1980 Legal Action
Signing Off
The following is a Complaint for Defamation filed by the Local Church in June 1980, against Moody Press.
By reason of the publication and distribution of the false and defamatory
statements contained in the July-August Moody Monthly Magazine, plaintiff
CHURCHES have been specially damaged in that many of its members have been
shunned, suffered hardships, have been ostracized, have been held up to ridicule
and themselves have suffered monetary losses thereby diminishing their
contributions to the CHURCHES, and in addition thereto many persons who
otherwise would have become members of the Local Church, and would have
contributed thereto, by reason of the false, defamatory statements as alleged,
have become afraid and fearful of doing so, resulting in a sharp decline in the
number of new members normally to be expected and some diminution of
contributions and anticipated contributions. The plaintiffCHURCHES do not, at
this time, know the exact extent of the pecuniary loss resulting from the
foregoing, but are informed and believe and therefore allege that said loss is a
continuing one and that the amount of said loss will exceed the sum of
$17,000.00 or more for each such CHURCH, and plaintiff CHURCHES pray leave of
court of amend and to insert the true amount of said loss when the same becomes
known to said plaintiffs and as established by evidence at the time of trial.
By reason of the publication and distribution of the false, defamatory and
slanderous statements and utterances as heretofore alleged, each of plaintiff
CHURCHES, and their membership, which constitute the CHURCHES, have been
subjected to humiliation, ridicule, emotional distress, loss of reputation,
hatred and contempt, all to the general damages for each of plaintiff CHURCHES
in the sum of $75,000.00. By reason of the foregoing, and the intentional actual
malice of defendants as heretofore alleged, each of plaintiff CHURCHES is
entitled to exemplary damages against defendants, and each of them, in the sum
of $150,000.00.
By reason of the false and defamatory publications as heretofore alleged,
plaintiff WITNESS LEE has been specially damaged in that he has suffered
pecuniary loss by having to devote time and expense in travel and appearances at
various meetings to set forth the true facts of his teachings and to make proof
that neither his teachings nor the activities of the Local Churches constitute
those of a cult, that he has been distressed and exhausted both mentally and
emotionally and in his spirit, and impaired in his ability to devote the usual
amount of time and energy in his work, and upon information and belief he
alleges that he will sustain like such pecuniary loss in the future, all in an
amount in excess of $25,000.00....
By reason of the false and defamatory statements published by defendants as
aforesaid, plaintiff WITNESS LEE has been generally damaged by reason of being
exposed to hatred, contempt, ridicule, by being defamed in his teachings and by
being derided and shunned, and is therefore entitled to such general damages in
the sum of $100,000.00. The publication of the false and malicious statements as
heretofore set forth were made with actual malice by the defendants, and each of
them, with the intent to cause mortification, shame and arose hatred and
ill-will towards plaintiff WITNESS LEE and to damage and destroy his reputation
by reason of which said plaintiff is entitled to exemplary damages, for the sake
of example and by way of punishment to defendants, in the amount of
$250,000.00.13 END QUOTE
Those of you who feel that Witness Lee was the one to whom the baton was pas-sed for God's move on the Earth should consider a few things. Consider the abominable contents of the complaint that you just read. What they are saying is that because they were "persecuted", it resulted in thier loss of revenue, therefore they want the state to step in and make the "persecutors" give them the money they feel they would have earned. How did they know they were going to receive that amount of money in donations? Can they predict the future. Have they not abandoned the principle of trusting God for His sovereignty? Didn't James say that we should not say, tomorrow I will go here or ther or do this or that. Rather we should say, "if the Lord wills." Have they not become another denomination if they are relying on projected income? How unlike Paul who told the Philippians that God would supply all of their needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
They are saying that Witness Lee lost millions of dollars in income and should be reimbursed by his "persecutors." Paul said "I count all things loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil.3). Paul talked of having found the secret of knowing both how to abound and be abased. They say, "By reason of the false and defamatory (whose fame?) statements published by defendants as afresaid, plaitiff WITNESS LEE has been generally damaged by reason of being exposed to hatred, contempt, ridicule, by being defamed in his teachings and by being derided and shunned, and is therefore entitled to such general damages in the sum of $100,000.00...$250,000.00." How unlike Paul and Silas who we find laying at the bottom of a dark, dank dungeon, thier bleeding backs pressed against floors strewn with rat feces and urine, but rejoicing at midnight with the result of thier persecutor being saved and maybe being the beginnings of the church in Philippi (Acts 16)?
They are saying that thier "persecutors" were wrong in defaming them and therefore should be punished by the state. All this they characterize as "appealing to Caesar."
Now consider the Apostle Paul, the one to whom Lee is claiming a direct link of succession. These are his words concerning his persecutors:
Phil. 1:12-14 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which
happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13
so that it has become evident hto the whole 2palace guard, and to all the
rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord,
having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word
without fear.
The New King James Version.
These are his words concerning those who he feels are preaching out of
rivalry:
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from
goodwill: 16 3The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love,
knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only
that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in
this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
The New King James Version.
All testimony and the writings of Watchman Nee himself indicates that he was a man who experientially knew the cross. When he spoke of it, he knew whereof he spoke.
Now Lee's followers would have the general public recognize the names of Nee and Lee as inextricably joined. I'm afraid that when it comes to the cross, Lee was a clanging symbol. He preached the cross zealously to his followers. i.e., "you take the cross, so you don't become a problem to me." But the actions of the group clearly reveal that Lee knew little or nothing of the cross.
Keep in mind that Lee himself had to sign off on that complaint before it was filed and became a public declaration.
Don't judge these people by what they present by their well doctored public image; you must take a close look at their past to know upon what foundation they are built.
Roger