The Bait of Satan, by John Bevere

[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?