It's a long way

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by PatinSopchoppy

Thanks for your testimony,
I am completely new to the issues I am hearing about the local church and your post says much.I read a lot of Christian literature,Tozer,Finney,Ravenhill ,etc and of course Watchman Nee.I really appreciated his honest and insightful understanding of this Christian Life.Having just moved into the Tallahassee area I happened onto a LSM radio station and thought wow ,this is cool.I started getting the emanna e mails and heard some commercial spots on the station about getting together with a local prayer group.Finally I found this site also.I thought it was actually connected to the local church but after reading your testimony and others it seems many(all?)have had very negative experiences .Some of what you described,lovebombing new members,blind alliegance to Lee ,fake spiritually among members are sadly common in similar ways in much of denominational church life also.Im sure many people are drawn to this local church experience as a way of finding a deeper walk in their faith, something like the local church that Nee established.Any way I am thankful to learn these things.Still I wonder if any here have had a positive experience with the local church.

Bringing this quote from you over here to your thread so I don't hijack sinnersavedbygrace's thread as I address you.

The local church in Tallahassee is not a healthy situation and has had issues for years. I'm sorry I can't say more, but I know of numerous saints who have "gotten burned" there.

One thing that is a characteristic of the local churches generally is the whole "do as they say, not as they do" thing, which Jesus said of the hypocritical Pharisees. Lee may say in hard print "if something I say doesn't line up with the Scripture, even the meekest sister should stand up and correct me." But what really happens is if someone does that, they get labeled "negative" and are supposed to admit full fault, repent, or be viewed as "poisonous" and are ostracized, thus losing their entire life's social connections. If it's a sister who does it, she would be accused of "fomenting a rebellion".

One problem with having the legacy of books by Nee and Lee that they do, is that newcomers come upon a particular book from decades ago, read it, agree with it, and think that the local churches today reflect a particular given scriptural insight found in that book.

But they often don't.

Or sometimes they do, but due to the way Nee and Lee spoke, it's very possible to walk away with one impression when that's not really what they meant.

e.g. "all the believers in a city are the church in that city!"

Sounds good! Warm and fuzzy!

What it really means: "everyone has to come meet with us to be unified and if they don't then they are not part of the genuine church".

Ruh roh. (as Scooby Doo would say)

Positive experiences in the local church are possible if you agree with everything, submit to everything, and shut off your mind so you live blissfully unaware that you are living according to unscriptural and oppressive teachings. There is care within the local church, as long as you are a "positive" member of it. But you've got to keep your mouth shut in the face of a lot of lies to remain the positive member they want.