[Ohio]

There is something in all of this for teachers of the Bible to learn: be happy with what is clearly disclosed in the Word. A cardinal weakness of the ancient Gnostics was their apparent boredom with simple truths and their desire to find something more profound. As a result, those who had been attracted to the Christian faith and had Gnostic proclivities, consistently went beyond what was written. Predictably, they were always discovering some new revelation or hidden knowledge.

In saying this I am not suggesting that Witness Lee was a Gnostic. However, there is an unconscious hope within some serious Bible expositors to uncover a new radical thought—to contribute a revelation that will revolutionize the church. This ambition can be dangerous. As some have said, “Innovative theology is the first cousin of heresy.” If the teacher in question has arrived at erroneous conclusions, his light can be terribly damaging to the group he leads.

Here Myer is blessed with a word of wisdom. I do believe this "unconscious hope" had become an obsessive lust in some.

There are still further considerations that need to taken into account. Sometimes things of God that are supremely spiritual, deep, profound, and true are not to be uttered (2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 10:4). Bible teachers must ask themselves about the advisability of saying things, inventing phrases, coining terms, and making hypotheses, even if the concepts touched upon are possibly true. What will be the effect upon those who hear? What will be the fallout from those who do not understand? In fact, will misunderstanding this “deeper truth” somehow lead to subtle perversions of the simpler, plainer fully revealed gospel? Will it lead to suggestions that the gospel already entrusted to us is actually shallow?

Great point!

For years I heard the praises of “the high peak of the divine revelation.” Not wishing to be overly pragmatic, I withheld judgment. Eventually, though, I did have to ask what was the revolutionary effect that the teaching bestowed upon those who believed it. Having watched the lives of people who were the most zealous for it, and comparing them to the lives of other Christians I knew, I couldn’t see anything necessarily superior.

Advanced truth should alter our living and bring us into closer conformity to Christ. Until this day I have not seen any sort of example from high peak proponents that is higher, better, or more advanced than Christians who model the simple Christian living shown in the New Testament. In fact, I have seen some of the worst behavior in those who claim to have Cadillac versions of truth— everything from cronyism to political machinations to power struggles. Multi-syllabic words are not magic. Neither are startling, formulaic utterances.

I could not agree more. I came to this conclusion years ago. Where's the fruit? Where are changed lives?