Steve Isitt (Indiana) testimony

[UntoHim]

Martin Luther? Really Terry? I'll try to bail you out of this one bro.

Of course the glaring difference is that Martin Luther had nowhere else to go. There was the Roman Catholic Church, and nothing else. He had to work within the system.

Steve has a choice. There are many biblical, healthy and vibrant churches in the area he lives in. After all these years Steve must be aware of the big lie that is told in the Local Church - that Christianity is a barren wasteland and is Babylon. This was a lie perpetrated by Witness Lee to keep his followers from looking on the other side of the fence.

Now, thanks to the information age, Local Churchers don't have to be in the dark anymore. They can read this forum and see that there are many former members who have gone on with the Lord. They can find out for themselves that when Benson Phillips says if you leave your spiritual life is basically over and that the process of sanctification is only taking place in the Local Church of Witness Lee, he is full of rice and beans.

There is one thing that Steve has in common with Martin Luther - they both dealt with hopelessly rigid religious systems that were just not going to change for anything or any one.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

This past week I was watching a movie on Martin Luther and could not help thinking the comparisons between Luther and Steve Isitt.

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Martin Luther? Really Terry? I'll try to bail you out of this one bro. Of course the glaring difference is that Martin Luther had nowhere else to go. There was the Roman Catholic Church, and nothing else. He had to work within the system.

In some limited sense, I'm not so sure Isitt and Luther are so different. Luther did have other options, joining others outside the RCC, but like Isitt, he grew up with the belief that his church was the only true church, standing on the proper ground of truth and oneness, with a leader who had the proper lineage of authority.

Both Luther and Isitt, when examining their core ideology, had no intention of leaving their roots. Both worked tirelessly to reform apparent errors and return their church back to its former days of "glory." We can stand back and look at both of them and "laugh," knowing that they are fighting an overwhelming and hopeless battle, but frankly it's none of our business.

Personally, I like to let each one man serve God according to conscience. Who am I to know whether or not the Lord is not directing their very steps? I am convinced that the Lord does direct some to stay in the LC in relative silence, He has directed others to leave the LC in silence, and He has directed some others to speak out long and loud to expose the errors of their ways. Who are we to judge? God ways are higher than our ways.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

There is one thing that Steve has in common with Martin Luther - they both dealt with hopelessly rigid religious systems that were just not going to change for anything or any one.

Each religious system of it's time, Luther with the RCC and Steve Isitt of the so called recovery were told to recant or else. In Luther's time, his life was in jepeordy. As for Steve, it was being able to meet where he wants to meet. Sure there are many Christian assemblies to gather with. That's the basis of my comparison.
Both religious systems; the RCC and that of LSM/LC knew that the respective brothers who spoke out against the errors had merit. To acknowledge the merit poses risk to the system.