Major Errors of Witness Lee’s Teaching

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Concerning offenses between brethren, the bible never really addresses the matter of the offenses being caused by brethren in church leadership.

cf. Matt 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.

Jesus nowhere addresses the matter of "the church" being the one causing the offense. If we can't tell it to the church, who can we tell it to?

This is silly. The church does not offend, rather people do, and leaders do.

Paul specifically instructed Timothy how to handle offenses and sins by church leaders:

Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others. I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.

Here it is obvious that leaders should be held to higher standards, and because of their public position, their sins should be made public for all to be admonished.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

This is silly. The church does not offend, rather people do, and leaders do.

Paul specifically instructed Timothy how to handle offenses and sins by church leaders:


Here it is obvious that leaders should be held to higher standards, and because of their public position, their sins should be made public for all to be admonished.

I note no sense of a plurality of churches in the scripture in such case.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

I note no sense of a plurality of churches in the scripture in such case.

It's not about some "sense of a plurality of churches," but about holding leaders accountable who happen to sin.

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Ohio

It's not about some "sense of a plurality of churches," but about holding leaders accountable who happen to sin.

Yes and it only works within ones own church. Because there is a plurality of churches, holding leaders accountable who sin doesn't work. It doesn't work across denominations. For example, if you have an issue with a Catholic Priest what are the Baptist going to do about it? This is a practical reason for having one church per city.

It also highlights where ecumenism doesn't work. So Catholics and Baptists may join together for a service, but if the Baptist thinks the Catholic priest committed a sin (for example, praying to an idol) but the Catholics don't, then nothing that Baptist can do. The only effective thing the baptist can do is to stick with his baptist church.