Group Think: A Sinister Snare For Elders and Congregations Alike

[UntoHim]

"Oneness" is actually not quite the priority to God that we were lead to believe by Witness Lee.

There are many, many things that should NEVER be sacrificed for spiritual (much less religious) oneness.

Let's start with the first man to be "called" by God - Abraham (known as Abram back in the day). God called him OUT of the "oneness" he had - "Go from your country, your kindred and your fathers house.." As humans, what higher and deeper oneness do we experience then our kindred and our fathers house? Yet God called him out of this oneness.

Fast forward to the children of Israel in Egypt. They certainly had a kind of "oneness" with the Egyptians - so much so that when they first escaped (right after the miracle of the passover) they still complained to Moses that they would be better off back in Egypt. Again, God was calling some person(s) away from the familiarly and comfort of oneness.

Then, just taking a cursory look at the gospels and the book of Acts, God was again calling his people away from the familiarity, comfort, and yes even oneness, of their religion (albeit a religion composed of God's chosen people) It does not take a biblical scholar to see that the Pharisees, Sadducee et al had a certain spiritual, religious (and to them biblical) oneness. Yet they opposed God to His face (literally), and even were instrumental in seeing that the Messiah that came to save them was put to death. Now if any of you think that the Pharisees and Sadducees did not have as strong a oneness as Local Churchers then I think you are highly mistaken.

Now, what about us? Do we get "a pass" where all the others called by God down through the centuries did not? Do we get to sacrifice the truth for the sake of oneness? Do we get to sacrifice His holy Word for the sake of oneness? Do we get to sacrifice our families, our hopes and dreams, our careers for the sake of oneness?

Just something to think about my brothers and sisters.

PS: Thanks to Terry and Igzy for this thread

[countmeworthy]

Igzy wrote
Going along with the crowd (i.e. groupthink) is almost never a good thing, because the crowd is almost always wrong

Another red flag concerning groupthink/'oneness'.........it breeds insecurity...especially in the LSM/LC. People lose their personal identity & once they leave, they're 'lost'. They don't know what to do with their lives. Their lives evolved around the LSM/LC. They don't even know how to TRUST GOD for direction & Guidance!!! It takes a long time..and even then, they're haunted by their involvement.

The ones who talked the talk on 'oneness'......don't know how to minister to the 'lost' anymore...to draw them, to point them to Jesus because they're oneness was not in Jesus. But it looks like it is because they call on the name of the Lord all the time. In truth, they're oneness is in the LSM/LC. And their calling on the Name of the Lord..is almost a coverup..'cause they're really calling on the Name of the LSM under the pretense of calling on Jesus. (Not ALL I'm sure...but for some reason I won't call on the Name of the Lord with that bunch! )

I suppose if there is 'one' good thing about the LSM/LC...and that IS a play on words.......is everything revolves around the RcV & the LSM books.
If a person truly wants the LORD JESUS and deliverence, they can pick up a KJ, NASB, Living Translation, Amplified for Bible reading. There are countless books, teachings, & a variety of ministries to tap into.

Not everything out there in Christendom/Christianity is beneficial...but thankfully we have a discerning spirit in Christ. Shedding the LSM/LC wineskin is the hardest..but the Word says OUR HELP comes from the Lord. We know that is true.

The whole LSM/LC dynamic is Sad...very, very sad.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

"Oneness" is actually not quite the priority to God that we were lead to believe by Witness Lee.

I have arrived at this same conclusion also. What dramatically changed my views in 2005, after 30 years in the LC, was examining the record of events surrounding the quarantine of John Ingalls. I had always held "oneness" and its numerous "sisters" such as "thinking the same thing" and "having no opinion," in extremely high regard. I considered the Lord's prayer in John 17 as His highest desire for the church.

Reading the accounts of many former members has caused me to carefully re-examine this matter. Sadly, I learned that much of the emphasis over the years on "oneness" and the "one accord" had other motives in mind. These items became vehicles employed to silence internal critiques which were then desperately needed. WL and the BB's have effectively twisted many Biblical truths for their own gain, and numbed the conscience of the faithful, using a distorted presentation of "oneness."

Unfortunately, it was the Roman Catholic, or should I say the "Holy Oneness Church" of Rome which has mastered this art. Since I grew up in that system, I suppose I was more vulnerable than most. Some of the most rotten things in church history were done in the name of "oneness." A oneness the Lord never had in mind when He prayed on His last day.

When we look at the present day LC's and how far down they have spiraled, perhaps the single most important factor is "oneness with the ministry." It all sounded so good. There was a time when many of the brothers around me were clamoring its benefits. Now we have the unique advantage of time. We can look back and ask the reasons why something "so good became so bad." Here is just a partial list of the bad fruit of this devious teaching:

• Changed the emphasis from Christ-centered to man-centered
• Changed us from pleasing God to pleasing man
• Changed us from the word of God to the teachings of man
• Changed from independent local churches to headquarters
• Changed from the Headship of Christ to the leadership of man
• Changed from the liberty of the Spirit to the regulations of man

I have watched each of these (and more) happen slowly over time. I don't blame any of the saints. The leadership failed us. They are rightly called evil workers. They have placed their own interests above Christ and the saints.

