Love the Lord and coming to the full knowledge of the truth!

I have met in the local churches for 38 years now, and most of the years I have been faithful to the Lord. The study of the Bible surpasses other Christian groups that I have visited. The elders that I have met have been honest and humble and realize that the church is not their possession, but that the should lead as patterns for the flock. The subjective experience of the cross and dealing with the flesh is unheard of in most Christian churches, and I find that many places are too shallow for my desired pursuit of spirituality and building up of the Body of Christ. I am at home in the local church life and encourage others to be open to meet, take the cross, seek to know His resurrection power and live for His kingdom. The coming millennial kingdom is a reward to faithful believers and I find that the best place for me to run the race and earn this prize is in the local churches. I thank the Lord for bringing me to the local church life in 1983! I am forever home!

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have met in the local churches for 38 years now, and most of the years I have been faithful to the Lord. The study of the Bible surpasses other Christian groups that I have visited. The elders that I have met have been honest and humble and realize that the church is not their possession, but that the should lead as patterns for the flock. The subjective experience of the cross and dealing with the flesh is unheard of in most Christian churches, and I find that many places are too shallow for my desired pursuit of spirituality and building up of the Body of Christ. I am at home in the local church life and encourage others to be open to meet, take the cross, seek to know His resurrection power and live for His kingdom. The coming millennial kingdom is a reward to faithful believers and I find that the best place for me to run the race and earn this prize is in the local churches. I thank the Lord for bringing me to the local church life in 1983! I am forever home!

You forgot something: encourage people to 1) follow the Lord's leading, 2) obey the words of the Bible, and the 3) leading of the Holy Spirit. Some challenging scripture:

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Thanks for posting--
Nell

Thanks Nell, I do like your addition to my post. Amen.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks Nell, I do like your addition to my post. Amen.

I don’t suppose you meet in Scottsdale…do you?

Nell

Hi Nell, I do not meet in Scottsdale. I have visted the localities of Tucson and Tempe though and had very sweet fellowship with saints there. I was able to visit college campuses of Univ of Arizona and Arizona State to distribute literature to help students believe in the Lord Jesus. I have visited many local churches throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the college campuses with a burden for the outreach of the gospel. The prayer and coordination with the saints in these places has always been sweet and satisfying. Have a nice day Nell!!

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi Nell, I do not meet in Scottsdale. I have visted the localities of Tucson and Tempe though and had very sweet fellowship with saints there. I was able to visit college campuses of Univ of Arizona and Arizona State to distribute literature to help students believe in the Lord Jesus. I have visited many local churches throughout California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the college campuses with a burden for the outreach of the gospel. The prayer and coordination with the saints in these places has always been sweet and satisfying. Have a nice day Nell!!

Maybe you can say a few words about your goal/s and/or motivation for posting on this forum. Your topic says you love the Lord and coming to the full knowledge of the truth. So I’m guessing your motivation has something to do with your desire to be faithful to the truth. Is this correct?

We’re big on “the truth”, and “Truth”, around here. Regarding Truth, we generally don’t take anyone’s word at face value, unless supported by a clear scripture reference…per Acts 17:11.

It’s important to register for an account if you plan to hang around for awhile (and we hope you do). When we get posts by multiple “unregistered” users, we can’t always figure out who’s who…so we have to guess. So please consider registering for your own personal account.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Nell

Thank you for your testimony and your experience in the LR. I hope you don't mind if I respond.

1. Witness Lee exposition of scripture being the best available- entirely your opinion.

2. Dealing with the flesh is talked about and emphasized throughout much of Christianity. As for subjective experience of the cross? That is one of those empty phrases/sayings the coworkers say in their messages, it has little substance and they themselves wont and cant define it. So please tell me if you can, explain the "subjective experience of the cross", if you can. My time in the lords recovery, taking the cross was just a cop out that resulted in in neglecting scripture for the sake of the agenda of the LR.

