Quote:
Originally Posted by testallthings
He didn't actually teach that pantheism=deification.
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Thank you for the very thoughtful response.
I would like to address your central premise, which is that Witness Lee's teaching was not hypocritical but consistent.
But all the apostles were very strict in the teaching of the apostles. In 1 Timothy 1:3-4, Paul urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus to charge certain ones not to teach differently from God's New Testament economy. The apostles would not tolerate any teaching that was different from God's New Testament economy. The aged Apostle John, in his second Epistle, told the saints not to receive anyone who brings a teaching other than the teaching of Christ (vv. 9-10). He said that these ones went beyond the teaching of Christ. This means that they went beyond the teaching concerning Christ, which is the basic teaching of the New Testament, the teaching of the apostles. John was strict to the extent that he even charged the saints not to greet such ones. In the matter of the teaching of the apostles, the apostles were very strict. This proves that the teaching of the apostles actually is the real leadership in the New Testament. (Witness Lee, Elders’ Training, Book 09: The Eldership and the God-Ordained Way (1), Chapter 4, Section 10)
Let us agree first and foremost that our focus must be on the Apostles' teaching. That, according to Witness Lee and the New Testament, "is the real leadership in the New Testament".
So then, if Witness Lee was consistent and not hypocritical his teaching of Deification must be
1. Not different from God's New Testament Economy
2. Is not a teaching other than Christ
3. Does not go beyond the teaching of Christ
The New Testament is very strict on this point. If after we examine his teaching we determine that it is fine on these three points then you will have proved that Witness Lee was consistent and not hypocritical.
The degradation of the church through the centuries has been a result not only of organization and division but also of mixture with heathenism and paganism. After Constantine the Great accepted Christianity, many pagan things were brought into the church and given a Christian name, including Christmas, Easter, and the worship of Mary. G. H. Pember clearly defined the pagan things brought in by Catholicism in his book Mystery Babylon the Great. In Matthew 13:33 the Lord likens this mixture to leaven, “which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.” (The Recovery of Christ in the Present Evil Age, Chapter 4, Section 2).
I think we can agree that the fact that Christianity taught "deification" does not in any way make it a fundamental truth of the New Testament, even Witness Lee pointed out that there were many teachings brought in as a mixture. So, please, lets agree that for Witness Lee to be proved consistent and not hypocritical that we will only use the teachings of the Apostles and not resort to teachings in Christianity to bolster the doctrine. As Witness Lee said, the apostles teaching is the true leadership here.
If tens of thousands of saints in six continents are all doing the one work, who then is taking the lead? It is very mysterious to say that Christ is taking the lead. In practice, the real leader is the teaching of the apostles. We all must serve according to, follow, and be based on the teaching of the apostles. (Witness Lee, Words of Life from the 1988 Full Time Training, Chapter 8, Section 3)
Since our goal is this matter of hypocrisy vs consistency Witness Lee must demonstrate that his doctrine is according to, following and based on the teaching of the Apostles.
So, why don't you start and I'll respond to you.
(PS -- I have no issue with Witness Lee using a term that is not in the NT, that would be an onerous requirement that would be unreasonable. That said, the doctrine is, the apostles taught it, so let us begin there.)