Publication Work in The Lord's Recovery aka The One Publication

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Ohio

It's good that you have the 37 volume Church Fathers set. Which denomination has ever demanded that their member churches read only from that set? When did the Publisher of that set decide to excommunicate ministers who did not teach from only that set?.

Good for Drake that his local elders are okay with that, but not so with others. I have bought a few books with different Christian authors. But when the elder saw that I had a Christian book that isn't published by LSM, he demanded me to read Lee's books only!

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Good for Drake that his local elders are okay with that, but not so with others. I have bought a few books with different Christian authors. But when the elder saw that I had a Christian book that isn't published by LSM, he demanded me to read Lee's books only!

Well, I believe you Kevin but I've never encountered that and I have observed many authors on the shelves of private libraries of brothers including leading ones. Furthermore, I bought most of my Govett, Pember, Panton, etc. from Conley and Schoettle publishers who had a table at an LSM sponsored conference. Additionally, LSM publishes the works of Watchman Nee that within also references and publishes those other authors works (Jessie Penn Lewis, S.D Gordon, and others) in the Collected Works.

I can't speak to your experience and why the elder demanded that you read only Brother Lee's books. It really baffles me because I have never seen an elder or a leading one exhibit that attitude or behavior in my four decades + about what anyone can read. It's a ridiculous demand and expectation because it goes contrary to the observation above and even if an elder were predisposed to controlling others in that way it is impossible to enforce.

Anyway, here's the thing. The "One Publication" is not about what one can read... it is about what LSM will publish under the banner of the ministry they are entrusted with. Every publisher reserves the right to publish what they feel responsible to the Lord for. I don't see any demands in the One Publication that forbids anyone from reading and owning whatever they like.

And finally, in UntoHim's argument he borrowed the "One Publication" term to make a different point, that being that the ONLY publication we as Christians should have is the Bible. So for you my friend, better get all Fahrenheit 451 with those John Piper books you treasure.

Drake

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Drake

Anyway, here's the thing. The "One Publication" is not about what one can read... it is about what LSM will publish under the banner of the ministry they are entrusted with. Every publisher reserves the right to publish what they feel responsible to the Lord for. I don't see any demands in the One Publication that forbids anyone from reading and owning whatever they like.

Once again, I must speak up to correct your inaccuracies here. Either you don't know LSM history or you are purposely deceptive to the forum readers. After witnessing your habits over an extended period of time, I tend to believe the latter.

No one has ever said that LSM cannot pick and choose what they publish! They are a business. They can print whatever they want to. Everyone acknowledges this. This has never been a point of contention. This is a manufactured crisis! . Or, as you love to say, a "straw man" argument.

On the contrary, the "One Publication" decree which LSM initiated back in the early 2000's, had the motive to bring ministers like Titus Chu and Dong Yu Lan under subjection to LSM -- or else! The motives behind this decree were no different than the Papal Bulls of the Dark Ages -- bringing supposed "heretics" under subjection.

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Drake

I can't speak to your experience and why the elder demanded that you read only Brother Lee's books. It really baffles me because I have never seen an elder or a leading one exhibit that attitude or behavior in my four decades + about what anyone can read.

You haven't? Then you have clearly not been in the same Local Church of Witness Lee that we are talking about on this forum. Don't know any other way to understand how you could say something so diametrically opposed to the truth. I don't care how long you claim to have been an astronomer, even if it's for 40+ years...you cannot tell us the Moon is made of green cheese. It just ain't so. Care to restate?

Anyway, here's the thing. The "One Publication" is not about what one can read... it is about what LSM will publish under the banner of the ministry they are entrusted with.

Wow, more green cheese, eh? It's starting to smell around here bro. Let me try to go about this another way. Maybe you could tell us about the relationship that the Living Stream has with all the "local churches?" (of course I mean all the local churches associated with LSM) The Living Stream is a publisher. Got it! Cool! They publish the works of Lee and Nee. Check! No problem! What's the relationship between these "local churches" and the Living Stream Ministry? After 40+ years I think you might be able to give us a rather comprehensive description. Leave out the cheese, please!

