I left the Local Church After Reading the Real Church History

I left after nearly 8 yrs in the LC. I was saved there and enjoyed the fellowship with the saints. But the exclusiveness of the LC caused me to be a minion,and I think it's time to say goodbye, for a greater good. Looking back I was living in a delusion. I was a proud Christian because we were taught we are the recovery, commissioned by the Lord, unlike rest of the group. When I met with Christians who aren't from the LC, I don't expect to have any fellowship with them, because they are a 'denomination'. I never read books from the leaders of Christianity, I only read material given by LSM, although many times I found the Life Study by Lee isn't helpful. When I say the church and the ministry, I never had a feeling of including all other churches which aren't of the LC, or I say the ministry I can only thought of LSM. That's the effect of the brainwashing that has been done to my head. Basically I'm locked in a tiny, restricted area.

When I read the church history from the non LSM perspective I'm so happy to quit. Because being in the LC is like living in North Korea, it's a system of error, it just should not be that way, it doesn't make sense, it feels like the Mormon system or JW system, it is controlling, hiding history, telling the lies, a division and a delusion. Sad when I try to talk to some of them their brain can't even reason properly. They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake. They can't accept and appreciate the good work done by other Christian group, seemingly only LSM is worth praising. Even worse, they're not open to alternate interpretations, they won't read books that aren't from LSM. The fact is those books by LSM don't make many sales on amazon, yet they think those are the best books on earth that worth reading.

Now I enjoy reading books by many different authors now, and learn how to interpret the bible, look at references and commentary by different authors. I no longer subscribe to the one ministry idea, the idea itself is stupid and cultish.

[Sons to Glory!]

[SIZE=""]Hallelujah!!! [/SIZE] Welcome to the forum! I have the exact same testimony as you wrote, as do so many on here - lots and lots of stories to read regarding this same experience of LC elitism on this forum. It is a sad thing. The last LC person I told that I had a great experience visiting various Christian groups around the country, had only a blank, silent stare for me. (I told him how the Lord had worked in me to enjoy the oneness of the Spirit and fellowship with any blood-bought believer . . .)

[aron]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake.

Unreg, welcome. Your point is worth raising. When you point out flaws, or mistakes, or errors, the LSM devotee says, "Hey, nobody's perfect." Yet the sole reason for the LSM and the LC or "recovery" to exist is because of the flaws of others. If not, Lee would have remained in the Southern Baptist assemblies and Nee in the Anglican church.

But no! Then it was intolerable! Spiritual fornication! Jezebel! Then they start their own group, and when one points its lacks then it's a shrug and "Hey, whatever".

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

When I read the church history from the non LSM perspective I'm so happy to quit. Because being in the LC is like living in North Korea, it's a system of error, it just should not be that way, it doesn't make sense, it feels like the Mormon system or JW system, it is controlling, hiding history, telling the lies, a division and a delusion. Sad when I try to talk to some of them their brain can't even reason properly. They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake. They can't accept and appreciate the good work done by other Christian group, seemingly only LSM is worth praising. Even worse, they're not open to alternate interpretations, they won't read books that aren't from LSM. The fact is those books by LSM don't make many sales on amazon, yet they think those are the best books on earth that worth reading.

Within the LC, I always noticed a particular emphasis on church history and discussion of the successes/failures of various groups. It's almost as if it created a false sense of objectivity, to think that we were simply noting and improving on what others in the past had done. Except none of that turned out to be the case at all.

No doubt, Nee and Lee did correctly identify some of the shortcomings in various groups. That probably would have been fine if it had stopped there. Instead they sought to use that as a means to position the LC as something superior. Not only that, but it seems that at some point, a notion developed that there is some singular path that can be traced throughout church history, with the brethren as the immediate "successor" to the LC. Everything that happened outside of the LC after that point in time was completely irrelevant as far as the LC was concerned.

