Nee was the Master Mind of this, Lee was the Enabler of it.

Originally Posted by gr8ful

This makes my heart hurt. I did manage to make friends in TLR but I always had guilt regarding this. Today, whenever I run into a current member who knows me, they're polite but keep the conversation light in case I infect them, I guess. No desire to continue the 20+ years of routine, personal, contact...outside of maybe bringing me back.

But I've moved on and, in the past several years, established new relationships that are fulfilling. And guilt-free.

The main reason that the members of the local church act and live their lives in such a boxed in, suppressed, incapable of clear thinking and understanding, is because the equation that they have been exposed to, prevents them from living a true Christian life and experience the fruits of Gods work in them. The equation is very simple:

1. Thinking + Loving + expression + care = SOUL.
This Must all die, or else you are a soulish unregenerated man.

2. Not thinking + Not questioning + Obeying + No distinctions in ANY way + not loving + no affection = SPIRIT

These things Must be inoculated and fostered at all costs, especially in the beginning and to all young people and children.

3. This is a big one: guess who can determine if you are in your soul or spirit? ITS NOT YOU, it’s the “fully blended” that have special connection to God, and have installed themselves as the intermediaries between Jesus and you. They know what is of the spirit and what is of the soul. They have been in the local church for decades, they know better than you. They are spiritual mothers and fathers, and you are just a young one, unconforming rebel. Just listen and OBEY.

If anyone believes that just because you have spent 20 / 30 / 50 years in the local church and you are therefore some mature one, as Ron, Minoru, Benson, Ed, just to name a few pretend to be, or because you have totally indoctrinated yourself with “life studies”, to where making these determinations is according to the writing of Nee and Lee:
THEN you have lost your way, your spiritual growth is disabled, you are a slave to a system in which you are nothing but merchandise used for promotion of those who hold the keys to your life. The term “useful idiot” comes to mind, not sure if that’s allowed to be said on this forum. If not, please delete last sentence.

Nee was the master mind of this, Lee was the enabler of it. Now, you have the squad, that’s spread like a gangrene, by force, by deception, by cunningly crafted ways. Submit, or else! There is only one way to deal with it, and that way is known as amputation. Sometimes losing your leg feels like you won a lottery, and it’s life changing.

[HERn]

Howdy Guest!

Just wondering how you left the recovery?
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Originally Posted by HERn

Howdy Guest! Just wondering how you left the recovery?

It’s been some time since I departed from the local church. I hate to say it, but it’s probably the most difficult and the most costly decision I have had to make in my life. I never envisioned my life to go this route, but nevertheless today I’m grateful for what I have left of it. It took several years to get me there, to this point where there wasn’t anything in this world that will stand in the way, family, children and all relationships. Business and livelihood, a place to live and the roof over your head. I wasn’t interested in anymore compromising and closing my eyes and looking the other way. I was just done, everything was squeezed out, drained and there was no more reason to be around, until God said otherwise. He took me out, and I’m just happy to be existing today, just going along and trusting Him whatever tomorrow brings.

Rejoice in the Lord, and refuse to give in! That’s what keeps me going each and every day. Pray for those that are totally disabled spiritually, and hope for God to change the landscape for the better. Every day is a test of your faith, and you ether stand strong and face the consequences of it, or you let your feelings and attachments dictate your life. Although it’s excruciatingly painful and sometimes even makes you question what’s happening, but it only takes a few minutes to look back and compare both situations and realize that the price is worth paying, no matter what. As I said in that message before, sometimes losing things that are near and dear to your everyday life, and something and someone that you gave have half your life to, is totally not a way to go for most people, and will look like you lost you mind, but I thank God for keeping me together and not wrecking everything including my faith in the Real, Living, Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and my Savior!

As I think of a Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, it’s very easy to say, “Lord, thanks for all of the blessings that brought me joy and happiness into my life, but it much more difficult to thank the Lord for all of the trials, the testing, the commitment to Him that sometimes hurts me to think about, or say it was more important that those good times!” May He be glorified in our worst situations, and our total dependence on what He will do for us daily, trusting Him blindly, even if you are shunned, abandoned, ignored, told that you are useless and really good for nothing. You are not part of the vision, or you never even was a part of it to begin with. You were faking it all alone, even though it almost cost you your life at the end. He knows our hearts, unlike these people who think or pretend that they do. I’m grateful for His grace and care, looking unto to Him!
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[HERn]

I’m glad you made the transition with your faith intact! My leaving was cold Turkey and my wife came with me and we are going on with the Lord in a Christ loving community church. It seemed that many LC elders were really “company men” committed to pleasing regional blended brothers rather than their Savior. One elder urged three regular brothers to write RK complaining about the controlling nature of two of the other elders. When I asked him if he would also sign the draft letter I prepared he declined without a good reason. This was the same elder that when I asked him if he would mentor or disciple me said “ok give me all of your money”. I laughed it off, but it was a very strange response and he never apologized or said he was joking. It was difficult for me to determine if he was genuine or not. Very strange request. Did your family follow you out?

Originally Posted by HERn

I’m glad you made the transition with your faith intact! My leaving was cold Turkey and my wife came with me and we are going on with the Lord in a Christ loving community church. It seemed that many LC elders were really “company men” committed to pleasing regional blended brothers rather than their Savior. One elder urged three regular brothers to write RK complaining about the controlling nature of two of the other elders. When I asked him if he would also sign the draft letter I prepared he declined without a good reason. This was the same elder that when I asked him if he would mentor or disciple me said “ok give me all of your money”. I laughed it off, but it was a very strange response and he never apologized or said he was joking. It was difficult for me to determine if he was genuine or not. Very strange request. Did your family follow you out?

Sorry for not responding right away. To answer your last question, no they did not.

[bearbear]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

3. This is a big one: guess who can determine if you are in your soul or spirit? ITS NOT YOU, it’s the “fully blended” that have special connection to God, and have installed themselves as the intermediaries between Jesus and you. They know what is of the spirit and what is of the soul. They have been in the local church for decades, they know better than you. They are spiritual mothers and fathers, and you are just a young one, unconforming rebel. Just listen and OBEY.

Witness Lee taught that to know Christ is not enough, we must go on to know the local churches. Was he effectively setting up another "god" for us to worship deceptively along the same lines?

"To know God is not adequate. To know Christ is also not adequate. Even to know the church is not adequate. We must go on to know the churches which are local. If we are up-to-date in following the Lord, we will realize that today is the day of the local churches."

Witness Lee, The Seven Spirits for the Local Churches, p. 23

Compare this with what Paul wrote:

Phil 3:8
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Knowing and obeying Jesus is the means by which we attain eternal life, not knowing "the local churches" and not obeying the "Body".

John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him