Deputy Authority and the Ground of Oneness

Ohio · 12-01-2015, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom

It's too bad that members can't come to realize that WL formulated an environment in which he was immune to criticism. There have been countless casualties created by this destructive mindset, all the while, members feel that "dropping their opinions" is all for the greater good.

During the heyday of the "new way," we were brainwashed that opinions were the great chasm dividing Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Indiana · 12-01-2015, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio

During the heyday of the "new way," we were brainwashed that opinions were the great chasm dividing Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Brother Lee became very strong with the elders and co-workers about their opinion if they wanted to be serious about following him; but what word he delivered to them, and for them, about "opinion" became disseminated among the churches also. _S. I. 2015

Part 2 (from Deviating from the Path)

The Blurring of the Work and the Church

In the new way, beginning in October 1984, many changes took place in the Lord’s recovery among the local churches. Although many of those changes were outward and according to Scripture, one was related to a change in nature to the recovery itself.

An elder in the Northwest, Roth Williamson, expressed the essence of that change, declaring in a meeting, “If you are not here for Brother Lee and his ministry, you might as well not be here.” The ministry was promoted to such an extent that it became the primary factor of oneness in the churches.

"Some transmute the basis of the oneness of the believers by the assertion of their own authority to the point where the actual ground of oneness becomes acceptance of and obedience to their authority”] (DCP)
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One Ministry, One Minister, and One Way
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In February 1986, co-workers and elders from around the world in the Lord’s recovery became super-charged following an urgent training in Anaheim that helped set in motion a “new move” by Witness Lee and Living Stream Ministry. This training was one of a series of trainings to galvanize a new mindset in local church elders for their “one accord” in the churches and their practice of a new way in the church life to build up the Body of Christ. Of utmost importance in the new way was the leadership. It was made clear that there was only one qualified leader in the recovery and that oneness with him and his ministry was essential for the churches to be led in the way of God’s New Testament economy. To assure this, elders were to take a much lower profile in their localities, especially if they had the propensity to minister the word in large gatherings and give conferences. There was to be one ministry, one minister, and one way. The following letter of agreement, therefore, was proposed by Benson Phillips and Ray Graver and signed by co-workers and elders alike and presented to brother Witness Lee.

Dear Brother Lee,

After hearing your fellowship in this elders’ training, we all agree to have a new start in the Lord’s recovery. For this, we all agree to be in one accord and to carry out this new move of the Lord solely through prayer, the Spirit, and the Word. We further agree to practice the recovery one in: teaching, practice, thinking, speaking, essence, appearance, and expression. We repudiate all differences among the churches, and all indifference toward the ministry office, and the other churches. We agree that the church in our place be identical with all the local churches throughout the earth.

We also agree to follow your leading as the one who has brought us God’s New Testament economy and has led us into its practice. We agree that this leading is indispensable to our oneness and acknowledge the one trumpet in the Lord’s ministry and the one wise master builder among us.

We further agree to practice the church life in our locality absolutely in a new way: to build the church in, through, and based upon home meetings; to lead every member to get used to functioning without any idea to depend on any giant speakers; to teach all the saints to know the basic truths in an educational way that they may teach others for the spreading of the truth; to build up the saints in the growth in life that they may minister life to others, shepherd each other, and take care of the backsliding ones; to lead all the saints to preach the gospel in every possible way; to avoid leadership as much as possible; and to have home gatherings for nurturing the saints in life; and big meetings for educating the saints in truths.

We agree that all the preceding points are the clear and definite teaching of the Bible according to God’s New Testament economy…. (417 signatories)

Gideon and his Three Hundred Men

The example of this special oneness with Witness Lee is best demonstrated by the oneness Gideon had with his 300 men.