Lee even went on to make statements like "From 1945 to 1984, I found out that in both the English-speaking world and the Chinese-speaking world, there was not a weighty spiritual book published." Upon what basis could he even make such a claim? He could only do that because people in the LC were conditioned to believe exactly what they were told. It's ironic how things all started out with a seemingly fair assessment of church history and then became just another form of information control.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Freedom

No doubt, Nee and Lee did correctly identify some of the shortcomings in various groups. That probably would have been fine if it had stopped there. Instead they sought to use that as a means to position the LC as something superior. Not only that, but it seems that at some point, a notion developed that there is some singular path that can be traced throughout church history, with the brethren as the immediate "successor" to the LC. Everything that happened outside of the LC after that point in time was completely irrelevant as far as the LC was concerned.

Lee even went on to make statements like "From 1945 to 1984, I found out that in both the English-speaking world and the Chinese-speaking world, there was not a weighty spiritual book published." Upon what basis could he even make such a claim? He could only do that because people in the LC were conditioned to believe exactly what they were told. It's ironic how things all started out with a seemingly fair assessment of church history and then became just another form of information control.

Great observation! T. Austin Sparks certainly pointed out shortcomings in Christendom, but I never get the sense from him that he's setting himself up as something superior. (and BTW - Sparks certainly had books published during that time, which is certainly not lightweight stuff!)

What a prideful trap we all fell in back then . . . hard to believe it now! I remember the elation and freedom I felt when the Lord directed me to some books by John Piper. I was so happy in spirit that someone else outside the LC could write things about being seriously in love with God and about how we were meant to be enjoying Him daily! I had been in a really deep despair because I knew I didn't want to return to the LC, but I thought there was nothing else out there of genuine spiritual value. God led me through that despair to find Piper's "Desiring God." Through that book I was led into fellowship with some ex-LCers nearby.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Great observation! T. Austin Sparks certainly pointed out shortcomings in Christendom, but I never get the sense from him that he's setting himself up as something superior. (and BTW - Sparks certainly had books published during that time, which is certainly not lightweight stuff!)

What a prideful trap we all fell in back then . . . hard to believe it now! I remember the elation and freedom I felt when the Lord directed me to some books by John Piper. I was so happy in spirit that someone else outside the LC could write things about being seriously in love with God and about how we were meant to be enjoying Him daily! I had been in a really deep despair because I knew I didn't want to return to the LC, but I thought there was nothing else out there of genuine spiritual value. God led me through that despair to find Piper's "Desiring God." Through that book I was led into fellowship with some ex-LCers nearby.

Yeah, Books of T. Austin Sparks are very rich in divine revealation but he was despised by Lee because of ground of oneness controversies. Lee insisted to pratice his one church per city. When Sparks seeked to correct Lee, it was Lee who turned his back from Sparks and despised him since then.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Yeah, Books of T. Austin Sparks are very rich in divine revealation but he was despised by Lee because of ground of oneness controversies. Lee insisted to pratice his one church per city. When Sparks seeked to correct Lee, it was Lee who turned his back from Sparks and despised him since then.

Actually Lee never really practiced the one church one city (OCOC) doctrine. There are endless stories about him and his minions violating OCOC teachings with their divisive practices. Lee only used this OCOC doctrine on TASparks in order to create a wedge between them, and have a weapon to condemn TAS.

This was never so evident to me as when Lee's Blendeds came into the Midwest, dividing all the true LC's, who had long stood on the "local ground" of oneness, and filed lawsuits against them to steal their meeting halls.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Actually Lee never really practiced the one church one city (OCOC) doctrine. There are endless stories about him and his minions violating OCOC teachings with their divisive practices. Lee only used this OCOC doctrine on TASparks in order to create a wedge between them, and have a weapon to condemn TAS.

This was never so evident to me as when Lee's Blendeds came into the Midwest, dividing all the true LC's, who had long stood on the "local ground" of oneness, and filed lawsuits against them to steal their meeting halls.

That's an interesting interpretation regarding TAS & WL . . . never heard it stated like that before. And do you mean Lee violated the OCOC because he violated their autonomy via central control?