3. As for most churches being shallow and unfulfilling, this is definitely true. A lot of churches out there are pretty lackluster and I came into the LR thinking this place was the place to be. Then just like the other churches, they neglect scripture to suit their culture/practices (to a horrifying extent as many pointed out on this forum). The spiritual experience overall to me was just goofy behavior engaging in some drunken like stupor that supposedly was to the way to contact God. The vain repetition is just ungodly to begin with. The lord clearly says it is heathen behavior, just mindless babbling/chanting thinking I will be heard for my much speaking. I want you to put a timer on your phone for 10 minutes, and have your child or grandchild just repeatedly moan, chant, babble your name constantly for the whole duration and just get some slight experience of just how heathen like that practice is.

4. Open to meet? The LR needs a lot of improvement on that aspect.

5. Seek to know his resurrection and live for his Kingdom? In my experience, all I was doing in the LR was being a tool to preserve a diabolical ministry that aimed to corrupt and morph the bible into a megalomaniacs self obsessed image. In the Lords Recovery I lived for Lee not Christ, Lee ministry aimed to tear apart who God really is.

6. The things you mention and desire for the most can be pursued and lived, if you actually follow the word of God. Lee ministry is pretty dangerous and looking at him and who he truly was, I wouldn't want to follow an exposition of scripture that is just a mirror reflection of his corrupted self.

I am glad you posted, you feel one way, people feel another. I hope we can understand each-other and our experiences.

Glad you shared your experience. I think we can realize that in this age of the church, we are still sinful(refer to church in Corinth) and not perfect. I find the meetings in homes to allow for bible study, questions, meals and conversation, to be the best way to help others come to the Lord. Sometimes inviting gospel friends to big speaking meeting is better too. As for studying the Bible, the Brethren opening up the matter of types and other crucial truths(such as the New Jerusalem , its spiritual interpretation and application too) are not found anywhere. Can you tell me where I could find a "helpful and insightful" commentary on Revelation 21-22? I have read a bunch of physical, meaningless mumblings about these chapters that leave any hungry believer with nothing but physical pearly gates.

I find the truths concerning the kingdom to be very encouraging and motivating. For example, the Lords word regarding the slothful slave (Matt. 24) is to a believer, not an unbeliever. The Lords word regarding virgins is also to us believers (Matt. 25). Matt. 7 mentions many will do things in the Lords name, but the Lord will say, "Depart from Me." All these portions are to motivate and encourage all believers to choose the Lord and live a sanctified life. I am happy to be in a place that shares the truths from the Bible, and does not sugar coat verses. I have seen some leave the local churches because of their personal interests things, such as in singing, or a club activity. Some prefer to go to church a couple times per year, and some leave because they do not want to offend and losing family relationship. And some are simply self-glory seeking. I can say that the emphasis is on magnifying Christ and giving Him the glory.

As for you mentioning moaning for 10 minutes, sounds like an Indian mystic practice to me. I learned to pray and pray-read over the Holy Word about 3 decades ago, and I have never repeated meaningless empty words one time in my years in the local church. I simply encourage others to use the word to help pray. And I learned to call on the Lords name because He is rich unto all men that call on His name---says in Romans 10:13. Isn't the Lord richer to you each time you turn your heart to Him and call His name? Lastly, I just want to say that I am glad to openly fellowship with you about my experience and how I have counted all things loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord! Have a nice day!

[gr8ful]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

... As for studying the Bible, the Brethren opening up the matter of types and other crucial truths(such as the New Jerusalem , its spiritual interpretation and application too) are not found anywhere. ...

Hi, Unregistered. There's a lot I appreciate about Bible facts I've learned over 30 years in the Local Church -- things like "abode" vs "mansion" in John, and the NJ coming down out of Heaven prepared as a Bride VS "a literal gold-encrusted mansion". These helped me make sense of the Bible (as opposed to the surface-level understandings common in shallower teachings) when I was a new believer and was discouraged by simpleton thinking.

However, I have to ask you to explain, from your perspective, what is crucial about the truth you highlighted in parenthesis, specifically, "The New Jerusalem"?

What effect has studying Rev 21-22 had on your life and the lives of the people with whom you come into contact?

