Apostles in The Church: Yesterday and Today

[ZNPaaneah]

I met with the LRC for 20 years (1978 to 1998) and this was not my experience. I never felt that his revelation "trumped the Bible", nor did I accept it because "he is the apostle".

If I disagreed with him over something (and there were things from 1978 on that I did disagree with) since they were not a matter of the faith I simply agreed to disagree.

I bought into the "ground of the church" doctrine because I was taught it when I had no foundation in the Bible. Within 10 years I had come to question this. But, most of the things that are brought up on this forum that are clearly in error I was completely unaware of or had no knowledge of the details.

Therefore, although this was your experience I know for a fact that it was not everyone's experience and I probably represent a significant percent of those who met with the LRC during this period.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Therefore, although this was your experience I know for a fact that it was not everyone's experience and I probably represent a significant percent of those who met with the LRC during this period.

This is probably why you were able to leave. There are many who cannot leave because of who they believe Lee was and what they believe their movement is.

Effectively to them Lee is the faith and the Recovery is the Church. To them, in essense, there is nothing genuine outside their walls, so leaving is not an option. That's how the LCM holds people there.

I have no doubt the Blendeds have this mindset.

I'm not saying they consciously think this way. Some may, but most probably don't. I'm saying that when you get right down to it, they defer to Lee, so the effect is the same.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

I met with the LRC for 20 years (1978 to 1998) and this was not my experience. I never felt that his revelation "trumped the Bible", nor did I accept it because "he is the apostle".

Back in the 70's, during the "Jesus People Movement," there was much interest in the Lord, and many dynamic salvations, including my own, during this time of a genuine out-pouring of the Spirit. This joy and excitement provided much blessing for the fledgling LC's. Many were also attracted to Lee because of Nee's books. To be honest, Lee was a gifted minister and teacher.

Subtly, however, we became persuaded that the reason for this blessing was Lee himself and his unique teachings. There was a time when guests would come to their first meeting and proclaim, "God is surely among you," (I Cor 14.25) but that also happened in many other congregations at the time. Funny thing was that the more he promoted himself and his exclusive teachings, the more the blessing dried up, and dead doctrines took over. Over time the growing number of radical zealots in the Recovery promoting Lee displaced those who were here for the Lord alone and His people.

Apostle Paul had warned us that men would rise up from within speaking perverted things (Acts 20.30) to draw the disciples after themselves, but we were convinced that this could never happen to us. We were taught that following a man was just fine, as long as he led us to God. Problem was that the time when we were "led to God" became ancient history, and all that was left was "following a man." And that man demanded to be first among us, (3 John 9) just like Diotrephes of old. Lee and his ministry thus became the bond of a false oneness and the source of division in the LC's.