RE: Open Letter - Dear Saints in the Lord's Recovery - Joann Casteel

[Zezima]

Why don’t they publicly take any accountably for what she wrote in the letter? Instead they double down, and blame everything else but themselves. It’s really sad.

They care more about their image than they do about caring for the flock.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Zezima

Why don’t they publicly take any accountability for what she wrote in the letter? Instead they double down, and blame everything else but themselves. It’s really sad.

They care more about their image than they do about caring for the flock.

Exactly, Zezima!

All notable Recovery leaders use shaming, the military practice of "dress downs." Supposedly this was "recovered" by a sister in China named Barber. As the story goes, she taught Nee, who taught Lee, who taught all of the current leaders.

They use indiscriminate shaming and public rebukes, lambastes, on a regular basis, mainly in the brothers' meetings, but also in trainings, in order to maintain their clearly delineated lines of authority. Remember -- "it" only rolls down hill, as the saying goes. One can only shame those beneath him, never above, instead all those above must be "covered." Understand how that works?

Their system is not biblical. It's fake spirituality. It's the hallmark of abusive leadership. It creates a clearly defined hierarchy. Nee said clearly, "when you walk into a room, you should immediately look to see who you should submit to." The implications were immediate -- all must submit to him. Same with Lee. Same with Kangas.

The Bible, however, never authorizes this practice of public censure. This is to lord it over the church of God. (I Peter 5.3) The Bible does tell us to rebuke those who sin, especially the leaders who sin. (I Timothy 5.19-21) This should be done without prejudice or partiality, like was done with Lee's own reprobate sons, Philip and Timothy.

We often discuss the dangers of the Recovery practice of "deputy authority" on this forum, and we should, because so many have been hurt by it. One of the "weapons" used to enforce this twisted authority is public shaming from the bully pulpit. Shaming instills fear in all the members. But Biblical fear should be directed towards sin and towards God, and not some supposed human authority figure, such as the MOTA.

Consider how this inorganic system opens wide the doors of corruption in the Recovery. The leaders are never accountable. Their sins must be "covered." Anyone who speaks their conscience is soundly smeared and quarantined before all. The members then learn nothing spiritually profitable, rather all manners of abuse and sin get repeated. And false shaming maintains the hierarchical system, hermetically sealed from the Light of Day, from prophets sent by God to rescue them.

I had previously a few months ago looked into the accounts people who have left the church. Mainly, because of the recovery wide message of the end times and how the coworkers are speaking. And how many saints have been acting because Trump lost the election and the 50/50 slit of differing views on the pandemic. Basically paranoid, selfish or no sympathy and empathy. Some call it plandemic. And many saints have actually died. Some localities have had major infections. And after near death experiences they're still anti vaccine and masks. When meeting on zoom they refuse to assemble because they think saints are cowards. But will meet in person with no masks. Other churches require masks in door. You have your right to opinions and choice. But I'm letting this community what is going on and the latest.

I do need to add when saints got sick other saints thought they were doctors and recommended right wing recommended treatments. One brother had such a bad reaction he felt like dying. Other saints in the beginning deny they had covid and that it was a flu.

But what got me to post was James Lee saying our sister was possessed by a demon which he said is worse than witchcraft. How the demon is so clever and unique in how it speaks and writes. He said the last rebellion which was exactly two years ago his exact words. This I had to share with everyone.

[gr8ful]

I'm saddened but not surprised to hear that James Lee, or any other Blended Brother, would accuse a sister in the Lord of being demon possessed. Considering that the Lord's Recovery has been waning in past years without any sign of reviving, the anxiety of the leadership must be at an all-time high. Thus, grasping at whatever they can to stem the attrition (if not exodus), flailing against imagined monsters is an expected Quixotic response.

With the advent of the ubiquitously-accessible Internet, authoritarians of all kinds are losing their ability to control the information flow to their subjects. While governments like China can set up nation-enveloping firewalls to reduce unwanted criticism, religious groups like the JWs and the Lord's Recovery must rely on policing their people through fear and threats. "Covering the brothers," a policy just like the Catholic church's policy towards sexual predators in the priesthood, won't last long in the modern era. Nor will claims of unique possession of God's up-to-date speaking survive a quick study of other (non-recommended) sources.

While the shameful accusations and blaming of innocents continues, the reality is the audience of the leaders of the Lord's Recovery is shrinking, the influence is waning. As with other isolated and isolating groups, as the input of new voices evaporates, the message concentrates -- becoming more intense in every sense -- and the reaction against any questioning or challenge of veracity will result in a stronger, more vile attacking response.

