The Minister of the Age Examined

[Indiana]

http://www.makingstraightthewayofthe...geExamined.pdf

“However much the Lord may use a gifted person, however great his ministry may be the local church must not become his work.” Witness Lee 1964

May the younger people, the future leaders especially, become totally aware of the sins of their fathers and the bed of lies they have lain on comfortably for so many years.

The “new way” movement in the mid-1980s was planned and orchestrated by one gifted man who presented the blueprint to the elders for the churches to follow in a systematized fashion around the world. This huge step taken by the universal leader put “all” the churches into his hand to turn them to the left and to turn them to the right according to his thought and his feeling. Albeit, an ulterior motive also surfaced in accord with a latent propensity of Brother Lee’s which had initially caused the churches serious trouble in China and other places in the Far East.

[NewManLiving]

In the context of Acts chapter 9, Ananias is instructed by the Lord to go into the street and seek out Saul. Ananias is somewhat skeptical and reminds the Lord concerning Saul's reputation and authority to bind all those who call upon the Lord's name. The Lord reassures Ananias that Saul is an (not the) elect vessel to bear the Lord's name and to also suffer for His Name. The Lord does not distinguish Paul's election any different from our own by assigning to him the title: Apostle or Minister of the Age, having the One Vision of the Age. This is extra-biblical and is a thinly veiled nuance with no real substance.


In Corinthians, Paul speaks for himself and describes his calling and function. In 1:12 Paul shows deep concern about the strife and division taking place concerning the Corinthians' preference for one Apostle over the other. Because of this he calls them carnal and mere men. As was the case then and certainly is now, elevating an elect vessel to anything other than an elect vessel will bring about division. This has already taken place in the LSMLC first by Witness Lee elevating himself, then by his disciples continuing and enforcing this carnal practice.


So what does Paul have to say about himself? In verse 17 he tells us that Christ sent him to preach the glad tidings or gospel concerning the cross of the Christ. He never mentions anything about the Vision of the Age, nor does he claim himself to be The Apostle of the Age. As a matter of fact from eternity there is only one Vision and one Minister - Christ Himself. Paul knew this well! Paul tells us in 3:5 that he and Apollos are simply ministering servants through whom you have believed. Paul planted and Apollos watered; but it is God who gives the growth. However the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workman; are God's husbandry, God's building. According to the grace of God which has been given to me as a wise master architect have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it.


Now those who are familiar with Paul know that he often uses analogies to make his point. For example, the Greeks were very enthusiastic for the games so Paul often used words like running, racing, fighting, wrestling, crown, prize and reward to clarify and emphasize his message. The same is true here. Corinth is known for the Corinthian order, the last developed of the three principal orders of Greek and Roman architecture. Paul never identifies himself as being the unique master-builder of the age, but rather provides insight as to his care and precision in laying the unique solid foundation of the Christ. Paul also goes on to tell us that others build upon this foundation; he cautions those building that they will face trial by fire to prove their labor and the material they use to build. The material must also be Christ Himself!


In verse 11 we see that no other foundation can man lay besides that which is already laid. There is no other unique anything in any age; past, present or to come, but Christ Himself. Unfortunately in the LSMLC today, there is another foundation, another vision, and a special vessel - building with wood, hay and stubble. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.

[HERn]

Originally Posted by NewManLiving

In the context of Acts chapter 9, Ananias is instructed by the Lord to go into the street and seek out Saul. Ananias is somewhat skeptical and reminds the Lord concerning Saul's reputation and authority to bind all those who call upon the Lord's name. The Lord reassures Ananias that Saul is an (not the) elect vessel to bear the Lord's name and to also suffer for His Name. The Lord does not distinguish Paul's election any different from our own by assigning to him the title: Apostle or Minister of the Age, having the One Vision of the Age. This is extra-biblical and is a thinly veiled nuance with no real substance.


In Corinthians, Paul speaks for himself and describes his calling and function. In 1:12 Paul shows deep concern about the strife and division taking place concerning the Corinthians' preference for one Apostle over the other. Because of this he calls them carnal and mere men. As was the case then and certainly is now, elevating an elect vessel to anything other than an elect vessel will bring about division. This has already taken place in the LSMLC first by Witness Lee elevating himself, then by his disciples continuing and enforcing this carnal practice.


