The Torah of the Local Churches

The following is a paragraph from a letter written by the Church in Bellevue, Washington, following a situation where some of the members wanted to enjoy the ministry of others as well as Witness Lee. The words in brackets are my comment:

As the elders and responsible brothers in the church in Bellevue, we are much exercised before the Lord to determine what ministry we will receive as well as what ministry we will not receive here for the church. Both sides are important. We do have an appreciation for all the brothers that guard the purity of Brother Lee's ministry [what about the purity of God's word?]. Our vision is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Eph. 4:4-6) Furthermore, we also believe and practice speaking the same thing (1 Cor. 1:10); [Witness Lee’s self-serving misinterpretation] in one accord with one mouth (Rom. 15:6); [shades of Mao’s red guard with their little red book] walking in the same steps with the same spirit (2 Cor. 12:18); [you mean walking in lockstep with headquarters in Anaheim] having only one publication (W.L. Elders Training, Bk. 8, pg. 161-164); [wait a minute! We don’t find a “one publication” anywhere in the Bible. And what is this reference to an elders Training book? Clearly the writings of Witness Lee have become the Torah of the Local Churches] thinking the same thing, even thinking the “one thing” (Phil 2:2) [clearly a Witness Lee effort at justifying brainwashing] This will issue in the one new man, (Col. 3:10-11)[uniformity] consummating in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2). [consummating in a very large and successful money machine]. This is surely accomplished only by life [organization] and through life [strictness] and with life [discipline]. Only life can build up the church [then why be so guarded to keep life out?]. Without a focus on life none of us have a way to go on. Our prayer is that all of the churches would appreciate the difficulty of our situation and understand the actions we were compelled to take. END QUOTE

This is the kind of automatic reactions that happens whenever ANYONE tries to introduce ministry from another servant of the Lord into the group. And God forbid that some of the members should say they just want only the Word of God. The landscape is littered with people who dared to say that.

Roger