. "Rebellion" - Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons. See also, "Storms" and "Turmoils"
21. "Proper" - Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
22. "Attack" - Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
23 "Critique" - When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
24. "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
25. "Saints" - Anyone on the "proper" ground. Once , in conversation, I said I was from a city with no LR church group. The listener frowned, puzzled. "Are there any saints there?" He asked me.

"Yes, thousands of them" I replied. "You know what I mean", he said, nonplussed.

[Sons to Glory!]

Some of the ones on this list are scriptural - like using the word "saints" for Christians. Of course, using the word in an elitist way is the error (as Aron points in in #25). But other things like "turn to your spirit" are not scriptural, at least as far as I can tell. Turn to the Lord is what is scriptural. The Lord is joined to our spirit, but saying "turn to your spirit" I think excludes something important - The Lord Spirit!

And I think we need to show grace to those who still use some of these words too. For instance, a brother and I here noticed that some speak sometimes of "turning to your spirit." We know it's off, but would hopefully not go to them to try and correct them. That would just be legalism.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Some of the ones on this list are scriptural - like using the word "saints" for Christians. Of course, using the word in an elitist way is the error (as Aron points in in #25). But other things like "turn to your spirit" are not scriptural, at least as far as I can tell. Turn to the Lord is what is scriptural. The Lord is joined to our spirit, but saying "turn to your spirit" I think excludes something important - The Lord Spirit!

And I think we need to show grace to those who still use some of these words too. For instance, a brother and I here noticed that some speak a lot of "turning to your spirit." We know it's off, but would hopefully not go to them to try and correct them. That would just be legalism.

Scriptural or not...it's still LC-speak. Who talks like this?

If you want to communicate with other people, Christians, Christians who are wounded, LCKids who are wounded, unbelievers, don't use expressions that are cringeworthy to your audience. Why would you do that? You've asked for clarification...you've been told...over and over again.

When someone writes or speaks, they write or speak for the sake of the audience. Don't make it about you! LC-speak doesn't care about people...it's all about Witness Lee, LSM, Local Church. It's all about the "heavenly language" of the high-minded speaker condescending to the ignorant, moo-cow listener.

On the contrary, we are charged to be "all things to all people".
1 Cor. 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Nell
******************
3. Remember It's About The Audience
Most talented speakers are great at storytelling. However, when telling your story, never forget that you are doing it for the sake of the audience. It shouldn't be about you, so make it crystal clear why, and how, your story can help the audience. That way your message will be more than entertaining, it will also be empowering and inspirational! - Donald Hatter, Donald Hatter Inc.

[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Some of the ones on this list are scriptural - like using the word "saints" for Christians. Of course, using the word in an elitist way is the error (as Aron points in in #25). But other things like "turn to your spirit" are not scriptural, at least as far as I can tell. Turn to the Lord is what is scriptural. The Lord is joined to our spirit, but saying "turn to your spirit" I think excludes something important - The Lord Spirit!

And I think we need to show grace to those who still use some of these words too. For instance, a brother and I here noticed that some speak sometimes of "turning to your spirit." We know it's off, but would hopefully not go to them to try and correct them. That would just be legalism.

Not in my experience, in the denominations I go to, they say “brothers and sisters” instead of “saints”.

I just don't have the grace for that.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I just don't have the grace for that.

Not sure what "that" is. Last post? Opening post?

It helps to quote what you are commenting on.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Not sure what "that" is. Last post? Opening post?

It helps to quote what you are commenting on.

It's LC-speak. A universal "that".

N

[aron]

Originally Posted by Nell

It's LC-speak. A universal "that".

N

Right. As in, "We don't care for that"... and, notice it's the "royal we". It's all manipulation and mindless conformity, with a thin veneer of spirituality on top.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I just don't have the grace for that.

I noticed that this comment followed StG's post:

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

And I think we need to show grace to those who still use some of these words too. For instance, a brother and I here noticed that some speak sometimes of "turning to your spirit." We know it's off, but would hopefully not go to them to try and correct them. That would just be legalism.

I'm not sure if allowing error is "showing grace". Perhaps you can give a message in your church on the perils of reflexive groupthink? I know in the LCs they would introduce new people to each other, and then they'd nod and say, "Amen, amen" to nothing at all, as if they meant, "I'm part of the group, I'm part of the group". It's just mindless conformity.

In LC context, "turn to your spirit" is to engage in repetitive activity meant to suppress critical thinking. "Get out of your mind, get your spirit in gear" was another phrase I remember. That's where Nell's "Ooooooooooooohh Loooooooooooord Jeeeeeeeeeeezussssssssss" comes in. It's mindless ritual.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

I'm not sure if allowing error is "showing grace".