So what does Paul have to say about himself? In verse 17 he tells us that Christ sent him to preach the glad tidings or gospel concerning the cross of the Christ. He never mentions anything about the Vision of the Age, nor does he claim himself to be The Apostle of the Age. As a matter of fact from eternity there is only one Vision and one Minister - Christ Himself. Paul knew this well! Paul tells us in 3:5 that he and Apollos are simply ministering servants through whom you have believed. Paul planted and Apollos watered; but it is God who gives the growth. However the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow-workman; are God's husbandry, God's building. According to the grace of God which has been given to me as a wise master architect have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it.


Now those who are familiar with Paul know that he often uses analogies to make his point. For example, the Greeks were very enthusiastic for the games so Paul often used words like running, racing, fighting, wrestling, crown, prize and reward to clarify and emphasize his message. The same is true here. Corinth is known for the Corinthian order, the last developed of the three principal orders of Greek and Roman architecture. Paul never identifies himself as being the unique master-builder of the age, but rather provides insight as to his care and precision in laying the unique solid foundation of the Christ. Paul also goes on to tell us that others build upon this foundation; he cautions those building that they will face trial by fire to prove their labor and the material they use to build. The material must also be Christ Himself!


In verse 11 we see that no other foundation can man lay besides that which is already laid. There is no other unique anything in any age; past, present or to come, but Christ Himself. Unfortunately in the LSMLC today, there is another foundation, another vision, and a special vessel - building with wood, hay and stubble. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.

Thanks NML, that was very good and helps me better understand Paul's function.

Just wondering why you prayed for God to have mercy on all of us? I'm no longer in the recovery, are you still part of it?

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by HERn

Just wondering why you prayed for God to have mercy on all of us? I'm no longer in the recovery, are you still part of it?

Whether we agree or disagree with our brothers and sisters in the recovery, they're still our brothers and sisters. We need to reject the "Us versus Them" mentality that was created in the local churches. However that attitude is not consistent with Jesus' words in the gospels:

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:38-41

[TLFisher]

This summed up my thoughts of LSM having been more of a family business than a non-profit:

“The Living Stream Ministry office was established in Anaheim in 1974.
Outwardly, it seemed that John Ingalls and Samuel Chang were in charge, but
actually it was members of the Lee family who ran the office. Philip Lee was the manager and a daughter-in-law of Witness Lee handled the books.”

Then there was the telephone exchange between Witness Lee and Sal Benoit (1978?) I have changed the text to red noting Witness Lee's response to Sal.

"The matter of the, that the Living Stream Ministry ….
Yeah.
We know that we make all our training …
Right.
checks to the Living Stream Ministry ….
Right.
And I just want to know if some of the money, if it has ever gone to the paying of the Daystar loans or losses. . . .
(chuckling)
that we’ve had in the past.
Well, Sal, I will say this is not your business."

Rest of the transcript can be read at:
http://www.laymansfellowship.com/pub...-PhoneCall.pdf

My point is Witness Lee telling Sal it's none of his business whether or not money given to LSM had gone to repaying Daystar loans or losses. Serious lack of transparency.

[HERn]

Originally Posted by Terry

Whether we agree or disagree with our brothers and sisters in the recovery, they're still our brothers and sisters. We need to reject the "Us versus Them" mentality that was created in the local churches. However that attitude is not consistent with Jesus' words in the gospels:

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:38-41

To me individual believers will always be "us", while the LSM religious system will always be "them". Right now, for my sanity and the spiritual health of my family it must be this way. Someday maybe I'll arrive at a more mature viewpoint.

[Indiana]

Originally Posted by NewManLiving

In the context of Acts chapter 9, Ananias is instructed by the Lord to go into the street and seek out Saul. Ananias is somewhat skeptical and reminds the Lord concerning Saul's reputation and authority to bind all those who call upon the Lord's name. The Lord reassures Ananias that Saul is an (not the) elect vessel to bear the Lord's name and to also suffer for His Name. The Lord does not distinguish Paul's election any different from our own by assigning to him the title: Apostle or Minister of the Age, having the One Vision of the Age. This is extra-biblical and is a thinly veiled nuance with no real substance.


In Corinthians, Paul speaks for himself and describes his calling and function. In 1:12 Paul shows deep concern about the strife and division taking place concerning the Corinthians' preference for one Apostle over the other. Because of this he calls them carnal and mere men. As was the case then and certainly is now, elevating an elect vessel to anything other than an elect vessel will bring about division. This has already taken place in the LSMLC first by Witness Lee elevating himself, then by his disciples continuing and enforcing this carnal practice.



