Hanegraaff Sings Praises To The LC/Recovery With A Lengthy Explanation

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

Yes, you may be right. So here, from memory, is what I posted:

So is the blue text above the main theological reason that WL and the LC are referred to as a cult? And if the Lord used this experience to cause bro Hank to pursue Him more fervently, is that a bad thing?

No. That’s one of many cultic practices of the LC.

I doubt that the Lord uses heresy to cause people to pursue him. I would think pursuing heresy would lead one off into more heresy.

Nell

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Nell

No. That’s one of many cultic practices of the LC.

I doubt that the Lord uses heresy to cause people to pursue him. I would think pursuing heresy would lead one off into more heresy.

Nell

I wasn't referring to practices, but theology. Sure, lot's of poor practices in the LC. I was wondering if the "man becomes God" teaching is the main theological thing in considering it off-the-mark and a cult.

Is bro Hank pursuing heresy or the Lord? I don't think we can say for sure, can we? Only the Lord knows. And no matter what one pursues, the Lord will use it to bring us back on track to Himself.

[UntoHim]

Sons to Glory!
Before I rip into you about what you have posted .... I wanted to thank you for taking the time and care to post on the forum. Not many have had the guts to stick their neck out and defend the teachings and practices of the Local Church. Don't look now my brother, but you have been engaging in theological wranglings for over 9 years now on this very forum!

As is her habit, Nell has stolen my thunder. I was going to post almost word for word what she has. Thanks for beating me to the punch yet again sis.

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

And if the Lord used this experience to cause bro Hank to pursue Him more fervently, is that a bad thing?

While I do appreciate Hank's newfound experiences of the Lord, I would just assume that while he is doing the work of a Christian apologist, he actually do the work of a Christian apologist - using the God-breathed Word and apologetics "for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16) and not letting the subject of his "six year primary research project" turn the tables on him, and let the tail wag the dog. Of course Hank is famous for caving into the subjects of his investigations, so I guess we shouldn't have expected anything less from him when it comes to kowtowing and praising the very group he is supposed to be critiquing. But hey, I guess kowtowing and groveling gets the mortgage paid on that multi-million dollar house, and keeps him behind the wheel of those luxury vehicles he drive at the expense of his donors.

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

I was wondering if the "man becomes God" teaching is the main theological thing in considering it off-the-mark and a cult.

I am really surprised you could say such a thing. There are over 2,000 threads on this forum. Many of them go into the reasons why the theology of Witness Lee should be considered off the mark. The word "cult" is only as useful and impactful as those who are employing term. To put a sharper point on this, I would say it depends on who is calling who a cult.

While you're considering this a little more, you may want to take a look at Open-Letter.Org "More than 70 evangelical Christian scholars and ministry leaders from seven nations have signed an unprecedented open letter to the leadership of the “local churches” and Living Stream Ministry".
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[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Before I rip into you about what you have posted .... I wanted to thank you for taking the time and care to post on the forum. Not many have had the guts to stick their neck out and defend the teachings and practices of the Local Church.

I am really surprised you could say such a thing. There are over 2,000 threads on this forum. Many of them go into the reasons why the theology of Witness Lee should be considered off the mark. The word "cult" is only as useful and impactful as those who are employing term. To put a sharper point on this, I would say it depends on who is calling who a cult.

While you're considering this a little more, you may want to take a look at Open-Letter.Org "More than 70 evangelical Christian scholars and ministry leaders from seven nations have signed an unprecedented open letter to the leadership of the “local churches” and Living Stream Ministry".
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I think you misread . . . I am asking if this is the main thing people object to with WL & LC. It's a question - I don't know . . . to clarify I'm asking if the "man becomes God" teaching is the biggest thing or is considered to be the most off the mark. Is it? That's all. (Sorry if I did not communicate that so well earlier.)

You are welcome bro. And as I've tried to effectively communicate many times, I am not a WL or LC apologist per se by any means. I don't routinely meet with the LC nor do I really have any connection there. Various ones I meet with do read Nee and appreciate some of his writings (I'm reading a really good one by Him now in fact.). To a much lessor extent, Lee's writings are around, but cited very rarely. So please, when I question what someone writes about Nee, Lee or the LC here, please don't construe it as me being all in the tank for them!!! Please. I am not.

But then again, since no active LCers seem to post on here currently, maybe you think I'm the closest thing - therefore y'all really do need me! Thanks - I feel at least a little needed now.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Sons to Glory!
Before I rip into you about what you have posted

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

I think you misread . . . I am asking if this is the main thing people object to with WL & LC. It's a question - I don't know . . . to clarify I'm asking if the "man becomes God" teaching is the biggest thing or is considered to be the most off the mark. Is it? That's all. (Sorry if I did not communicate that so well earlier.)

Sometimes I think this forum has taken on cancel culture. If you don't regularly display disdain for the other side, you will get canceled. Watch out STG, the twitter mob may get you. Keep your head down.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Sometimes I think this forum has taken on cancel culture. If you don't regularly display disdain for the other side, you will get canceled. Watch out STG, the twitter mob may get you. Keep your head down.

"Great is your reward when men . . ."

[UntoHim]

So Ohio, are you going to contribute to the dialogue or what? Cancel Culture? Twitter mob? Really? I thought you were better than that my man. If reading the posts on this thread upsets you that much, maybe you should consider taking some time off.

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

I think you misread . . . I am asking if this is the main thing people object to with WL & LC. It's a question - I don't know . . . to clarify [B]I'm asking if the "man becomes God" teaching is the biggest thing or is considered to be the most off the mark. Is it?

No I read just fine. The point is (which you apparently misread) is that the objections that many people have with the teachings and practices are well documented here on this forum and on many other websites, and they have been for many years now. The website I referred you to, Open-Letter.Org has been in continual publication since December of 2006 - almost 14 years now. So my point was, and still is, how is it that you don't know what has been considered off the mark, aberrational or heretical? I'm not saying that you should be in agreement with the assessments (I'm sure you're not) but I find it somewhat incredulous that you are unfamiliar with the arguments.
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[Nell]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

...

As is her habit, Nell has stolen my thunder. I was going to post almost word for word what she has. Thanks for beating me to the punch yet again sis.

You’re welcome!

Nell