Pray-Reading

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by kisstheson

I don't know Ray Graver's heart at the time of writing, but the purpose of his book was extremely disingenuous. Between this book and Witness Lee's lies while under oath in court, I am INCREDIBLY SICKENED by the whole WL/LSM charade in their so-called "defense". What a bunch of phonies! There is such a blatant disparity between the image LSM tries so hard to publicly display and the true inner workings of their sectarian, aberrant, sick little group. I am no fan of The God Men or The Mind Benders, but I am finding out all the time that other Christians had plenty to be concerned about with LSM and the LRC.

Sorry for the strong language, but finding out the real history behind this book that I have always admired really makes me want to vomit!

KisstheSon, you really "vented" in this post.

I have heard about WL's lies under oath, but not really studied it. Do you have more info?

I give Graver's book a pass, however, due to context. In those days, LC members were being kidnapped and deprogrammed due to the hyper hysteria post-Jonestown. Graver did not have the benefit of knowing what we know now. He was attempting to legitimatize a practice based on church history. Too bad others never read his book. I can testify that his book helped the brothers I was with from mindless repetitions of segments of scripture. We still shouted occasionally, but it was not mindless robotic public exhibition.

Brothers in the 70's were much more "in tune" with the "idealism of the initial vision," for lack of a better expression. The concepts of "recovery" and "standing on the shoulders" of past men of God were more real to the saints. Many bro/sis read biographies in those days. LSM had very few books, rather loose ministry messages were common. Other brothers were writing things too, not just RG. Things in the church were much different then, and society was also different.

I actually believe that the Lord had a role in that early "shout-reading." Church history is filled with "strange" practices, appropriate in context, but strange to the reader. If the Lord is shouting, then by all means, let's all shout! The real danger is not shouting, but the vain repetition, doing it mindlessly, long after the Lord has quit.