In verse 11 we see that no other foundation can man lay besides that which is already laid. There is no other unique anything in any age; past, present or to come, but Christ Himself. Unfortunately in the LSMLC today, there is another foundation, another vision, and a special vessel - building with wood, hay and stubble. May the Lord have mercy on all of us.

This word, to me, sums up the problem of inordinately lifting up a member of the Body:

NML's comment _"elevating an elect vessel to anything other than an elect vessel will bring about division. This has already taken place in the LSMLC first by Witness Lee elevating himself, then by his disciples continuing and enforcing this carnal practice".

Add to that the mixed motive involved, and it becomes a travesty.

[TLFisher]

1) “At the beginning of the year Witness Lee arrived in Taipei and he began the reconstruction of the church in Taipei. He got rid of all the senior elders in the church and assigned 46 new elders. Later on he increased that number to about 80. Lee called them baby elders.
2) he re-initiated family fellowship
3) he started to push the construction of a large assembly hall and asked people to donate money to a large piece of land in Linco, which he had bought in great haste.
4) Toward end of November Lee discontinued the centralized Sunday
assembly in Taipei and in turn told people to plant small groups and read truth
lessons and that this practice is to be implemented in all the churches across
Taiwan.
5) During the winter training in the U.S. he pushed for people to donate
money for the large assembly hall in Linco and asked the members in the U.S.
and Canada to give the donations to the Living Stream Ministry; that is, to Philip Lee, who was supposed to carry the money to the church in Taipei. But later during a construction moratorium in Linco the plan for this large assembly hall 18 was stopped. The sum of money collected at the deacon station (LSM), was never forwarded to the church in Taipei. Neither was the money returned to all the members in the U. S. and in Canada who donated the money. The deacon station (LSM) never gave a report as to how the money was handled, the money just disappeared.”
Pages 17-18

Where did the money go? I could never recall Living Stream being transparent. I wouldn't be surprised if there were two sets of books. One unofficial and accurate and another official and cooked for government consumption.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Terry

Where did the money go? I wouldn't be surprised if there were two sets of books. One unofficial and accurate and another official and cooked for government consumption.

I doubt the unofficial one was accurate, either. Which is one reason WL's businesses were failures; he forgot his training as an accountant and became convinced he was God's Deputy.

It would be interesting to see all the "rates of return" WL promised the saints, over the years. They were all fantastic, and absurd. I remember hearing something like, "If each one of you would gain two new ones in a year, then in ten years we'll have 150,000 saints, and the Lord will return in 22 years" or some such. He was always tossing out provocative numbers which had no basis in actual human experience.

So schemes like Linco, Daystar, etc were all similarly fantastic, and unrealistic. People were essentially promised the moon, and they got little or nothing, after sons Timothy and/or Philip Lee got their cut.

[NewManLiving]

No I am no longer in the LC, but all of us need the Lord's mercy at all times. I know I certainly do. It is so easy to be deceived.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Indiana

an ulterior motive also surfaced in accord with a latent propensity of Brother Lee’s which had initially caused the churches serious trouble in China and other places in the Far East.

If you step back and connect the dots, you can see this latent propensity emerge consistently and repeatedly in his actions. Theology bowed to ministry, and ministry bowed to business, and business bowed to family. None of this was particularly novel, actually, coming from his culture. The man lived long enough, and did enough activity in front of many, that there's a clear record showing the answer to the Mystery of [Witness Lee's] Human Life.

Look at what happened when Dong's followers asked about the funds for the Estancia his son was running for his Arvore da Vida ministry. "None of your business. It is a black box." I wonder if anyone ever even dared to ask Chu about his practical affairs. And Lee's conversation with Sal Benoit, likewise. "I am above the law; I'm accountable only to God."

But all of us have latent propensities. What of mine? Am I pure as the driven snow? Hardly. We all need to take Lee and the Blendeds, and likewise Chu in Cleveland and Dong in Brasil, as warnings to ourselves. "Take heed of yourselves" lest you likewise fall into self-obsessed delusionary worlds.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

If you step back and connect the dots, you can see this latent propensity emerge consistently and repeatedly in his actions. Theology bowed to ministry, and ministry bowed to business, and business bowed to family. None of this was particularly novel, actually, coming from his culture. The man lived long enough, and did enough activity in front of many, that there's a clear record showing the answer to the Mystery of [Witness Lee's] Human Life.

