"The Matter of Gaining African-Americans"

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Koinonia

Drake, of course there is opportunity for disagreement--but not within the Local Church. And that is why the Local Church is not really local. It is the Witness Lee group, with an (apparent) understanding among leaders and members that any issue with Witness Lee, his program, his ministry, his history, etc., is off limits. The basis of the Local Church today is a common understanding of the role, importance, and superiority of Witness Lee, his books, and his organization. And there is no room for discussion.

Okay Koinonia. Now here is something we can discuss and though we may agree to still disagree I hope we can at least acknowledge an understanding of each other's point of view.

I can see how you interpret it that way. It looks on the surface every bit the way you describe. It appears as if, using my own phrase here, there is some sort of allegiance to a man and his ministry in his and its own right. If others openly disagree they will eventually part ways from that ministry sooner or later. No room for discussion, full stop.

Now here is my point of view, my experience, and why the result may still seem the same to you but not to me.

When I came into the Lords Recovery forty years ago like most who came in around that time I was a Christian already. My testimony is recorded elsewhere in the vision thread. What I saw, what I experienced, the light and life, the care, the peace, etc. was way beyond anything I had experienced or saw up and till that point. In a word, I was gobsmacked. So I came in.

Shortly before I came in I had met Sal and some of the brothers involved in that first storm, then I came in, then the storm hit. I really liked those brothers, and when they left I had some serious soul searching with the Lord. How could they leave, what of their objections? I received a very clear speaking from the Lord to let the vision guide me, to keep pursuing life, light, peace and so I did.

And through the years the Lord has always been faithful to keep me focused on the most important thing in the Christian life. Perhaps you will not disagree with anything I said thus far. Now, as I progressed I learned some important lessons. First was that we are all men, we are all flawed, we are imperfect vessels. You, me, and Witness Lee. As a result, I never put a man on a pedestal. I never put a mans ministry on a pedestal. Was the ministry a wonderful discovery? Yes indeed. Was it flawless? Definitely not. However, I also learned another lesson, a more personal one.... I learned something about the fellowship of His sufferings and being conformed to His death. For me, I could sideline my differences, for instance, in teaching, I brought a bunch with me, to experience the sweet flow of His life. I watched brothers I respected leave, I saw all the failures, the sins, the turmoil, and each time the Lord reminded me where I came from, what I am, and the purpose to which I am called.

So it appears to you that I am all in for the man and his ministry and I am not really, I am all in for the Lords purpose and to the extent that man, failures and all, follows the Lord then I will follow his lead AND avoid his mistakes. And that is another lesson the Lord taught me.

Drake