The Bait of Satan, by John Bevere

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Ohio

King Saul became extremely suspicious of David, and now viewed David as a threat to his own kingdom. To which John Bevere adds ...

Here is the result of pushing an agenda, a so-called vision, rather than serving God directly -- one becomes suspicious of others. For decades I wondered why there was so much suspicion in the LC's. Until I recognized this on a national, regional, and local level, I never knew the reason for this systemic disease. At one point, before the actual quarantines of GLA brothers, I felt there were "sleeper cells" ready to spring into action upon coded words from the podium. It has been said that the opposite of love is not just hate, but suspicion. Most leaders of the LC would be keen to recognize blatant hatred, but are clueless to the rampant suspicions they are subject to.

For decades WL sowed suspicions into his lieutenants concerning the most fruitful ministers. He even allowed his son Philip to record a phone conversation with TC to "catch" him for others to know. Who does things like this? The jealousy and pride within many LC leaders becomes readily apparent once one leaves the system and watches other men of God serve God. This spirit of Saul was sown into the Recovery, and is now fully manifested. LSM today is willing to use all possible means -- quarantines, lawsuits, politics, backbiting, whispering, you name it -- in order to protect their so-called "vision."

Another result of a "vision" is blindness.

I shared on another thread about my "big dog" encounter in children's work where I was publicly humiliated. Here is Part 2. My greatest need at that time was stability because of an even worse "not public" encounter with a pack of big dogs, yet they began moving me from group to group with no regard for me as a person. After the third move and pending fourth, I went to big dog Jr. and begged him not to move me. I needed help and the sister I was serving with was kind to me. ("Kindness" was the best I could hope for because the "pack" ordered me not to talk about what they said to me with anyone but the big dog sisters.) It's really pathetic when simple human kindnesss is lacking in "church" and when you finally experience it in someone, you have to BEG to keep that connection.

Big dog Jr. listened to me. By the time I finished, I was sobbing. I did beg, but did he listen? All he could talk about was their "vision". They had a "vision" for childrens' work which he explained in flowery words. When he finished all I could say to him was "You may have a vision for children's work, but you can't see me." And I left.

The next "elder" I saw, I told "I'm taking myself off of Children's Work." He was shocked I guess (so was I). He just said a small "ok" and I walked away. I saw him a few days later and he said "You've been taken off of children's work". I thought but didn't say "You can't take me off of childrens work because I already took myself off."

I was never part of "the service" again.

So a "vision" that doesn't include people is blindness.

By this time, I had a vision too. One I've never lost. As painful as it was at the time, down the road, it actually helped me.

Nell

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Nell

Another result of a "vision" is blindness.

So a "vision" that doesn't include people is blindness.

I lived thru the so-called "New Way," and even served in Taiwan. I was under the impression that the goal of the work of WL was to bring the gospel to people. Obviously that was what we were all supposed to believe, as if people were put first. Unfortunately it was far too easy for me to share the same blindness as those at LSM.

What really came first was the business of Lee. That's why WL placed his unsaved reprobate son in charge. It was never really about people, the gospel, or the Lord. Those were just the capital needed to grow the Lee family business during the New Way.

It was more than evident that the end justified their many means. It was never about people, so they were all expendable, and would be used as long as they were useful for the business. Once you stop making them a profit, you will be discarded, which happened to many an elder.

[JJ]

While reading this and other threads on this site over the past few days the incredible human toll I witnessed myself and have read here of TLR "bait of Satan" struck me.

I began to make a mental "Vietnam Wall" like list of dear saints I once "fought the good fight with" in TLR that were wounded along the way and were left for dead by those who should have cared for them, including me, with a calloused heart.

The length of my TLR Wall list and the story of each one, including damage to relationships and children staggered me, as I mourned and repented silently. I wondered how long the TLR wall list would be if it was collectively compiled.

As God uses even the bad things for good to those who love him, and are called according to His purpose, I didn't want to get too depressed about it. But the thought of putting real persons names on a public list might shine more light on the problem.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by JJ

While reading this and other threads on this site over the past few days the incredible human toll I witnessed myself and have read here of TLR "bait of Satan" struck me.

I began to make a mental "Vietnam Wall" like list of dear saints I once "fought the good fight with" in TLR that were wounded along the way and were left for dead by those who should have cared for them, including me, with a calloused heart.

The length of my TLR Wall list and the story of each one, including damage to relationships and children staggered me, as I mourned and repented silently. I wondered how long the TLR wall list would be if it was collectively compiled.

Great points, JJ.

Living in Greater Ohio for decades and serving in the LC's, I witnessed the same long trail of victims as a result of TC abuses, shaming, and public humiliations. All of these precious brothers loved the Lord, loved His people, loved the Word of God, loved their families, loved to serve, etc. and were all gifts from the Head to His body. Yet they supposedly had one "fault" in common -- they all had a "problem" with TC. What was their "problem?" They had enough of the abuses he so regularly dished out.

Why was he so abusive? Because that was the "way" he had learned from WL and others. That's all he knew. Though the N.T. provides not a shred of support, he is convinced the pattern of rebuking and shaming is part of the "Lord's Recovery." Apparently it also serves the military well, so it must be good enough for God. Why didn't He tell us so in the Bible?

One day I challenged a brother, who was still loyal to Cleveland -- what if we put TC in one balance and all his victims in the other balance. How will the scales tip? Which one would you choose? All of these dear, precious, and fruitful members, with their wives and children, or one abusive leader?

[awareness]

Originally Posted by JJ

I began to make a mental "Vietnam Wall" like list of dear saints I once "fought the good fight with" in TLR that were wounded along the way and were left for dead by those who should have cared for them, including me, with a calloused heart.

Care? When I was tossed out as dead the first thing that struck me deeply was : Where's the love?

What happened to the love I shared with the brothers and sisters ; some of them friends of mine before the local church?

Like bro Ohio pointed out. I loved the Lord. I loved the brothers and sisters. I love the church. I loved God, and His Word, the Bible. But that wasn't enough. It didn't count. All that counted was allegiance to Witness Lee. And given no love shown toward me after I was out that allegiance obviously usurped genuine love for the brothers and sisters.

Brother JJ, I hate to disappoint you, but no one to date has added up all the good brothers and sisters that either left the local church or got the boot. The truth is that the carnage left in the wake of Witness Lee can't be added up.

And as I found out later, getting rid of all those brothers and sisters was considered by them as getting rid of the dross, that held the church down and back.

[Drake]

"Care? When I was tossed out as dead the first thing that struck me deeply was : Where's the love?"

Bro Awareness, I believe you've shared before how a brother wept before you pleading with you. That sounds like care, isn't it?

Drake

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Drake

"Care? When I was tossed out as dead the first thing that struck me deeply was : Where's the love?"

Bro Awareness, I believe you've shared before how a brother wept before you pleading with you. That sounds like care, isn't it?

Drake

Do you mean the time when Mel Porter got in awareness' face?

That was care?