Look at what happened when Dong's followers asked about the funds for the Estancia his son was running for his Arvore da Vida ministry. "None of your business. It is a black box." I wonder if anyone ever even dared to ask Chu about his practical affairs. And Lee's conversation with Sal Benoit, likewise. "I am above the law; I'm accountable only to God."

But all of us have latent propensities. What of mine? Am I pure as the driven snow? Hardly. We all need to take Lee and the Blendeds, and likewise Chu in Cleveland and Dong in Brasil, as warnings to ourselves. "Take heed of yourselves" lest you likewise fall into self-obsessed delusionary worlds.

All of these empires were built on the backs of God's children, convincing them they were serving God, and, of course, His "chosen vessel."

TC used to constantly preach to GLA leaders that "we all had a ministry," but none of us could "use the church" to build up our ministry. What? How does this work? Did you not "use the church" to build up your own ministry empire?

Ohhh, now I understand, you don't allow any "competition" in the house of God. All the money, all the volunteers, and all the full-time workers "belong" to TC.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Did you [TC] not "use the church" to build up your own ministry empire? ... All the money, all the volunteers, and all the full-time workers "belong" to TC.

Did TC run a "black box" operation, hermetically sealed from view? Or was/is he transparent about the disposition of monies flowing about?

Here is a view, close-up, of Dong Yu Lan's Black Box:

Originally Posted by aron

[A testimony of an Ex-Donguisto]

In this period of nearly 10 years of association with the "church in Brasilia" and the regional and international work, I dove even deeper into the service.

Since 94 I was already involved with:

- Conferences for Youth, local, regional, national and international;

- I sold my only property he owned in Rio de Janeiro to buy land and build a small apartment in the condominium resort Tree of Life (qq there was no document, it was all for the church, the owner acquired a usage assignment)

- Project Coordination: I wanted to participate in all endeavors as Expobook (one Outreach Project with bus transformed into libraries); CEAPE emerged (Improvement Center for Propagation of the Gospel), which I have prepared almost all of the 80 lessons, a Herculean task within the WN and WL publications; School of the Gospel, which I was the mastermind in order to care for young people and adolescents and to prepare them to preach the gospel and to behave as citizens; Books unions, which established quotas to members, however, almost went bankrupt, and there was no qq voluntary return, but "consider as offering" But qdo it was presented, it was like "a business or investment that could turn a profit."

- In the early 2000s, due to the success of the School of the Gospel, we promote visiting every city in the state of Goiás, in a project called "Summer 2000", ie all summer to Christ this summer. We occupy our holiday with teams of satellite towns and Planning.

During the period I was still working, the reconciliation of my work in PR and responsibilities of a brother "Responsible and Cooperator" made me a real balancing act.

I had a phobia of wanting to do everything.

I actually believed was promoting the return of the Lord Jesus, introducing people reached the "Restoration of the Lord."

Came the obsession to "conquer the land" for Christ.

In 2000 I took the lead in evangelizing Project in Africa, where I devoted most of my time over 10 years.

I personally scoured 25 countries, and coordinated congregations and workers in over 40 countries, while being visited 52 of the 54 countries of the continent.

Within the movement I progressed and came to be considered a leader and international cooperative, and participated in various activities and events for several countries, mainly in the United States. There I met the main leadership of the International Local Church Movement, also known as Living Stream Ministry (LSM), which is a religious institution and Editorial founded to promote the ministry of its supreme leader, Witness Lee, a WN follower, known for their Bible studies and forceful criticism of evangelical and denominational Christianity.

The Local Church Movement led by Dong Yu Lan in Brazil and South America was considered part of the Ministry of Witness Lee, from the arrival of DYL here until the death of Witness Lee in 1997.

But from WL's death, the relationship between the leadership of LSM and DYL, which has never been good, has been deteriorating to the total disruption of these movements and their congregations in 2005 and officially in 2009, when a Letter of Quarantine has been published the DYL.

I participated actively in this process of separation of the LSM with DYL, mainly because he considered extremely idolatrous WL Movement, centralized and authoritarian. These deviations were notorious and affected the consciousness of the brothers, particularly those that related internationally. There was an expectation, at least on my part, that in this break, the Local Church movement in Brazil and South America could fix their deviations, and bring his teachings to their practice.