"When Gideon was called to take the army to fight the battle for Jehovah, the Lord told him that he had too many. Eventually, the Lord chose three hundred men and told Gideon to send the others home. This does not mean that whoever went back home was no longer an Israelite. He was still an Israelite, but he had nothing to do with the fighting army. (Elders’ Training, Book 7: One Accord for the Lord’s Move, Witness Lee)

Gideon only needed three hundred men and the rest could go home. This was the spirit of “the Lord's new move”. There was to be "no uncertain sounding of the trumpet" for the army to follow with Brother Lee as its unique leader. He had the burden to train this army to get into the truths of God's New Testament and propagate them throughout the earth. While addressing the elders during an elders training, he said,

"You may say that you follow Brother Lee, that you are one with this ministry. That sounds very good, but I am a little concerned that you may not know what it means to be one with this ministry. You may want to take me as your commander-in-chief and follow me, but I do not want to have many followers who know nothing about God's New Testament economy. We are not doing anything but carrying out God's New Testament economy." (Elders’ Training, Book 7: One Accord for the Lord’s Move)

Special Oneness

Three hundred men had a special oneness with Gideon. This special oneness was essentially different from the common oneness of the nation of Israel. In the same way, Witness Lee called for an army of followers, pointing out that “those who followed Gideon to fight against the Philistines defeated them and rescued the entire nation of Israel”. He spoke the following clear and important word about this special oneness.
Whether or not a certain church takes the ministry does not decide whether that church is a genuine local church. The title of this message does not say “no uncertain sounding of the trumpet in the Lord’s recovery” but “in the Lord’s ministry.” I am not talking about something in the Lord’s recovery, but I am talking about the ministry…. The ministry is altogether filled up with a fighting spirit. I do not control any church. All the saints who have left the denominations, the divisive sects, and stand on the proper ground are a local church in their locality. They can express their opinions, but they may have nothing to do with this ministry. (Elders’ Training, Book 7: One Accord for the Lord’s Move, pp. 81-82)

The Work and the Church Mixed

In the new way, however, the work and the church became mixed, or blurred. The one trumpet in the Lord’s ministry became the one trumpet in the Lord’s recovery. The special oneness became THE ONENESS in the recovery. This surely changed the nature of the recovery and became the underpinning for a new center of focus in all the churches – THE MINISTRY. That focus led to division and the loss of hundreds of saints in the 1980s.

A Word of Generality Not Heeded

When the work and the church were being mixed during the late eighties turmoil, much damage occurred in the recovery. This prompted Brother Lee to give the following word of generality to all the elders and co-workers at a pivotal time in local church history. His word has not been heeded. He shared,

"As long as you do not do anything against our New Testament constitution, no one will bother you. Among us in the Lord’s recovery, there is nothing worth worrying about because basically we do not have any heresy or any kind of organizational control. Everyone in every church has the full freedom to go on. I hope that we would be so faithful and loyal to the Lord’s recovery. We should mean business with the Lord that the Lord’s recovery will be prevailing and even flourishing on this earth for the Lord’s purpose.

"Concerning practices among us, such as head covering, baptism, or preaching the gospel, we should let these things be as they are among the saints. If some of the sisters want to wear a head covering, let them do it. If others do not, give them the liberty. We should have this attitude with all the practices in the church life that are outside our common faith. If some feel that they are burdened to visit people for the gospel, let them do it. Those saints who are burdened to visit people for the gospel should not insist on this practice. We should try to avoid different kinds of terms, slogans, and sayings, and try to do our best to keep the oneness in the Lord’s recovery. We must avoid anything that damages the freedom of the saints or the oneness of the Body of Christ.

"It is altogether wise and profitable that we do not expect all the churches to be the same. This is impossible. Even twelve brothers within a local church cannot be the same in everything. If a local church has a burden to visit people in their homes, they should carry out this commission. They do not need to say that others do not preach the gospel in this way. If others feel they do not need to preach the gospel by visiting people in their homes, that is not your business. Do not talk about who is for this and who is for that. We should not talk in this way. We should not label ourselves or label others. If we want to practice a certain thing, we can do it. If others do not want to practice it, they have the liberty not to practice it. We should not question who is for a certain thing and who is not for a certain thing. This does not help you or anyone else. We all must endeavor to keep the oneness of the Spirit so that the Body of Christ can build up itself in love” (Eph. 4:3, 16). (Elders’ Training, Book 9: One Accord for the Lord’s Move, pp. 61-63)

Part 3

Throughout the years it was clear that Brother Lee was not to be blamed for any negative circumstances, incidences, and uprisings. Instead, blame was placed onto others. In such cases false, incomplete, and inaccurate reporting of men and events took place. I refer to the filtered version of our history designed to protect a man and his ministry.