And finally, in UntoHim's argument he borrowed the "One Publication" term to make a different point, that being that the ONLY publication we as Christians should have is the Bible.

Dude, are you actually reading what I post? I mean, it's like I'm writing in lower Slobovian or something. For God's sake, my man, the very title of this thread is ONE PUBLICATION. I didn't make this term up - it comes directly from the headquarters of the sect/religion you are here defending! Who said the Bible is "the only publication we as Christians should have?" Not me Kemosabe! And nobody else here said anything like that either. Your arguments seem to be with the fellows over there on La Palma Ave in Anaheim, and not with any of us here. I can give you a phone number or email address if you need it. Just say the word...I'm here to help!
-

[Drake]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

You haven't? .....Care to restate?

No, I have spoken the truth as I see it. No need to restate it. Were I to say it differently I would not be truthful to myself or to the Lord. Not your experience? Fine. Don't believe me? Also fine. I answer to a higher power and authority, that is to the One who holds the seven Spirits and the seven stars in His right hand.

Yet, this thread is about the One Publication document so:

...please show us from the One Publication document where it says members have to read only Brother Lee...

.. ain't there...

Please show us from the One Publication document where it says members cannot own or read any other authors..

.. ain't there....

Please show us from the Bible were we are to only publish the Bible

..ain't there....

In case you are wondering why I am having these conversations then I suggest you read the basenote.... it is about the ONE PUBLICATION document.. it is not about what an elder said to you, it is not about what you want to believe about preferences in ministries in the local churches, it is not about what Mormons, Catholics, or JW's, publish.... those are completely irrelevant and a fallacy (it looks like this so it must be the same thing)... it is not about who was quarantined and the reasons for it...

....and ain't about green cheese.

Here the problem, the "One Publication" conversation in this forum is not about the One Publication document and its content.... rather, it is about the things you think are related to it..... it is similar to a Russians allegation.... no other explanation will even be considered because the Russians are involved... let's make everything about the One Publication and yet when you actually read the One Publication document it says none of the things you say it means. Now why is that? Why is it that you, rather than demonstrate from the content of the document itself derive all these evil things from it? Why, can't you stop yourself from doing that?

Now, perhaps you can cease and desist with all the generalizations and show me FROM THE ONE PUBLICATION DOCUMENT where it says what you say it does.

If not, then you are merely engaging in Russian like conversations.... effective perhaps at generating some heat... but no light.

Drake

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Drake

Please show us from the One Publication document where it says members cannot own or read any other authors..

.. ain't there....

From https://thebereans.net/lords-recovery/

2. Writings of Witness Lee — Although pretending to allow Local Church members to read other Christian materials, the truth still surface that he wanted each members to be familiar and grounded first in the Local Church theology.

How long are we gonna finish all his books? First indoctrination before other books.

[Drake]

-1

“We do not need to control the saints, and even more we do not need to stop them from reading what they want."

Kevin,

Thanks for the posting.

Not sure how much clearer this above statement can be. Anyone with pure intentions can see that there is no desire to control what saints read.

As to the rest, it provides insight as to why the LSM publishes what it publishes and it also shows shepherding in the truth for young ones. It would be irresponsible to just tell young ones to go out there and read anything they fancy as if it were all about the same. It's not.

Drake

[awareness]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Then you have clearly not been in the same Local Church of Witness Lee that we are talking about on this forum.

I've pointed that out before too. Our brother Drake's local church, as depicted out here, isn't anything like the one I was in. It seems to be to me two different local churches. Because bro Drake fears some kind of retaliation he can't tell us about what localities he's been in, down thru the decades, so we're unable to understand why his LC is so different than ours. And I could be wrong, but bro Drake doesn't strike me as delusional.

As far as the controlling of the reading material in the LC I can only speak of my experience, and that of other brothers I was close to, even some of them condemned some of the books I was reading.

In the c. in Ft. Lauderdale, for example, some brothers held their fingers in the shape of a cross, like expelling the devil, because I was reading John Nelson Darby.

