Was Day Star poor judgment or fraud?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

This is why these issues matter and need to be resolved in the church. If we can't deal with WL and PL then how could we ever deal with corruption in the government or a despot?

Every human leader needs scrutiny and oversight to prevent the abuse of power. Our public leaders supposedly are monitored by the freedom of the press and congressional oversight. These are absolutely essential to limit the abuse of power.

Likewise church leaders also must be under careful scrutiny and wise oversight that the church be preserved blameless. The New Testament devotes an incredible amount of time to identify those characteristics of healthy leaders. Whole books were even written to this end -- I Timothy and Titus. Whole books were also written to expose rotten leaders -- 2 Peter and Jude.

Witness Lee undermined these healthy scriptural checks and balances by introducing the errant doctrine of "deputy authority." Lee's teachings about deputy authority exist no where in the New testament. Not one verse in the Bible justifies the abuses of rotten leaders with claims to "deputy authority." Witness Lee and his minions, however, would introduce these teachings, apparently endorsed by Watchman Nee, whenever scandals such as Daystar or Philip Lee's indiscretions became public.

Using the stories of Noah cursing Ham and Moses marrying a heathen woman, Lee was able to intimidate "the press" into believing that God's judgment would swiftly strike any brother or sister who dared to address crimes at LSM. Just expressing an opinion like Meriam did would cause instant leprosy! For those at LSM who should have provided needed oversight, "covering the nakedness of Noah" translated into a bunch of ostriches burying their heads when confronting lies, theft, fraud, abuse, rape and adultery. Francis Ball actually once boasted of this. He spoke for every one of today's Blended Brothers.