[TLFisher]

Ohio, on your post above if there's two points I differ with it's

Changed from independent local churches to dependence on a ministry publisher (instead of headquarters).
At this time I resist using the term evil workers. The leadership did fail the local churches. They do have interests which have and are misguiding saints in the local churches. These interests center on lifting up a man and his ministry. In the process what is lost? Start with John 15:12.

Ohio, you brought about how far the local churches have spiraled. Indeed they have. My perspective is when the churchlife went from Christ centered to ministry centered. Listening to brothers that were there from the sixties and early seventies, the churchlife was Christ centered and there was a oneness through Christ.
When the churchlife became ministry centered, there wasn't a oneness through Christ, but an expectation to conform via group think in the ministry. As a result, no liberty and no freedom to follow the Lord's leading and still be accepted with open arms in the local churches.

Terry

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Terry

Ohio, on your post above if there's two points I differ with it's changed from independent local churches to dependence on a ministry publisher (instead of headquarters). At this time I resist using the term evil workers. The leadership did fail the local churches. They do have interests which have and are misguiding saints in the local churches. These interests center on lifting up a man and his ministry.

When I first declared that denominations became what they were, not because of some name, but because of a controlling headquarters, I saw both Anaheim and Cleveland together, with little distinction between them. The dependence on LSM as just a publisher, does little but stock our shelves with books. Anaheim was consulted for all major decisions. So was Cleveland. HQ's provided all direction, determined all teachings, set up all agendas, hosted or directed all conferences and trainings, determined the speakers, became clearinghouses for worker funds, ran trainings or seminaries, appointed elders, etc. Many a local church existed only as a satellite for headquarters. For years, I was part of a "suburb" of Cleveland, then a "suburb" of Anaheim during the mid to late 80's, and then a "suburb" of Cleveland again until today. One sister, whose husband and brother-in-law served FT under TC, made this interesting comment about 5 years ago, "TC is shuffling the deck again," referring to the movement and manipulation of FT'ers.

One of the worst parts of "the work," was the accepted premise that no worker could choose the city where he could live. That decision was made by the senior brother. That condition alone robbed many brothers of the freedom to follow Christ, and Christ alone. But, since the brothers understood this before embarking on their service, one could say that "what's fair is fair."

What is not fair was the mistreatments and abuses the workers were forced to endure, for one and only one reason, that all the glory and power would be centralized in the leader. Any one else could and would be sacrificed to maintain that order. Many brothers, both under the leadership in Anaheim and under the leadership in Cleveland, were gifts from the Head to the body, but became rivals to the leadership, and thus had to be put "in their place." If they decided to speak out against the leader, then they were branded as rebels. This is why I call these leaders evil workers, because of their unrighteous treatment of others.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

When I first declared that denominations became what they were, not because of some name, but because of a controlling headquarters, I saw both Anaheim and Cleveland together, with little distinction between them. The dependence on LSM as just a publisher, does little but stock our shelves with books. Anaheim was consulted for all major decisions. So was Cleveland. HQ's provided all direction, determined all teachings, set up all agendas, hosted or directed all conferences and trainings, determined the speakers, became clearinghouses for worker funds, ran trainings or seminaries, appointed elders, etc. Many a local church existed only as a satellite for headquarters.

A term Watchman Nee used when I read The Normal Christian Church Life is center. This is how I view Cleveland and Anaheim. Churches that subscribe entirely to these centers may have their meeting format dictated by these ministries. Do these centers control localities in every way? I don't think so. There is limited local administration. There are occassions a center will interject with their fellowship. This fellowship extra-locally influences decison making which does undermine local administration in the manner of group think. If a local church isn't conforming to the group think, it's usefulness as a local church to that center comes to an end. As a result it is evident local churches exist only as a ministry franchise for the center.

Terry

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

... much of the emphasis over the years on "oneness" and the "one accord" had other motives in mind. These items became vehicles employed to silence internal critiques which were then desperately needed.

.... Some of the most rotten things in church history were done in the name of "oneness." A oneness the Lord never had in mind when He prayed on His last day.

When we look at the present day LC's and how far down they have spiraled, perhaps the single most important factor is "oneness with the ministry."

Forgive me if I repetitively beat my small drum here, but if you want an exemplar of "oneness" that is not of God's heart, look at Revelation 13:17, where no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast. This is a perfect example of an externally imposed "oneness". "Headquarters has decided (in order to avoid confusion, and maintain good order, naturally) that all transactions must have the approved seal upon them in order to take place."

Now, look at Rev. 13:17, then look over at the current "one publication/one ministry/one move of the Lord" scene in the current LCs, and tell me if that particular shoe doesn't fit uncomfortably well? Ironic that the LCs were so strong against the RCC, and then they fell into the same trap.

Okay, what is oneness? I have a suggestion: Jesus is the Lord! If you say, "Amen!" then I propose that we are one, regardless of the other stuff we are currently, and slowly, working through. If you can't give me an "amen", then sorry, I guess I don't have your portion and you don't have mine.

[TLFisher]

I thought I would bring this thread back up for some of our newer members and lurkers who might be interested in this article.

No matter is we agree or disagree with our brothers in Anaheim or Cleveland, we all are one in Christ. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

It's when you get into peripheral matters or issues, there is no consensus. If you don't line up with the brother's group think or one accord, they will have problems with your concepts. You are not wanted to have an opinion, except theirs; which is the group think. When you get down to it, it is the group think that becomes the measuring stick for accepting or rejecting fellow members of the Body of Christ.