I was a big time reader when I came into the c. in Santa Cruz. At the time I was reading 5 books. About a month or so after coming in, and joining a service group, the elders sent a brother to tell me that reading those books wasn't allowed in the local church.

So from the time I joined to the time I left I was told what to read and what not to read.

By comparison, brother Drake's local church sounds great. But my experience, knowing the ways of the local church, tells me that it's prolly just a bait and switch sales pitch.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by awareness

By comparison, brother Drake's local church sounds great. But my experience, knowing the ways of the local church, tells me that it's prolly just a bait and switch sales pitch.

Sorry brother, you've read me wrong. I'm not trying to sell you anything. I love you, but I'm not trying to sell to you. What you hear is not a pitch, it's who I am.

Drake

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Drake

Well, I believe you Kevin but I've never encountered that and I have observed many authors on the shelves of private libraries of brothers including leading ones. Furthermore, I bought most of my Govett, Pember, Panton, etc. from Conley and Schoettle publishers who had a table at an LSM sponsored conference. Additionally, LSM publishes the works of Watchman Nee that within also references and publishes those other authors works (Jessie Penn Lewis, S.D Gordon, and others) in the Collected Works.

Those people you've mentioned are in the line of the Lord's recovery. Of course they are recommended to be read because their theologies are aligned with the LC teachings. But aren't you missing this: "The books in Christianity are full of superstition, superficiality, and lukewarm theology, not to mention error in many cases. We are not part of organized Christianity." (The Ministry, March 2005)

I can't speak to your experience and why the elder demanded that you read only Brother Lee's books. It really baffles me because I have never seen an elder or a leading one exhibit that attitude or behavior in my four decades + about what anyone can read. It's a ridiculous demand and expectation because it goes contrary to the observation above and even if an elder were predisposed to controlling others in that way it is impossible to enforce.

I don't see any demands in the One Publication that forbids anyone from reading and owning whatever they like.

Here's the deal, let every LCer during the prophesying meeting have the opportunity to share the books they've read.

So for you my friend, better get all Fahrenheit 451 with those John Piper books you treasure.

And John Bunyan, R. C. Sproul, D. A. Carson, James R. White, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Jerry Bridges, Steve Lawson, Paul Washer, J. I. Packer, John MacArthur, J. C. Ryle, Paul E. Miller, Mark Jones, John Jerfferson Davis, Pat Springle, Elliot Nesch, Marcus Rainsford, Tim Keller, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Michael Horton, Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Letham, Martyn Llyod Jones, and the grand finale Logos 8 platinum shared to me by mentor. How's that?

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Those people you've mentioned are in the line of the Lord's recovery. Of course they are recommended to be read because their theologies are aligned with the LC teachings. But aren't you missing this: "The books in Christianity are full of superstition, superficiality, and lukewarm theology, not to mention error in many cases. We are not part of organized Christianity." (The Ministry, March 2005)

Okay... but still it negates the idea that believers in the Lord's recovery must only read Brother Lee. Furthermore, I don't disagree with the bold statement and you probably agree also if you think about because you make a conscious decision about what authors to include in your library.

Originally Posted by Kevin

Here's the deal, let every LCer during the prophesying meeting have the opportunity to share the books they've read.

Ah, now that is a different discussion and a legitimate one. But it has nothing to do with the One Publication document.

Originally Posted by Kevin

And John Bunyan, R. C. Sproul, D. A. Carson, James R. White, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Jerry Bridges, Steve Lawson, Paul Washer, J. I. Packer, John MacArthur, J. C. Ryle, Paul E. Miller, Mark Jones, John Jerfferson Davis, Pat Springle, Elliot Nesch, Marcus Rainsford, Tim Keller, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Michael Horton, Sinclair Ferguson, Robert Letham, Martyn Llyod Jones, and the grand finale Logos 8 platinum shared to me by mentor. How's that?

That is an impressive list and our libraries overlap on some of them. Good for us. And I am certain you and I would agree that none of them will ever take the place of the Bible and the Holy Spirit's direct speaking to us.

Drake