"The Multiple Invisibilities of Witness Lee"

[Cal]

Right. And when it get right down to it most people probably instinctively get this. As much as the LCM wants to believe the FTT is about spreading "the truth," it's really about spreading Witness Lee's truth. It's really about get more people hooked on Witness Lee.

[aron]

One can see subjective experience leading the prophet astray, by considering his teaching against clear NT precedent.

Jesus said, "These things were written concerning Me." WL said, "No they weren't; they were the OT prophet writing about himself, according to his fallen human imagination."

Peter said, "David, being a prophet, knew that God had promised a Seed. ." WL accepted that only for the citation in question, from Psalm 16, but elsewhere when the psalmist wrote similarly that "He rescued me because He delighted in me" WL said, "No, God did not delight in David the sinner." NT precedent was ignored, even overturned. The "mystical Christ" of WL's subjective experience caused him to not see Jesus in the confessional text, even though the writers of the NT had done this repeatedly before him (cf Heb 2:9 &c).

I'm not claiming that my interpretation is right & WL's is wrong; rather that WL's experience narrowed his perception, and his discipleship programme kept anyone else from seeing what he couldn't see, even when a pattern in NT reception suggested otherwise.

[Freedom]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Right. And when it get right down to it most people probably instinctively get this. As much as the LCM wants to believe the FTT is about spreading "the truth," it's really about spreading Witness Lee's truth. It's really about get more people hooked on Witness Lee.

I have a number of LC friends on Facebook who attended the FTTA in recent years. I have noticed an interesting trend among these attendees. Right before starting the FTTA they will usually make an announcement to all their friends stating that they will be attending a "Bible truth school" and will also have limited access to Facebook. The similarity between these posts has led me to believe that it's probably something the FTTA trainers urge them to do so that people don't think they just disappeared off the face of the earth.

But what is particularly interesting is some of the reactions I've seen to these type of posts. Never anything negative, but a lot of comments like "Oh I didn't know you were a Christian" or "I didn't know you were interested in attending seminary." Judging by these types of responses, those who are the friends of some of these LC members never even got the slightest hint that their friend was a Christian or had any interest in attending some kind of formal Bible school. So the perception that those outside the LC are getting is not that it’s a place their friend is enthusiastic about going to, it’s a place that all the sudden their friend is 'disappearing' to. Obviously, it gives people an uneasy feeling about the FTTA.

So as far as I’m concerned, when LCers make all these claims about how great the FTTA is, their actions send the exact opposite message. If the FTTA were such a ‘phenomenal’ Bible school, you could expect future attendees to be planning ahead well in advance, to enthusiastically tell their friends about their plans, etc. That’s not what happens at all. It’s quite the opposite.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Freedom

Obviously, it gives people an uneasy feeling about the FTTA.

For many years in the GLA, those returning from the FTTA were filled with suspicions about Titus Chu and the GLA leadership. Obviously LSM used the FTTA to drive a wedge in the hearts of the young ones. FTTA trainers felt that all of the young people belong to them and were their "fruit," and actively undermined the life-connection between the attendees and their supporting churches.

Secondly, the FTTA graduates were often poorly equipped for real life and a healthy Christian walk. Knowing WL teachings does not translate into knowing the Lord and His word. Thus many young people required extended personal coaching in order to be reoriented to "normal" life.

Titus Chu also has had periodic times of training called "10 month labors" in Cleveland. These were much more focused on the scriptures, with many opportunities to minister to the other participants. They could not be called "Trainings" because WL and his lackeys would have a heart attack. Another valuable feature was to encourage students to attend by taking off a semester or a year of college. It was much easier to re-enroll in classes after such a break, then it was to find a job afterwards. TC's coaching tended to help the person long-term than to be simply a recruiting tool.