Article: Beware of the writings of the Watchman

[HERn]

Originally Posted by aron

The LC made a big deal about being according to the Bible, and condemned every other group as deviating from the Bible.

Yet one can see that the Bible was abandoned in the LC wherever it came into conflct with LC culture. An example is above, quoted by Terry: in contrast to what was clearly written in the Bible, we were never permitted to squander precious resources (time, attention, money, care) on those who could not repay us. Instead, we were to go after the "good building material", especially young college students.

The widows, orphans, weak, sick and lame were ignored. Why? Because the LC leadership didn't think they would "receive back the same amount", in human terms. Suddenly heavenly principles, spelled out by Jesus Himself, were ignored, because they conflicted with LC culture.

Again, one can trace the roots of this phenomenology back to Watchman Nee himself. Nee's subjective mysticism elevated his experience above the safe counsel of the flock, and which eventually led his followers out of the Bible itself. First you leave the flock, then you leave the Bible.

I was in a locality for a while where there was care for the widows and down and out, but none of the elders had been to the full-time training. It's the elders who have been to the training starting with that in Taiwan in the 80's that corrupted the saints, I think.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by HERn

I was in a locality for a while where there was care for the widows and down and out, but none of the elders had been to the full-time training. It's the elders who have been to the training starting with that in Taiwan in the 80's that corrupted the saints, I think.

I agree.

Left alone, many of the LC elders were caring shepherds.

Twice I migrated to help start new churches. The beginning times were wonderful -- many answered prayers, full of brotherly love, focused only on the Lord, etc. Both were later severely damaged by outside manipulations. In both churches, the leading minister became sought after by both Anaheim and Cleveland. Both headquaters laid claim to their "rights" as indentured servants. Eventually both brothers were beaten up pretty badly, and both churches paid the high price of being spoils of war. Both churches lost wonderful ministers and shepherds.

Neither HQ cared at all for the well being of the brothers and sisters I knew and loved, rather they cared only that the church was in their "camp."

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by HERn

I was in a locality for a while where there was care for the widows and down and out, but none of the elders had been to the full-time training. It's the elders who have been to the training starting with that in Taiwan in the 80's that corrupted the saints, I think.

I think most of the LC elders in the area I'm from attended the FTTT. That says a lot by itself. At any rate, I think they do care, but they also know very well where their political allegiances must lie. That is more important than caring for anyone.

What truly disgusts me is any notion that someone is worth the effort more than someone else. It all goes back to simple parables like the Good Samaritan.

I know that at some point, WL started insisting that all the YP get college degrees, using the examples of Moses and Paul to infer that an education is necessary to be 'useful'. Maybe what he said was with good intentions, but the end result has been that there is an utter lack of care for anyone who doesn't fit a very narrow profile.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

I know that at some point, WL started insisting that all the YP get college degrees, using the examples of Moses and Paul to infer that an education is necessary to be 'useful'. Maybe what he said was with good intentions, but the end result has been that there is an utter lack of care for anyone who doesn't fit a very narrow profile.

Yeah ... It all started with the nightmare of the "Young Galileans."

[aron]

Originally Posted by HERn

I was in a locality for a while where there was care for the widows and down and out, but none of the elders had been to the full-time training.

There were indeed localities where elders heeded Jesus' dictum and encouraged care for those unable to repay in this age, but those elders were going "against the tide", to re-phrase Angus Kinnear.

The tide in the LC was a tide of convention, convenience, and culture. In other words, expedience: everything for the "building up" was entirely of and for this age, fully human in motive and expression. But in its insistence that it was fully divine, and not like the "fallen" and "twisted" and "corrupted" expressions of dreaded "Christianity", it became the worst of all, and the least like heaven.

"As in heaven, so on earth" - not a chance. Where's the love? Where's the respect, attention, care, intrinsic to every creature, especially those made in God's image? No, it became all about "good building material" and uplifting "the ministry".

Look at James: "...if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?…"

Probably not coincidental that Lee despised so much of James' epistle. It exposed the human element as seen in distinction-making aspects of his church-building scheme.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by aron

Look at James: "...if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?…"

Probably not coincidental that Lee despised so much of James' epistle. It exposed the human element as seen in distinction-making aspects of his church-building scheme.

The LC hypocrisy is sad. The whole system is now formed around recruiting college students and then sending them to the FTTA. Even having a college degree isn't enough in the LC. You have to go to the FTT for 2 years to truly be considered to be "useful". And now I hear that there is an extension program in Boston where you go another 1-2 years.

They must not see where this all is headed. By creating a special, elite class of members, the non-elite members feel neglected and worthless. I would surmise that at some point in the future, the LC is going to dwindle down to just those who have been to the FTT. Virtually all those I grew up with who didn't attend the FTT have left the LC. There is simply no way to feel "connected" when you know that you don't fit the mold.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by aron

There were indeed localities where elders heeded Jesus' dictum and encouraged care for those unable to repay in this age, but those elders were going "against the tide", to re-phrase Angus Kinnear.

The tide in the LC was a tide of convention, convenience, and culture. In other words, expedience: everything for the "building up" was entirely of and for this age, fully human in motive and expression. But in its insistence that it was fully divine, and not like the "fallen" and "twisted" and "corrupted" expressions of dreaded "Christianity", it became the worst of all, and the least like heaven.

"As in heaven, so on earth" - not a chance. Where's the love? Where's the respect, attention, care, intrinsic to every creature, especially those made in God's image? No, it became all about "good building material" and uplifting "the ministry".

Look at James: "...if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?…"

Probably not coincidental that Lee despised so much of James' epistle. It exposed the human element as seen in distinction-making aspects of his church-building scheme.

As a disclaimer in many of my posts and rants, it's not directed at the general brothers and sisters in the local churches, but at elders, co-workers, etc who are deemed "responsible brothers" and as such are the ones promoting the system.
Aron, asked where is the love? Look no further than the verse in Luke 6:32

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

This type of love is conditional and reciprocal. If you're one who loves the ministry LSM publishes and only expresses positivity, you'll be loved. Anything less, there's no love.

This LC practice is contrary to the Bible. Nine instances it is said to "love your neighbor as yourself". There's no conditions attached.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

As a disclaimer in many of my posts and rants, it's not directed at the general brothers and sisters in the local churches, but at elders, co-workers, etc who are deemed "responsible brothers" and as such are the ones promoting the system.

I second the motion ... err ... disclaimer.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Terry

As a disclaimer in many of my posts and rants, it's not directed at the general brothers and sisters in the local churches, but at elders, co-workers, etc who are deemed "responsible brothers" and as such are the ones promoting the system.
Aron, asked where is the love? Look no further than the verse in Luke 6:32

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

This type of love is conditional and reciprocal. If you're one who loves the ministry LSM publishes and only expresses positivity, you'll be loved. Anything less, there's no love.

This LC practice is contrary to the Bible. Nine instances it is said to "love your neighbor as yourself". There's no conditions attached.

I think that for many rank and file members, there is a desire to follow the Bible and try to love others unconditionally, but most who have been around for a little while know how the system really works, that is, that you can only practice what the Bible says if it doesn't contradict what the LC is trying to accomplish.

Speaking for myself, what I came to realize is that the more involved I was in the LC, the more attention I received. The less involved I became, that attention waned. It even seemed like people started viewing me with an eye of suspicion.

For the leaders in charge, I think they operate with the mindset that there are limited resources, so they wouldn't want to "waste" any time on someone who will never realize their full LC potential.