Our Journey to Elden in Jan 1971

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by InChristAlone

He doesn’t think so. He believes that the LRC is the only genuine Christian church. What makes him think so? I’m not sure. But he likes to repeat the Local Church “genealogy” that “started” from Luther.

One more thing, he believes that Christianity has been degraded.

The so-called degradation of Christianity springs from remnant theology. All exclusive systems successfully use it it convince their loyal followers that they alone are are "faithful" to the narrow way.

Distorted oneness is a common theme used by them all. They promote a system of oneness teachings that supposedly only they can achieve. Part of it is in the name, as if the NT provides a unique name for the one true church. Hence church in LA is good, while "the church of God in Christ in LA" is a degraded denominational division. Likewise the "church in LA, Hall One" is good, but the "First Church in LA" is bad.

In reality, a church's relationship with LSM decides her status as healthy or degraded. The true condition of the church means next to nothing. Whether or not the church uses HWfMR means everything.

[InChristAlone]

Originally Posted by awareness

"Why follow my spirit? It might disagree with Witness Lee," is what a brother in the LRC said to me when I asked if he still followed his spirit.

Alas! They put their trust in Witness Lee -- in his word, his authority, and his command.

Originally Posted by Ohio

All exclusive systems successfully use it it convince their loyal followers that they alone are are "faithful" to the narrow way.

I agree. That’s what they feel in the LRC. Responsible brothers even frighten us grassroots: “If you are not faithful enough, the Lord will choose other people and raise another church.”

Originally Posted by NeitherFirstnorLast

Only Christ can call His own, and only Prayer, not reasoning and factual proof, can liberate these people.

That’s right. Reasoning and factual proof can’t liberate these people. Only Christ can call His own.

Today I tried to talk to my wife about the LCR, their leaders, and their doctrines. It was useless. She brushed away my reasoning and said: “Satan entered your heart... You can’t trust what they write in the Internet... It’s those ambitious ones who want to discredit our church... To understand the truth, you need to read more Witness Lee’s books... I know the truth because I read the books and pray. And the Lord tells me that our teaching is true.” Funny, we pray about the same thing, but the Lord gives us two different answers. I see the LRC as a cult and WL as a false teacher. She thinks opposite. Thank God, somehow we still have peace.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by InChristAlone

“If you are not faithful enough, the Lord will choose other people and raise another church.”

What type of a gospel is this?

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." This was Jesus words in Matthew 16:18.
Are the responsible brothers saying Jesus will raise up another church? That's contrary to what is spoken in Matthew 16:18. However if these brothers are referring to ecclesia or assemblies, that's already been done. Take any city where there's a LSM lampstand, you will find many assemblies with many Christians meeting within those assemblies.
The phase "If you are not faithful enough" seems to imply an exclusive concept that God is limited in who He chooses and only they can be chosen.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by InChristAlone

I agree. That’s what they feel in the LRC. Responsible brothers even frighten us grassroots: “If you are not faithful enough, the Lord will choose other people and raise another church.”
.

But listen to the underlying message here ... The LC God is only big enough to dwell in one group of believers at a time.

This is the outcome of believing the distorted version of Recovery history under the succession of MOTAs.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by InChristAlone

You can’t trust what they write in the Internet.

Speaking about forums such as this one, true. There is always the possiblity of incomplete information. Some content can also be inaccurate while other content is accurate. Just as easily as one can say, " you can't trust what they write in the internet", one can also say "you can't trust the blending brothers". Like the Obama administration, they speak positive words while their actions contradict. After time it becomes clanging cymbals.

[InChristAlone]

Originally Posted by Terry

What type of a gospel is this?

It must be old wives' tales. But LCers believe them because they put their trust in WL, the MOTA and the LRC genealogy.

Originally Posted by Ohio

But listen to the underlying message here ... The LC God is only big enough to dwell in one group of believers at a time.

Yup. Probably, they think that believers from other churches “were not faithful and worthy enough” to receive the LC “high-peak truth.” You know, God always chooses “the best”, ”the chosen ones.”

Originally Posted by Terry

Speaking about forums such as this one, true. There is always the possiblity of incomplete information. Some content can also be inaccurate while other content is accurate. Just as easily as one can say, " you can't trust what they write in the internet", one can also say "you can't trust the blending brothers". Like the Obama administration, they speak positive words while their actions contradict. After time it becomes clanging cymbals.

That’s right. It’s the same about WL’s books. A man of sound mind can't blindly trust everything WL wrote in his volumes. But somehow LCers trust it because they believe that WL and the blending brothers always follow the Spirit, i.e. the Lord is using them to reveal “the high-peak truth.”

[Elden1971]

Hallelujah for another day to Praise the Lord. He alone is WORTHY to be PRAISED! How I thank Him for His Mercy and Grace.

[Elden1971]

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
... Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

[Elden1971]

Bro. Lee often referred to the glorious days of Elden and surely for those of us who were there from 62-74 many would testify to that fact. Why then did those key workers from that era ultimately all leave. Doug Kreiger in his testimony has testified that by 1974 it was all over as a result of Daystar and other issues. Doug had devoted 12 years of his life and had brought hundreds into Elden and Berkley. The core leadership at Elden Hall consisted of Samuel Chang, Don Hardy, John Ingalls, Bill Mallon and Al Knoch and yet all of these were betrayed by Bro. Lee after 20-25 years of faithful service . Godfred Otuteye , Sal Benoit, Ken Unger, Ned Nossaman were also greatly used and then wrongfully much maligned. Fred Malir and John Cowan were chosen to go to Brazil and returned to Elden and both left in 78. Fred now 91 was greatly used later in many countries especially in Cuba where with Don Hardy hundreds of home meetings were established and thrive to this day. Only Samuel Chang and Ken Unger have gone to be with the Lord the other men are still serving the Lord and most have written testimonies available on this and other sites. I could name dozens more like Jose Nunez who has been a missionary to Uganda the past 10 years and has mentored hundreds of Christian workers. More and more names are filling my memory and all left and all have gone on with the Lord. The hidden history of Bro. Lee is shameful in how he treated those co-workers and it will all be revealed at the Judgment Seat. The current activity of the Blended Brothers to me has been incomprehensible since I knew most of them and I'm shocked at the level of deception that has encompassed them, but a little leaven eventually leavens the whole lot.
May we all continue to pray for their deliverance and for all who remain under their control.