Perhaps you can give a message in your church on the perils of reflexive groupthink?

Wow! Can we examine how "group-speak" resulting from "reflexive group-think" is now "error." (I'm not defending any LC speak here.) Perhaps a little tour of "Twitter-verse" might prove that the whole world is now in speech "error."

Have you ever had teenagers? Every new generation develops a new "group-speak" to identify who is "in" and who is "out."

And, yes, I agree that some of the WL/LC-speak is juvenile.

[Curious]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Wow! Can we examine how "group-speak" resulting from "reflexive group-think" is now "error." (I'm not defending any LC speak here.) Perhaps a little tour of "Twitter-verse" might prove that the whole world is now in speech "error."

Have you ever had teenagers? Every new generation develops a new "group-speak" to identify who is "in" and who is "out."

And, yes, I agree that some of the WL/LC-speak is juvenile.

This is a great thread, I noticed the LC lingo too, 'mingled' is both a false doctrine and another lingo word.

However, it's also helpful to keep in mind, it's not the lingo itself that's the problem. It's the motivation behind it. In this case it's all designed to guide the person along a prescribed track. Not all lingo is towards such a goal, as Ohio has pointed out. So by the same token, not all persons using any particular lingo have the same purpose in mind.

For example, StG uses the LC lingo, yes, (has been using...) but he's not trying to control anyone, subvert anyone, bully or badger or brainwash. He has kept the habit and was not himself deeply harmed by the LC so doesn't have the same negative associations with the lingo. Then he's stayed in a breakaway group, so the lingo has remained but the toxicity that is associated with the LC itself didn't develop.

That is how it looks to me, looking on. Tolerating some lingo from those who mean no harm, could be like taking a vaccination. The virus isn't active, it's dead, but choosing to mentally seperate the residual lingo in a 'safe' setting can help it to cease its triggering effect. In brief, It's the motivation behind the words that is the potential enemy. Not all use of the lingo is necessarily evil in itself.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Can we examine how "group-speak" resulting from "reflexive group-think" is now "error."

Error is error. Group-speak and group-think disseminate error, without the critical examination it needs.

"Exercise your spirit, brother!" is a push to shout and jump and wave. But where does this shouting and waving come from? The Bible says, "Exercise yourself to Godliness" but does that mean jump up and down and shout repetitively? I think such interpretation is error.

Suppose I created a meme that said, "Don't think, just repeat this meme" - it might get some traction, unless someone said, "Why shouldn't I think? Who says, 'Don't think'?"

So "exercise your spirit" was the "don't think" part of it, and then we disseminated the meme with group-think and group-speak. "Don't think - drink!" Remember that one? Unthinking, reflexive action was how the error got disseminated widely.

"Exercise yourself unto Godliness" really means what James meant - Godliness (true religion) is to visit widows and orphans and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. God so loved us that he sent His only begotten Son to save us. This son was holy, as the Father is holy.

The Son then said that we his disciples are to obey his commands, just as he obeyed the Father's commands. So we're likewise sent as emissaries to the unlovely, the unloved, the unlovable (in our eyes). That's what James meant by "visit widows and orphans". To love them, in this context, is to show some actual blessing. Healing, comfort, encouragement, food, clothes, shelter, something. Pay attention to them, listen to them.

And the second part is to keep unspotted from the world, like Jesus did. That is "exercise yourself unto Godliness". Not jump up and down and shout. And notice where the jumping and shouting got us: 1) We were told to ignore obvious sin in church leadership; 2) We were told to despise the poor., the widows, the orphans. "Don't waste your time" was the word at FTTA. Get good building material instead.

[Nell]

