James Barber - History of Witness Lee

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Ohio referred to James as someone full of zeal. After I listened to the recording, that is the view of James that I walked away with. Ultimately, extreme personalities are what it takes to create a movement like the LC. I'm not here to try to determine who to blame for the more bizarre aspects of the LC, but it took more than Lee to make it all happen. A lot has been said about the strong 'Texas' influence in the beginning of the LC. I think that was definitely a factor.

One brother, whom I knew in Cleveland and Columbus in the mid-70's, who took it on himself to "perfect" me, often would tell me about "those Texas brothers, who were 'absolutely one' with WL." From my earliest days, there was definitely an undercurrent of these more zealous brothers in the GLA, who had come to view TC and the GLA leadership with suspicion, as if they were "diluting Brother Lee's burden." Looking back, I do believe that Lee himself solicited this kind of fleshly behavior, with brothers around the country vying with one another for Lee's approval.

Most of the leaders in the region, however, saw this radical zeal exhibited in conferences and trainings, replete with endless winds and waves of fleshly movements accompanied by suspicions towards the "more reserved," and felt TC was like an "umbrella" to protect the region from all the storms and nonsense emanating from Anaheim. The real dilemma here was their inner "disconnect." TC had always conditioned them to believe that Lee's burden was pure and from the Lord, and it was always those around Lee who "messed things up." How could that be? Yet, that's how we all were. For years the GLA leaders operated under the paradigm, "WL good, BB bad."

James would say this was impossible,

"With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made according to the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, ought not to be so!

Does the spring of water, out of the same opening, gush forth both sweet and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine bear figs? So, neither can saltwater produce sweet water.

Is there anyone wise and understanding among you?" -- (James 3.9-13)