Indeed
"Some transmute the basis of the oneness of the believers by the assertion of their own authority to the point where the actual ground of oneness becomes acceptance of and obedience to their authority”. (DCP)

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Freedom · 12-01-2015, 10:33 AM

Quote:

In February 1986, co-workers and elders from around the world in the Lord’s recovery became super-charged following an urgent training in Anaheim that helped set in motion a “new move” by Witness Lee and Living Stream Ministry. This training was one of a series of trainings to galvanize a new mindset in local church elders for their “one accord” in the churches and their practice of a new way in the church life to build up the Body of Christ. Of utmost importance in the new way was the leadership. It was made clear that there was only one qualified leader in the recovery and that oneness with him and his ministry was essential for the churches to be led in the way of God’s New Testament economy. To assure this, elders were to take a much lower profile in their localities, especially if they had the propensity to minister the word in large gatherings and give conferences. There was to be one ministry, one minister, and one way. The following letter of agreement, therefore, was proposed by Benson Phillips and Ray Graver and signed by co-workers and elders alike and presented to brother Witness Lee.

A common theme that I have noticed in WL's ministry is that he would position his ministry as being supreme, but also claim that the local churches weren't controlled by anyone, and that churches had no obligation to follow his ministry. Of course, the reality was always that there was a my way or the highway attitude. It seems the rationalization for this was always in the form of asking members why they would want anything besides his ministry. In other words, because WL's ministry was equated with being the only thing worthwhile, even a passive rejection of his ministry was a problem.

Ohio · 12-01-2015, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom

A common theme that I have noticed in WL's ministry is that he would position his ministry as being supreme, but also claim that the local churches are were controlled by anyone, and that churches had no obligation to follow his ministry. Of course, the reality was always that there was a my way or the highway attitude. It seems the rationalization for this was always in the form of asking members why they would want anything besides his ministry. In other words, because WL's ministry was equated with being the only thing worthwhile, even a passive rejection of his ministry was a problem.

Here's another driving factor behind the commitment of many an old-timer full-timer: In the late 70's, the Max Rapoport "thing" blew up in the LC's. Yes, Max caused lots of chaos, destroying many LC's and young people, but behind the scenes Lee pushed him into it, and that story was never told.

Anyways, Max was a charmer and a charismatic leader who gathered quite a following. After the dust settled, and Max was shamed into departure, some of these brothers soberly and publicly repented of their involvement. Two in particular with brothers Dick Taylor and Howard Higashi of Long Beach(?). These two were precious shepherds who loved the Lord and the saints.

I believe their repentance went too far. They devoted themselves anew to Lee's work and ministry absolutely and unreservedly, to the point where they abrogated personal discernment. Others also took cue from them, since the two were so outspoken in their new found admirations. This gave Lee an unrestricted license, which served him a decade later to coverup all manner of unrighteousness, and shame a new crop of brothers into LC "extinction."

Freedom · 12-01-2015, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio

Here's another driving factor behind the commitment of many an old-timer full-timer: In the late 70's, the Max Rapoport "thing" blew up in the LC's. Yes, Max caused lots of chaos, destroying many LC's and young people, but behind the scenes Lee pushed him into it, and that story was never told.

Anyways, Max was a charmer and a charismatic leader who gathered quite a following. After the dust settled, and Max was shamed into departure, some of these brothers soberly and publicly repented of their involvement. Two in particular with brothers Dick Taylor and Howard Higashi of Long Beach(?). These two were precious shepherds who loved the Lord and the saints.