1. I don't have the peace.
2. I just don't have the grace for that.
3. Turn to your spirit.
4. You're in your soul.
5. Get out of your mind.
6. Halleluuuuuuuuuuujah
7. Praaaaaaaaise the Lord
8. We only care for life.
9. Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, ...
10. Oooooohhhhhhhhhh Loooooooorrrrrrrrrrrdddddddddd Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssss
11. The Lord's Recovery (I personally believe that "the Recovery" is not recovering anything, and "it" is not of "the Lord." So why call "it" the Lord's Recovery?)
12. Kill the flesh
13. Arm pump while pray reading.
14. Let us EAT CHRIST
15. Crazy Jesus eaters
16. WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
17. ( Insert Catholic church basing x100)
18. Onenessssssss
19. BLENDINGGGGGG
20. Any kind of talk that sounds like they are diminishing another’s own ability to think/choose for them self and talking over them as if they know what is better.
21. "Drunken Noah" - Witness Lee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries, and making off with the church funds.
22. "Rebellion" - Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons. See also, "Storms" and "Turmoils"
23. "Proper" - Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
24. "Attack" - Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
25. "Critique" - When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
26. "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
27. "Saints" - Anyone on the "proper" ground. Once , in conversation, I said I was from a city with no LR church group. The listener frowned, puzzled. "Are there any saints there?" He asked me.
    "Yes, thousands of them" I replied. "You know what I mean", he said, nonplussed.
28. ”Poor, poor Christianity. Too poor." If I got a dollar for every time I heard Witness Lee speak that, I could go out and buy a nice steak dinner.
29. “Rich ministry of Witness Lee" Ditto. Do a google search sometime and it is eye-opening. They really flog that one. They love the word "rich". Also the word "golden" (I think that has cultural provenance) "This is a golden opportunity" was the catch-phrase at the trainings.
30. Let us LIVE Christ
31. Tripartite
32. Mingling
33. Divine romance
34. I really appreciate... (insert message/ministry/life-study/this point in the HWFMR/outline point etc.)
35. I was really impressed...
36. If you take care of the Church, God will take care of your family. (This one really disgusts me.)

Sorry the numbers are changing. I'm using the[List] formatting tool.

Nell

[Kevin]

[37] Amen! (Uses as a greeting instead of saying hi or good morning.)
[38] O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Jesus, Triune God! (What are they blubbering?)
[39] God-man attire (It's just a suit with a tie.)

[Curious]

This list would not be complete without the term 'Seeker', to indicate a person associating with, but not joined to the LC. That code term alerts all in the room to what level of expression (pretense) is applicable in their presence. It also implies the person is not saved.

[Nell]

1. I don't have the peace.
2. I just don't have the grace for that.
3. Turn to your spirit.
4. You're in your soul.
5. Get out of your mind.
6. Halleluuuuuuuuuuujah
7. Praaaaaaaaise the Lord
8. We only care for life.
9. Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, ...
10. Oooooohhhhhhhhhh Loooooooorrrrrrrrrrrdddddddddd Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssss
11. The Lord's Recovery (I personally believe that "the Recovery" is not recovering anything, and "it" is not of "the Lord." So why call "it" the Lord's Recovery?)
12. Kill the flesh
13. Arm pump while pray reading.
14. Let us EAT CHRIST
15. Crazy Jesus eaters
16. WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
17. ( Insert Catholic church basing x100)
18. Onenessssssss
19. BLENDINGGGGGG
20. Any kind of talk that sounds like they are diminishing another’s own ability to think/choose for them self and talking over them as if they know what is better.
21. "Drunken Noah" - Witness Lee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries, and making off with the church funds.
22. "Rebellion" - Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons. See also, "Storms" and "Turmoils"
23. "Proper" - Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
24. "Attack" - Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
25. "Critique" - When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
26. "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
27. "Saints" - Anyone on the "proper" ground. Once , in conversation, I said I was from a city with no LR church group. The listener frowned, puzzled. "Are there any saints there?" He asked me.
    "Yes, thousands of them" I replied. "You know what I mean", he said, nonplussed.
28. ”Poor, poor Christianity. Too poor." If I got a dollar for every time I heard Witness Lee speak that, I could go out and buy a nice steak dinner.
29. “Rich ministry of Witness Lee" Ditto. Do a google search sometime and it is eye-opening. They really flog that one. They love the word "rich". Also the word "golden" (I think that has cultural provenance) "This is a golden opportunity" was the catch-phrase at the trainings.
30. Let us LIVE Christ
31. Tripartite
32. Mingling
33. Divine romance
34. I really appreciate... (insert message/ministry/life-study/this point in the HWFMR/outline point etc.)
35. I was really impressed...
36. If you take care of the Church, God will take care of your family. (This one really disgusts me.)
37. Amen! (Uses as a greeting instead of saying hi or good morning.)
38. O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Jesus, Triune God! (What are they blubbering?)
39. God-man attire (It's just a suit with a tie.)
40. God-man socks. For real. God-man socks. Spotted by Harvest House personnel during the lawsuit proceedings.
41. Seeker - a person associating with, but not joined to the LC. That code term alerts all in the room to what level of expression (pretense) is applicable in their presence. It also implies the person is not saved.

[jigsaw44]

For number 36. If you take care of the church then God will take care of your family. This seems like clear manipulation. Do they use this phrase to isolate every aspect of your life that can possibly take time away from the church such as family and or friends? Or is this a tactic for people to pool resources/money solely for the church? Idk that phrase really does feel devious in a certain manner. It seems to me that LC destroys families not takes care of them.