[theLCfurry]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I left after nearly 8 yrs in the LC. I was saved there and enjoyed the fellowship with the saints. But the exclusiveness of the LC caused me to be a minion,and I think it's time to say goodbye, for a greater good. Looking back I was living in a delusion. I was a proud Christian because we were taught we are the recovery, commissioned by the Lord, unlike rest of the group. When I met with Christians who aren't from the LC, I don't expect to have any fellowship with them, because they are a 'denomination'. I never read books from the leaders of Christianity, I only read material given by LSM, although many times I found the Life Study by Lee isn't helpful. When I say the church and the ministry, I never had a feeling of including all other churches which aren't of the LC, or I say the ministry I can only thought of LSM. That's the effect of the brainwashing that has been done to my head. Basically I'm locked in a tiny, restricted area.

When I read the church history from the non LSM perspective I'm so happy to quit. Because being in the LC is like living in North Korea, it's a system of error, it just should not be that way, it doesn't make sense, it feels like the Mormon system or JW system, it is controlling, hiding history, telling the lies, a division and a delusion. Sad when I try to talk to some of them their brain can't even reason properly. They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake. They can't accept and appreciate the good work done by other Christian group, seemingly only LSM is worth praising. Even worse, they're not open to alternate interpretations, they won't read books that aren't from LSM. The fact is those books by LSM don't make many sales on amazon, yet they think those are the best books on earth that worth reading.

Now I enjoy reading books by many different authors now, and learn how to interpret the bible, look at references and commentary by different authors. I no longer subscribe to the one ministry idea, the idea itself is stupid and cultish.

Same here. When I read the church history that helped me a lot. I wish I was a college student right now because then I would be able to say goodbye to the LC for good. By the way, I've been born into the LC by parents already in the LC

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sad when I try to talk to some of them their brain can't even reason properly. They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake. They can't accept and appreciate the good work done by other Christian group, seemingly only LSM is worth praising. Even worse, they're not open to alternate interpretations, they won't read books that aren't from LSM. The fact is those books by LSM don't make many sales on amazon, yet they think those are the best books on earth that worth reading.

That's my experience.
"I don't want to talk about it." or "God sees no iniquity in Israel" are some of the responses you might hear.
To talk about LSM's mistakes is likened to "uncovering or Noah".
It's just very narrow minded approach to have to shut down any logic or reason. That's been tossed out long ago.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Terry

That's my experience.
"I don't want to talk about it." or "God sees no iniquity in Israel" are some of the responses you might hear.
To talk about LSM's mistakes is likened to "uncovering or Noah".
It's just very narrow minded approach to have to shut down any logic or reason. That's been tossed out long ago.

I think that more and more, the LC is finding itself at a juncture where they have to decide between trying to do things the way that they've always done, or address the issues that they are facing. Of course, they keep choosing the first option despite any of the facts. In order to do so, they have to dismiss anything that contradicts their narrative.

With some of the more recent issues, like those that they've written articles about for shepherdingwords.com, it is clear that they don't care if they defy all logic in order to defend the LC and the actions of leaders. Personally, I wonder if LC members even really believe what they are being told. I suspect that in regards to some of these issues, they know that leaders are sidestepping the issue, but they don't want to raise any fuss about it by questioning that.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Personally, I wonder if LC members even really believe what they are being told. I suspect that in regards to some of these issues, they know that leaders are sidestepping the issue, but they don't want to raise any fuss about it by questioning that.

As have I. Thought in my mind to members, "do you actually believe this?" These thoughts even applied to deacons and elders. Yet any possibility to have an objection discussion eventually ends in the saying; "I feel to honor the feeling of the body". Code for yielding to the leadership in Anaheim.

Having said all this, I do believe those not believing this will either cease meeting regularly or flat out leave as ones like John Smith have.

[Freedom]

The thing that was always so striking to me was that there were clear cases of disillusionment that I saw among long time members. Most of the time these members would try to find ways to rationalize or attempt to minimize the extent of the disillusionment.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Freedom

The thing that was always so striking to me was that there were clear cases of disillusionment that I saw among long time members. Most of the time these members would try to find ways to rationalize or attempt to minimize the extent of the disillusionment.

Or just set the information aside, as the thinking is this (the LC) is God's purpose and besides, where else is there to go? I think I was sort of like that - didn't really want to hear too much as I thought it was just a distraction from the important . . . .