Almost simultaneously, and as the work progressed in Africa and was successful, problems with the DYL leadership began to arise and develop, either in the teaching field, and in practice. In addition I began to question the Movement administration.

Although he was considered a leader, he did not participate in its management, but the Work in Africa, which I managed, is the movement of people and resources. At the time it was granted a Power of Attorney by the Association Tree of Life, for we function as a branch in Brasilia, with the specific purpose of supporting evangelization in Africa.

I thought up there, that all he was doing was by God and for God, but my conscience was becoming more sensitive, because of the inconsistencies I found, particularly in increasing promotion ladder, in your institution, and in business that arose with argument to sustain the work.

In 2008 I moved to São Paulo, in a maneuver exhausting logistics, which seriously compromised my family budget and care for my children. There are several versions on this topic, however, at that time I felt that I should approach the DYL leadership to try to somehow positively influence Movement direction. (some movement advocates said I had gone to SP to give a kind of "coup in DYL" qta imagination!)

At that time I had invested everything he had, property, family, and career on the belief that this movement was an expression of the restored church on earth. Would not it be logical that in the face of difficulties, I simply depart. I really wanted to make "the church" into something that rewards the dedication of the people.

The story is long. Facebook's Notes address in particular this disruption process. I am attaching some files that seek to describe a sequence of events.

Then came the administrative issue and the fear of legal responsibility.

In São Paulo I took note of a Warrant Search and Seizure, which was issued (later halted), due to a Concealment Process Goods and Money Laundering Association against the Tree of Life (AAV).

Were evident signs of administrative irregularities, particularly in resort Tree of Life, where a son of DYL managed an Engineering Company, which at the time was the only one to carry out works at Estancia (meeting place of the Congregations, an auditorium, accommodation, houses and hotel).

The ghost of being a mere orange, providing credibility to the operations, which at least seemed unethical by the Movement summit, began to haunt me.

I worried about being corresponsabilizado for something I lived, but not adequately met, and certainly not agree.

After the episode of the Warrant I went to the resort to talk to one of the main leaders of the Movement, who lived there (Ezra Ma, the chief marketer of Dong Yu Lan).

Surely it was clear what occurred there. So I argued with him in front of irregularities, what should be our position?

We should just sit on the 1st row and make clear to the brothers who were approving all that was done?

I told him to all the letters that I would not be Orange Movement, and that if there were any irregular or unethical situation, as such Engineering Company that had the monopoly of the works of EAV, so that the situation be corrected because they do not should expect from me what solidarity was not fair and legal.

He claimed not to know anything, but "the administration of EAV was a kind of black box, the Dong's exclusivity."
I argued that, if so, only after the crash is that we would know its contents. Finally we said goodbye. I think he got the message, they could not "trust" me administrative secrets...

To me, Lee and Dong were very similar in arranging things for personal benefit, and people either rose or fell according to their relation to the ascendancy of this minister's mercantilism, period.

Not sure how similar Chu was in this regard. He seemed a little less egregious in his rapaciousness for the things of the saints. Perhaps he just covered it better.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

Did TC run a "black box" operation, hermetically sealed from view? Or was/is he transparent about the disposition of monies flowing about?

Not sure how similar Chu was in this regard. He seemed a little less egregious in his rapaciousness for the things of the saints. Perhaps he just covered it better.

Don't know if his transactions were transparent or not. Most of the LC's were transparent with annual business meetings and by-laws to adhere to, but TC ran his own ministry mostly independent of church oversight.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Don't know if his transactions were transparent or not. Most of the LC's were transparent with annual business meetings and by-laws to adhere to, but TC ran his own ministry mostly independent of church oversight.

Originally Posted by Ex Donguisto

Books unions, which established quotas to members, however, almost went bankrupt, and there was no voluntary return, but "consider as offering" But as it was presented, it was like "a business or investment that could turn a profit."

Did TC ever present the GLA members with profit-making and/or pyramid schemes? Seems that both Lee and Dong did this.

[OBW]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Don't know if his transactions were transparent or not. Most of the LC's were transparent with annual business meetings and by-laws to adhere to, but TC ran his own ministry mostly independent of church oversight.

But weren't the GLA business meetings like what we saw in Texas?

"All in favor of going on as we have been say 'amen'."

And probably not even having the option to disagree.

Of course, with leaders like we had in Texas, it could have simply been extreme here.