- You folk have any stories of people being subdued to this phrase/practice of LC above everything and anything else mentality?

[aron]

42. Little grinders: Witness Lee term for children.
43. Little bankers: WL term for children with money.
44. Oneness: means "Do what you are told."
45. Fellowship: means "Don't do anything without permission."

[Nell]

All--
I've added categories to the list. Does it help? Suggestions? I'm not sure some of the categories are descriptive. Help!
Nell

1. Attack: Anyone who tells the truth about Lee, LSM, is attacking.
2. Attack: Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
3. Authority: Cover the brothers: WLee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries
4. Authority: Drunken Noah
5. Babylon: Catholic Church
6. Babylon: WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
7. Blend: Anonymous Blended Brothers
8. Blend: BLENDINGGGGGG
9. Call on the Lord: Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus,
10. Call on the Lord: Ooooohhhhh Looorrrrrrddddd Jeeezzzzuuuuussssssss
11. Classification: Co-workers
12. Classification: Good brother
13. Classification: Negative "Don't say anything negative."
14. Classification: Ones: Serving ones, seeking one, new ones
15. Classification: Saints: Anyone on the "proper" ground.
16. Classification: Seeker
17. Critique: When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
18. Eat Jesus: Crazy Jesus eaters
19. Eat Jesus: Let us EAT CHRIST
20. False Gods: "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
21. False gods: We are baby gods.
22. Family: If you take care of the Church, God will take care of your family.
23. Fellowship: means "Don't do anything without permission."
24. Financial schemes: Daystar
25. Financial schemes: WLee's sons got caught making off with church funds.
26. Lingo: Amen! (Uses as a greeting instead of saying hi or good morning.)
27. Lingo: O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Jesus, Triune God!
28. LSM Gift Shop: God-man attire (It's just a suit with a tie.)
29. LSM Gift Shop: God-man socks. For real. God-man socks.
30. Ministry: Life: Let us LIVE Christ
31. Ministry: Divine romance
32. Ministry: Kill the flesh
33. Ministry: Life: We only care for life.
34. Ministry: Mingling
35. Ministry: MOTA - Minister of the Age
36. Ministry: Oneness: means "Do what you are told."
37. Ministry: Oneness: One Accord
38. Ministry: Oneness: Onenessssssss
39. Ministry: Overcome degraded CHRRRIIISSStianity.
40. Ministry: Rich ministry of Witness Lee
41. Ministry: Tripartite man
42. Name calling: ‘ones’. 'serving ones', 'new ones', or 'seeking ones'.
43. Name calling: Little bankers: WL term for children with money.
44. Name calling: Little grinders: Witness Lee term for children.
45. Name calling: Moo cows
46. Name calling: Poor, degraded, Christianity
47. Name calling: Poor, poor Christianity. Too poor.
48. Name calling: Seeker - associating with, but not joined to the LC.
49. Practice: Exercise your spirit, includes arm pump, and loud, obnoxious, mindless LC-speak chants
50. Practice: Pray Read
51. Practice: Pray Read: Arm pump while pray reading.
52. Praise the Lord: Praaaaaaaaise the Lord
53. Proper: Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
54. Rebellion: 1977 "sisters rebellion"
55. Rebellion: Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons.
56. Rebellion: Disagree with Lee's ministry,
57. Rebellion: Fermentation of the Present Rebellion by WLee
58. Recovery: The Lord's Recovery
59. Slogan: Don't say anything "negative".
60. Slogan: Get out of your mind. Stop talking. Stop telling the truth.
61. Slogan: Halleluuuuuuuuuuujah
62. Slogan: I consecrate myself to Christ and The Church
63. Slogan: I don't have the peace. Means: I don't want to.
64. Slogan: I just don't have the grace for that.
65. Slogan: Turn to your spirit.
66. Slogan: You're in your mind. Diminish another’s own ability to think/choose
67. Mind: Talk over members as if they "know" what is better.
68. Slogan: You're in your soul.
69. Storms: anytime the truth of Lee, LSM, Blendeds, is told
70. Testimonies: I really appreciate...message/ministry/life-study/HWFMR
71. Testimonies: I was really impressed...
72. Turmoil:

[SerenityLives]

I’m not sure if this has been addressed already but “Young people”? I felt diminished whenever they used that term.

[Sons to Glory!]

Wowsie - that's quite the list! It's always interesting to me that every organization I've been part of has their own language. Some went so far as to include an organizational glossary and commonly used acronyms for orientation and/or in their handbook. Maybe you'll want to send this to the Blendeds to see if they might find it useful for the same purpose!