[Boxjobox]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I left after nearly 8 yrs in the LC. I was saved there and enjoyed the fellowship with the saints. But the exclusiveness of the LC caused me to be a minion,and I think it's time to say goodbye, for a greater good. Looking back I was living in a delusion. I was a proud Christian because we were taught we are the recovery, commissioned by the Lord, unlike rest of the group. When I met with Christians who aren't from the LC, I don't expect to have any fellowship with them, because they are a 'denomination'. I never read books from the leaders of Christianity, I only read material given by LSM, although many times I found the Life Study by Lee isn't helpful. When I say the church and the ministry, I never had a feeling of including all other churches which aren't of the LC, or I say the ministry I can only thought of LSM. That's the effect of the brainwashing that has been done to my head. Basically I'm locked in a tiny, restricted area.

When I read the church history from the non LSM perspective I'm so happy to quit. Because being in the LC is like living in North Korea, it's a system of error, it just should not be that way, it doesn't make sense, it feels like the Mormon system or JW system, it is controlling, hiding history, telling the lies, a division and a delusion. Sad when I try to talk to some of them their brain can't even reason properly. They say lee isn't all perfect but can't admit LSM make mistake. They can't accept and appreciate the good work done by other Christian group, seemingly only LSM is worth praising. Even worse, they're not open to alternate interpretations, they won't read books that aren't from LSM. The fact is those books by LSM don't make many sales on amazon, yet they think those are the best books on earth that worth reading.

Now I enjoy reading books by many different authors now, and learn how to interpret the bible, look at references and commentary by different authors. I no longer subscribe to the one ministry idea, the idea itself is stupid and cultish.

WL made such a big deal about the church not having a name; the church is simply “the” church which meets in the various cities. Yet he had no problem putting a name on “ the” ministry which we don’t find in the scriptures. So his ministry morphed into the ministry, the only legitimate ministry for the age.

I live in San Diego; if I go to the church in SD website, and look at their History page, there is no mention of LSM. If I go to their Belief page, there is nothing about believing LSM is the unique, all important, only God sanctioned ministry. Why can’t they be honest about their history and belief? Why hide from people this great age fulfilling “truth”? I was there when the “Elders” declared in a written statement their oneness with WL/LSM (that was, of course, after an elder, J Smith declaimed he could not in good conscience follow WL/LSM and walked away from the fiasco). Why is this not part of the church in SD history?

The poison to the LC is not the saints who object to WL/ LSM but LSM and the ones who perpetrate the cult scam business. Unless they can be honest and repent and return to the scripture, the LC will continue as a cult.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Boxjobox

WL made such a big deal about the church not having a name; the church is simply “the” church which meets in the various cities. Yet he had no problem putting a name on “ the” ministry which we don’t find in the scriptures. So his ministry morphed into the ministry, the only legitimate ministry for the age.

One of their many hypocrisies: The church with no name run by a ministry with a hundred names.

[Boxjobox]

When a JW comes to my door, I point out that they are not really coming in the name of Jehovah, but are here to pedal Watchtower, at which time they go into a similar song and dance as a LC person would concerning WL/LSM.

This hiding of the symbiotic relation between the LC and WL/LSM in the history and belief pages of the church in SD website is so deceptive and reveals what is probably the true inner conflict LC members must have in regard to that whole ministry. They want to present this public image that they are happy ordinary Christians that just found a more biblical way to meet, who love the Lord and the scriptures. But they cannot bring themselves to publicly present that they are God’s move on earth under the up-to-date ministry which will close the age! If they truly believed this- shouldn’t this be their proclamation. Wouldn’t you want all the people and Christians in SD to know what they are missing? Wouldn’t they expect the Holy Spirit to witness to the seeking people the “truth” of what God is doing. Let’s face it- if you had no watchtower, you would have no JWs, if you had no Book of Mormon, you would have no LDS church, if you had no WL/LSM, the current form of LC “movement” would collapse. But how do you convince the public that WL was God’s man, and that his teachings were the word, and the LSM that he established is the only complete, true, all encompassing ministry that would complete God’s eternal purpose? How do you center your whole life, thinking, theology, rituals, programs, trainings, fellowship, acceptance of believers, relations around WL/LSM and not publicly proclaim- not shout from the roof tops what has been revealed to you in secret.?