My time in the church

[recoveringCK]

Originally Posted by Ohio

The list released by Lee in Jan 1974 (posted here somewhere once) was lengthy and affected all the leaders and subsequently the members, for example, LC's were forced to consolidate around "ministry stations" where approved spokesmen were instructed to re-speak Lee's messages.

Steve Isitt and others have more info on this time period.
Not sure exact dates, but by 1976, when the Ball Road facility was built, he already had private party rooms, hidden from inspectors, to entertain his own pleasures.
Yes, initially to pay off Daystar debts from those members who clamored fraud. Later on, this cash cow only grew in size.
Yes, it was called the "Young Galilean" movement, and young people were instructed to become "fishermen" and get their "hands dirty." Max traveled the country firing the elders and demanded that all young people be "set free" to move to the campuses. What a mess! Max later repented for the damage he cause, but Lee never did. When the whole thing hit the fan, Lee threw Max under the bus in order to maintain his own pristine reputation.
I think it was Spring of '77. During the '77 Memorial Day Conference, Witness Lee shamed Sandee Rapoport publicly, for some fabricated "sisters rebellion," in retaliation for Max confronting Philip Lee in a restaurant for having an affair with an LSM staffer. Max was in Chicago at the time, so he could not protect his wife.

Everything Witness Lee did here was in violation of the scriptures. Taking over the LC's was wrong. Daystar was wrong. Violating building codes was wrong. Charging Max to shake up the LC's was wrong. Shaming Sandee R. was wrong. Smearing Max's reputation was wrong. Protecting his profligate sons was wrong.

Throughout his ministry, WL taught his closest followers (Blendeds-to-Be) to violate their conscience, the scriptures, and the law in order to protect himself, his family, and his ministry. And that's why today we see so little honesty and integrity from the members in the LC's.

When the facility was built there were private party rooms hidden from inspectors?

WOW. Would not construction manager Ray Graver know about this, along with most of the BBs-to-be? "By their works you shall know them."

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by recoveringCK

When the facility was built there were private party rooms hidden from inspectors?

WOW. Would not construction manager Ray Graver know about this, along with most of the BBs-to-be? "By their works you shall know them."

Yes, that has been reported.

Read other posts here. Ray Graver and Benson Phillips knew that Philip Lee had porn and liquor, and partied in the back room.

Witness Lee and senior Blendeds were guilty of a bigger coverup than Nixon.

[Weighingin]

Regarding this, that is interesting as I just read a footnote on Acts 15:39 in the RCV regarding disputes that happen among coworkers due to personal relationships.

[recoveringCK]

One is tempted to ask if the leadership of the LC are actually agents of the deceiver. They administering the “church” or “Lord's Recovery” according to Satanic management principles while ignoring biblical principles. What could possibly go wrong? “Come Lord Jesus!” Barf.

[aron]

Originally Posted by recoveringCK

One is tempted to ask if the leadership of the LC are actually agents of the deceiver. They administering the “church” or “Lord's Recovery” according to Satanic management principles while ignoring biblical principles..

One of the worst crimes perpetrated by Lee on the Christian public was pushing the narrative that somehow God had reached "virgin soil" in sending the gospel to a certain large Asian country that I won't name because of the safety of believers there. Supposedly, God could raise up a "normal Christian church life" there. But it was run according to what RecoveringCK calls Satanic management principles; what Jesus called "the way of the gentiles".

I appreciate Peter in the NT, not because he's brilliant or morally superior but because his failures are so thoroughly covered. Again and again Peter opens mouth and inserts foot, introducing Satanic management practices. My thought is that Peter represents all of us bumbling idiots (if I may be permitted the term). Jesus is the Obedient Son and Peter's the Doofus, the Sinner, representing you and I; he isn't worse than the eleven - no, he's the well-documented exemplar of their cluelessness.

Now, I ask you to imagine if Peter had convinced the Church that he was God's Untouchable Deputy, and every time he made an error everyone had to scramble around to "cover drunken Noah" - what kind of a "normal Christian church life" would that have been? Not very.

We used to sing, "Home, home in the church/it is here that we've ended our search." No, a thousand times no. Jesus commanded us to seek. If we don't search, then we won't find. The local church of Lee is not our home. We belong to the kingdom above. We must keep searching.

Jesus is the Exalted One, raised to the right hand of God and given glory. His is the name above every name, not only which is but which is to come; on earth, in heaven, or under the earth. No one else should presume such placement. He earned it by his sinless life and obedience unto death, "and God has furnished proof to all by raising him from the dead and giving him glory". ~Acts 17:31; 1Pet 1:21

The rest of us, while we're yet in this flesh of sin, would be wise to press on. It's a command, and a promise: "Seek, and ye shall find".

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Weighingin

Regarding this, that is interesting as I just read a footnote on Acts 15:39 in the RCV regarding disputes that happen among coworkers due to personal relationships.

The real "poison" which LSM constantly warns their members about is this -- one day discovering that Lee and Company broke all the rules they told us to keep! Hypocrites!

How many times did Lee warn us about natural relationships? Then we find out that all the "storms" or so-called "rebellions" of the 60's, 70's, and 80's were never about what he told us. They all started with corruption in the Lee Family which just sickened and repulsed the saints. Today I don't believe a single piece of church history I ever heard from Lee unless I have 2nd source corroboration.

But, instead of repenting and changing his ways, W. Lee threw those who spoke up under the bus, fabricated stories of vast conspiracies about them, and then blamed the rest of us for being so foolish. Moo cows, he said.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

The real "poison" which LSM constantly warns their members about is this -- one day discovering that Lee and Company broke all the rules they told us to keep! Hypocrites!

How many times did Lee warn us about natural relationships? Then we find out that all the "storms" or so-called "rebellions" of the 60's, 70's, and 80's were never about what he told us. They all started with corruption in the Lee Family which just sickened and repulsed the saints...

Another way to look at it: the natural relationships we didn't watch out for were those of Lee and his admittedly unspiritual sons. Lee warned us so thoroughly about avoiding these things, and stressed it so strongly, that we never suspected that he'd violate his own cardinal rule! So, we thought it had to be some kind of externally-derived conspiracy against God's anointed!

Same thing with the dreaded hierarchy, the teachings of the Nicolaitans etc. All those things that Lee decried, he himself practiced, just with different labeling. The way of the gentiles returns with a new flavor to cover the stench. "Brothers, these things should not be so among you". Amen.