And I like that it is numbered too - that way we can just use the number of what we're talking about when we're communicating. For instance, "If you don't think I'm a #12, then you need to #9 & 65 so you will love me more and to also #73*!" This might really streamline communication (on here and the LC)!

*I've got a really big one that was left out

Originally Posted by Nell

All--
I've added categories to the list. Does it help? Suggestions? I'm not sure some of the categories are descriptive. Help!
Nell

1. Attack: Anyone who tells the truth about Lee, LSM, is attacking.
2. Attack: Anything said to critique LSM/Anaheim, or that wasn't slavishly subservient.
3. Authority: Cover the brothers: WLee's sons got caught molesting the church secretaries
4. Authority: Drunken Noah
5. Babylon: Catholic Church
6. Babylon: WE ARE OUT OF BABYLON
7. Blend: Anonymous Blended Brothers
8. Blend: BLENDINGGGGGG
9. Call on the Lord: Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus, Oh Lord Jesus,
10. Call on the Lord: Ooooohhhhh Looorrrrrrddddd Jeeezzzzuuuuussssssss
11. Classification: Co-workers
12. Classification: Good brother
13. Classification: Negative "Don't say anything negative."
14. Classification: Ones: Serving ones, seeking one, new ones
15. Classification: Saints: Anyone on the "proper" ground.
16. Classification: Seeker
17. Critique: When LSM/Anaheim said something to correct others, such as their broadsides "Affirmation and Critique"
18. Eat Jesus: Crazy Jesus eaters
19. Eat Jesus: Let us EAT CHRIST
20. False Gods: "Deputy God" - The Alpha Male in Anaheim, aka "God's oracle", "today's Moses", or "Today's Paul".
21. False gods: We are baby gods.
22. Family: If you take care of the Church, God will take care of your family.
23. Fellowship: means "Don't do anything without permission."
24. Financial schemes: Daystar
25. Financial schemes: WLee's sons got caught making off with church funds.
26. Lingo: Amen! (Uses as a greeting instead of saying hi or good morning.)
27. Lingo: O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Jesus, Triune God!
28. LSM Gift Shop: God-man attire (It's just a suit with a tie.)
29. LSM Gift Shop: God-man socks. For real. God-man socks.
30. Ministry: Life: Let us LIVE Christ
31. Ministry: Divine romance
32. Ministry: Kill the flesh
33. Ministry: Life: We only care for life.
34. Ministry: Mingling
35. Ministry: MOTA - Minister of the Age
36. Ministry: Oneness: means "Do what you are told."
37. Ministry: Oneness: One Accord
38. Ministry: Oneness: Onenessssssss
39. Ministry: Overcome degraded CHRRRIIISSStianity.
40. Ministry: Rich ministry of Witness Lee
41. Ministry: Tripartite man
42. Name calling: ‘ones’. 'serving ones', 'new ones', or 'seeking ones'.
43. Name calling: Little bankers: WL term for children with money.
44. Name calling: Little grinders: Witness Lee term for children.
45. Name calling: Moo cows
46. Name calling: Poor, degraded, Christianity
47. Name calling: Poor, poor Christianity. Too poor.
48. Name calling: Seeker - associating with, but not joined to the LC.
49. Practice: Exercise your spirit, includes arm pump, and loud, obnoxious, mindless LC-speak chants
50. Practice: Pray Read
51. Practice: Pray Read: Arm pump while pray reading.
52. Praise the Lord: Praaaaaaaaise the Lord
53. Proper: Anything being promoted by LSM/Anaheim.
54. Rebellion: 1977 "sisters rebellion"
55. Rebellion: Anyone who mentions Witness Lee's sons.
56. Rebellion: Disagree with Lee's ministry,
57. Rebellion: Fermentation of the Present Rebellion by WLee
58. Recovery: The Lord's Recovery
59. Slogan: Don't say anything "negative".
60. Slogan: Get out of your mind. Stop talking. Stop telling the truth.
61. Slogan: Halleluuuuuuuuuuujah
62. Slogan: I consecrate myself to Christ and The Church
63. Slogan: I don't have the peace. Means: I don't want to.
64. Slogan: I just don't have the grace for that.
65. Slogan: Turn to your spirit.
66. Slogan: You're in your mind. Diminish another’s own ability to think/choose
67. Mind: Talk over members as if they "know" what is better.
68. Slogan: You're in your soul.
69. Storms: anytime the truth of Lee, LSM, Blendeds, is told
70. Testimonies: I really appreciate...message/ministry/life-study/HWFMR
71. Testimonies: I was really impressed...
72. Turmoil: