The God-Men: An Inquiry into Witness Lee & the Local Church

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I entered the LC's in the mid-70's. One strong theme then present was our need to "return to the pure word of God." This abounded in Lee's ministry, the local ministries, and daily conversation. Since I was raised in Catholicism, this was especially attractive to me. (Remember I was the altar boy who knew the mass in both Latin and English.) I was thoroughly convinced at the time that Lee and his ministry were entirely devoted to God's pure word. One statement that stood out, loud and clear, was Lee's repeated saying that "we don't need systematic theology, we just need the pure word of God!"

Fast forward 20 years to the "high peak" era, after the "Ingalls rebellion."

It had actually become dangerous to only use the Bible, even if it was the Recovery version. What had happened to us? All we had was systematic theology! How far had we fallen! The Bible had become a dangerous book in the hands of common saints. It must be properly interpreted! It must be accompanied by the ministry! I remember talking to an in-law of mine during the recent quarantine who also was from Florida. He told me succinctly that "coming back to the pure word of God" was nothing more than a "tactic of the enemy." He then related how Bill Mallon attempted the same strategy during the last rebellion.

How is coming to the pure Word of God "a tactic of the enemy"? I can see how it would redirect our focus to God's Word instead of a minister's word. Rather we need to be rooted and grounded in the Word so As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; (Ephesians 4:14).
If there is the grounding of the Word it becomes transparent to discern the issue is receiving according to God's receiving (Romans 15:7) contrasting receiving according to preferences (Luke 6:32-33, James 2).
Another reason we need the pure Word of God as our solid spiritual food is
"For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant." Hebrews 5:13