The Right Way?

[Nell]

Dear Lord, give me/us a heart and a willingness this day to look back on all our well-intended efforts which did not turn out as we desired and acknowledge before you that we fell short in our way. Forgive us and help us to release these things. Give us the courage to once again say, ‘I am in your hands, do what is needed in my life to purify me and prepare me to participate in the building of your Body as a servant of others and your kingdom. Thank you for the rich supply of your Son to help me this day to set my will properly and do what is needed to walk with you in increasing holiness. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is all and in all

The right way? Really? Isn't that what got us in trouble in the first place? Witness Lee told us his way was the right way. He eventually even had a "new way". He even told us essentially that it was his way or the highway.

This topic is based on the book of Exodus. God told those who wandered in the desert, on the way to the promised land, the right way to worship him. Matt Anderson has written on this topic and I'm hoping to highlight the mistakes and transgressions we committed when Witness Lee inserted himself into our thinking about "the right way".

You may be thinking that this prayer doesn’t apply to you. If your practice in the past was ever to “consecrate yourself” to Christ and the church, this prayer applies to you. When I was saved at a very young age, I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. When I “touched” the Local Church of Witness Lee, in effect, I took back my heart and gave it to Witness Lee and his church.

This topic and this prayer are intended to shine light on our well-intended efforts during our time following the “ministry” of Witness Lee, and reveal scripture that God shows us is his way. Don't take my word for it. I will do my best to make my case, starting with Galatians 3 quoted below.

Some of us were born and raised there. Some of us joined as young adults, some as older, more mature adults. Regardless of how we arrived, we were all deceived during our time there.

If the “ministry” of Witness Lee was everything he/they claim it to be, why were we so miserable there? Why did we leave? Why is it so hard to leave? Why is my family broken? What’s wrong with me?

Perhaps, these verses in Galatians 3 might shed some light:
Gal. 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, did you received the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Can you think of any evidence that Lee's "ministry" is fleshly?

Who has bewitched us? That’s harsh. But I admit it. I was bewitched, deceived. I was having a good time and wasn’t paying attention. The meetings were great back then. Lee had the hottest doctrine in town. Soon, whoa! I began to have thoughts like “…he doesn’t really mean that the way it sounds…”. Well. He did mean it. What have I done?

By praying for forgiveness and for help in “releasing these things,” we are able to give ourselves totally to our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather than finding a better church, wouldn’t it be better to “fix” what got us off in the first place? Wouldn’t it be better to first give ourselves totally to our Lord Jesus Christ and let him walk with us and lead our path? Wouldn’t it be better to first align ourselves with truth, as described in the scripture? The Lord Jesus Christ is able to lead us to fellowship with believers in his timing, his way and his place.

(Next, “I consecrate myself to Christ and the church”.)