A Chilling Discovery?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Barnabas

I am still involved in gathering with the LC and one of the things that grieves my heart is this saying they have that “we have the interpreted word”. John 16:13 makes clear that it is the Holy Spirit who has the power to interpret the word for us. I do receive some help from this study Bible just as other commentaries, but to say it is the interpreted word is dangerous.

Having grown up in the Catholic church, I know how this is used to control their members and to keep them from knowing the truth. The questions would always be posed, "how can you understand what the scriptures say? What if you interpret the bible incorrectly?" I needed a priest, but he needed his writings, and in doubt, eventually the Pope in Rome or some Vatican Council must be consulted.

The Recovery is absolutely the same. The members can't understand the scriptures themselves. We all needed to be trained. Even the elders are not reliable. They too needed more training. Eventually only the writings of Witness Lee, as interpreted by the Blendeds, can be definitive to "rightly divide" the truth.

Let me use an example. Consider the matter of lawsuits, i.e. suing your brother in court. The Apostle Paul in I Corinthians addresses this matter quite clearly. But no, you cannot understand this on your own, you need the interpreted word, you need W. Lee's teachings on lawsuits, which explain how it is perfectly acceptable to sue those who speak negatively.

The Midwest Quarantines made it abundantly clear to me that we had gone down the same paths as Rome of old. How much of the truth were we willing to sacrifice in order to "keep the oneness" of the body? What has become the "standard" for the truth? Was it Nee's so-called "blueprint" in TNCCL or Further Talks, no! Was it even Lee's extensive writings, no! It was the Blendeds' own up-to-date interpretations of Lee's ministry! Such a moving target!

Brothers in the Midwest could not even find out who exactly these "Blendeds" were! Who is "Brother We???" The only answer we could get would be, "the Blended brothers are those brothers who are being blended." Talk about double-speak gobbledygook!

Let's discuss the real reason for the interpreted word. Whether we are examining the Recovery or Catholicism, there are underlying reasons for having binding and exclusive interpretations. It is not to educate, edify, shepherd, train, benefit members. Some of that may be done, of course, but control and power are the real reasons. The fear of misunderstanding weighs on every member. The fear of making independent decisions apart from the fellowship of the body, controls every member.

Also, if we have a Vicar in Rome or a MOTA in Anaheim exclusively dividing the truths of God and ultimately directing all of our lives, then why do we need the Head of the Body any more?