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Originally Posted by Igzy
Witness Lee fell prey to a malady common in powerful men:
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But not common to men of faith who are "strangers and pilgrims on this earth".
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Originally Posted by Igzy
He thought he was above the rules. He even thought he defined the rules. Where do you think "Even if he's wrong, he's right" came from?
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Certainly not from the kingdom of the heavens. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. We cannot see Christ's heavenly rule, but faith is the evidence of it. I do not see the evidence of Christ's heavenly rule in WL being above the Lord's rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
You see this regularly in powerful man. (Think Wall Street investment bankers.) They adopt an exaggerated view of their own importance. They think the system needs them. They define reality based on themselves. They think rules are for commoners.
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You do not see men of faith regularly compared to Wall Street investment bankers.
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
11:38 Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
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Originally Posted by Igzy
So did Lee believe in one church, one city (OCOC)?
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When I use this term "believe" I am referring to the faith that subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, etc.
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Originally Posted by Igzy
Sure he did--especially because OCOC was a convenient tool for creating a captive audience into which he could dispense his all-important ministry of the age. The pieces fit for him, so he rationalized all the loose ends about OCOC, including the inconvenient fact that the NT cites house churches which are not identified as city churches. He also rationalized his hypocrisy, including that he and his movement never once recognized any established city church not affiliated with him.
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I am sure that it was not convenient for Abraham to sacrifice his son. Surely he could have thought of some excuse for why he would have liked to have sacrificed him, but it was just inconvenient at the time. Surely if Abraham had rationalized this he could have come up with many rational reasons for not obeying God. This is not the description of a man of faith.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Think about it. If you wanted to invent a belief system by which you could control many groups and the people in them, yet still be able to deny being in control, you'd have a hard time coming up with something more effective than Lee's system. By holding everyone in awe of himself, he didn't need an official office. He could have his cake and eat it, too--be a "simple Bible teacher" and be in control of a movement of thousands of people. Deniability is always plausible.
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Men of faith are seeking a city who's builder and maker is God. Inventing a belief system where you control everything is not a description of a man of faith.
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Originally Posted by Igzy
In the end it was all about him and his mission--everything else be damned. The Bible, churches, ministry, publication, saints, everyone, everything, were all utilized his mission. He entertained no counsel and recognized no peers. Like other loose cannons he wrecked a lot of lives. He was either clueless about that or didn't care, and neither option is flattering.
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By faith the elders obtained a good report. This is not a good report. Again, where is the evidence that WL had faith in these teachings?