There's no wrong answer -- I'm wanting to understand how this truth is crucial, as you put it.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have met in the local churches for 38 years now, and most of the years I have been faithful to the Lord. The study of the Bible surpasses other Christian groups that I have visited. The elders that I have met have been honest and humble and realize that the church is not their possession, but that the should lead as patterns for the flock. The subjective experience of the cross and dealing with the flesh is unheard of in most Christian churches, and I find that many places are too shallow for my desired pursuit of spirituality and building up of the Body of Christ. I am at home in the local church life and encourage others to be open to meet, take the cross, seek to know His resurrection power and live for His kingdom. The coming millennial kingdom is a reward to faithful believers and I find that the best place for me to run the race and earn this prize is in the local churches. I thank the Lord for bringing me to the local church life in 1983! I am forever home!

The subjective experience of the cross of Christ and dealing with our flesh has everything to do with how we respond when being tested. Peter says the proving of our faith is more precious than gold which perishes.

For 30 years I believed that Witness Lee was a man of God, experiencing the cross of Christ and dealing with his flesh, and training others according to the narrow way that leads to life.

Then I studied the actual events in Local Church history. I learned the "rest of the story." I studied that part of LC history hidden from her members. I stopped believing just one side of the story. I discovered that every so-called "storm" in the Recovery was not as we all were told. I began to study the LC movement in the light of scriptures. I found far too many facts contrary to the published narrative by WL and the Blendeds.

Now I look at all my friends and family still stuck in the LC system with mournful pity. They believe many dead esoteric doctrines and "spiritualized" propaganda about their past. They still think far more of themselves than they ought to think. They think they are better than the rest of the body of Christ. They have such a pitiful attitude towards the entire body of Christ. They have no clue how much they resemble the Laodiceans.

I agree that some LC's can provide you with a studious and sincere community focused on the teachings of WL, but those at LSM have a long history of unrepented unrigheousness towards former members.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have met in the local churches for 38 years now, and most of the years I have been faithful to the Lord.

Will you help change the abuse? Will you help them to stop using authoritarian methods? Stop indoctrination of children, we lived it. It was awful. AWFUL.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

...we lived it. It was awful. AWFUL.

Why the difference in response from this person, to the first poster? Both shared aspects of the same collective experience. I believe that the first poster received some set of concepts as truth, as reality itself, while the second didn't.

The original poster believed this set of teachings were an end in themselves, subsuming even the contents of the Bible. Matthew 18 accountability norms were flouted, as OT types like "covering drunken Noah" replaced them. The human conscience was suppressed - "We don't care for right and wrong" was the leadership phrase. One's own mental faculties were held with suspicion and disdain - "Don't think, drink". When people would object (online on this forum) the typical response was, "You are confused". Even when it was ever so clear.

Instead of scripture, reason, and the larger Christian conversation, there was a set of teachings (called revelations, or truths) packaged and sold by a publishing house owned by the Seer (Hmmm...). Some of them weren't even put together well... as I said, there's no reason that "God's economy" should have included 'intensification" except the supposed revelation said it was so. Certainly I've never seen it in Paul's works, especially the prominent place WL gave it.

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have met in the local churches for 38 years now, and most of the years I have been faithful to the Lord. The study of the Bible surpasses other Christian groups that I have visited. The elders that I have met have been honest and humble and realize that the church is not their possession, but that the should lead as patterns for the flock. The subjective experience of the cross and dealing with the flesh is unheard of in most Christian churches, and I find that many places are too shallow for my desired pursuit of spirituality and building up of the Body of Christ. I am at home in the local church life and encourage others to be open to meet, take the cross, seek to know His resurrection power and live for His kingdom. The coming millennial kingdom is a reward to faithful believers and I find that the best place for me to run the race and earn this prize is in the local churches. I thank the Lord for bringing me to the local church life in 1983! I am forever home!

Unregistered,

This might seem out of left field, but hopefully you'll humor me. What do you think about the teaching to "get out of your mind and into your spirit!"?

Trapped