I believe their repentance went too far. They devoted themselves anew to Lee's work and ministry absolutely and unreservedly, to the point where they abrogated personal discernment. Others also took cue from them, since the two were so outspoken in their new found admirations. This gave Lee an unrestricted license, which served him a decade later to coverup all manner of unrighteousness, and shame a new crop of brothers into LC "extinction."

It seems that LC history has been punctuated by calls to "return back to the ministry" after chaotic events. Unfortunately, it must have never occurred to anyone just where the chaos originated from. Max is the perfect example of that. Surely, some amount of blame can be placed on him for what happened, but when did the other party involved (WL) ever step up to the plate and accept some of the blame as well? It was completely disingenuous for WL to sit back and watch other brothers "repent" and even let them set an example for saints to "line up" with his ministry as a solution to the problem that occurred.

Most LCers would consider the ministry to be some sort of elixir. As such, they aren't about to question it or reject it for simple fear of not knowing if they could survive without it. This is ideal for leaders, because it means that the ministry is the last place that anyone will place any blame.

Ohio · 12-01-2015, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freedom

It seems that LC history has been punctuated by calls to "return back to the ministry" after chaotic events. Unfortunately, it must have never occurred to anyone just where the chaos originated from. Max is the perfect example of that. Surely, some amount of blame can be placed on him for what happened, but when did the other party involved (WL) ever step up to the plate and accept some of the blame as well? It was completely disingenuous for WL to sit back and watch other brothers "repent" and even let them set an example for saints to "line up" with his ministry as a solution to the problem that occurred.

Titus Chu painted a picture for decades in the GLA that placed a pristine image of Lee, his own spiritual father, in the center surrounded by incompetent buffoons who were always messing up God's pure burden given to Lee in order to lead His move on earth.

Why didn't anyone sit back and ask why all the problems emanated from Anaheim where Lee lived? Why was it that those surrounding Lee constantly created problems which blew up into category 5 "hurricanes?" Why was it that the base explanation given in the aftermath of destruction was that these brothers were "ambitious?" Why was it that we believed lies?

Were it not for the "heavenly flow" of information on the internet (thank you Al Gore!) most of us would still believe the lies out of Anaheim.

TLFisher · 12-01-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio

Why didn't anyone sit back and ask why all the problems emanated from Anaheim where Lee lived? Why was it that those surrounding Lee constantly created problems which blew up into category 5 "hurricanes?" Why was it that the base explanation given in the aftermath of destruction was that these brothers were "ambitious?" Why was it that we believed lies?

Why did brothers look the other way when molehills were allowed to become a Mt Everest?

Freedom · 12-03-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio

Titus Chu painted a picture for decades in the GLA that placed a pristine image of Lee, his own spiritual father, in the center surrounded by incompetent buffoons who were always messing up God's pure burden given to Lee in order to lead His move on earth.

Why didn't anyone sit back and ask why all the problems emanated from Anaheim where Lee lived? Why was it that those surrounding Lee constantly created problems which blew up into category 5 "hurricanes?" Why was it that the base explanation given in the aftermath of destruction was that these brothers were "ambitious?" Why was it that we believed lies?

Were it not for the "heavenly flow" of information on the internet (thank you Al Gore!) most of us would still believe the lies out of Anaheim.

The DCP statement that Indiana has posted is indicative of what type of problem exists in the LC. They will openly claim that there are those who abuse authority, yet they are ignorant as to who the worst offenders are.

It seems to me that WL spoke strongly against many of the things that he himself was. This led everyone to never suspect that he was guilty of the same. For example, WL spoke strongly against ambition and labeled certain brothers as such. No one ever wondered if WL was also ambitious. Given the statement that WL once made: "Lee must be famous", I think there is sufficient evidence to say that WL was an ambitious person as well.

I have speculated before that perhaps some of WL's ministry was his own psychological projection, that is, projecting his personality traits upon others. I think the blendeds tend to do this as well. They seem to have the tendency to speak strongly against what they are. I remember reading something about the blendeds saying how the podium shouldn't be used for innuendos (presumably something Titus was doing), but that is exactly what they do as well. It's no wonder after ever single "turmoil", they never learn from what happened. It seems no one can identify the real problem at hand.