More dire "crucial words" against dissent, more feverous cries of the rapidly approaching End Times, more wild claims of the specialness of the "remnant" that remain faithful -- this is what awaits those beholden to The Lord's Recovery as it follows the path of the James Taylorites (Plymouth Brethren).

[Robert]

I saw brother Ron in clip from Dec. He was alone in room, talking to camera ( he was talking about it in first minute).

I just wondered, if he really cares what others say about him from out side of LR?
I remember one message, when one of blended, said, that elder are in bigger danger of proud, ambition and arrogance.
I think most of them are.

I think, we should remember about them in our prayers.
Actually I have to remember. I feel that encouragement in spirit.
We have to rebuke and condemn terrible and unjust behavior.
But if in Heavenly Kingdom rule is to pray for enemies, how much more we should pray for brothers and sisters who became victim of enemy.
If I will be deceived, I wish to have someone who will pray for me.
So, I really encourage all saints to pray and pay attention to keep balance in hearts and have good and right judgment but love to others as well.
Our Lord Jesus is Righteous but also Love.

It will be huge blessing and change if we see Ron repenting and saying "I am sorry I was wrong".
But I am not judge, and even I will not see this in my live, Lord knows his heart.
-
Mat 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

[Robert]

Just within one hour Lord gave me my Brother as another board in Temple to witness.
This lovely brother mentioned the same thing...
He is speaking out thought I had and have...

[HERn]

Originally Posted by gr8ful

I'm saddened but not surprised to hear that James Lee, or any other Blended Brother, would accuse a sister in the Lord of being demon possessed. Considering that the Lord's Recovery has been waning in past years without any sign of reviving, the anxiety of the leadership must be at an all-time high. Thus, grasping at whatever they can to stem the attrition (if not exodus), flailing against imagined monsters is an expected quixotic response.

Just wondering what kind of anecdotal data were used to conclude that attendance at LSM associated events has declined. What kind of things can we look for to estimate a decline in attendance? I’m sure LSM keeps meticulous data on this, but does not release it.

[Paul Vusik]

Originally Posted by gr8ful

I'm saddened but not surprised to hear that James Lee, or any other Blended Brother, would accuse a sister in the Lord of being demon possessed. Considering that the Lord's Recovery has been waning in past years without any sign of reviving, the anxiety of the leadership must be at an all-time high. Thus, grasping at whatever they can to stem the attrition (if not exodus), flailing against imagined monsters is an expected Quixotic response.

With the advent of the ubiquitously-accessible Internet, authoritarians of all kinds are losing their ability to control the information flow to their subjects. While governments like China can set up nation-enveloping firewalls to reduce unwanted criticism, religious groups like the JWs and the Lord's Recovery must rely on policing their people through fear and threats. "Covering the brothers," a policy just like the Catholic church's policy towards sexual predators in the priesthood, won't last long in the modern era. Nor will claims of unique possession of God's up-to-date speaking survive a quick study of other (non-recommended) sources.

While the shameful accusations and blaming of innocents continues, the reality is the audience of the leaders of the Lord's Recovery is shrinking, the influence is waning. As with other isolated and isolating groups, as the input of new voices evaporates, the message concentrates -- becoming more intense in every sense -- and the reaction against any questioning or challenge of veracity will result in a stronger, more vile attacking response.

More dire "crucial words" against dissent, more feverous cries of the rapidly approaching End Times, more wild claims of the specialness of the "remnant" that remain faithful -- this is what awaits those beholden to The Lord's Recovery as it follows the path of the James Taylorites (Plymouth Brethren).

Hi Gr8ful,

I wanted to just say that these people will never stop doing what they are doing, or stop saying what they say! There is no compass of any kind that regulates and guides them, beside power, authority, and self-righteousness. They get a high from that, that’s their only satisfaction. Even if there will be two people left in their meetings, they will totally drain everything out of them, to uplift themselves and lower others to the depths of hell.

I finally got around to read the book Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, that I read in about 6 hrs, and even though I can’t agree with everything in this book, I can say that I knew of all these things, since I have experienced them, but just couldn’t put the correct names to it. I have been around men of this ilk my whole life, and as someone who has experienced every kind of abuse in my life described in this book, the spiritual one is the hardest by far to detect, understand, and be able discern. The people that are trapped there, cannot and unable to recognize and flee from it. When the name of God and Christ is used to perpetrate abuse, it’s totally blinds and subverts peoples psyche to completely destroy them, first spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and finally physically. I pray that God intervenes on behalf of the true born again believers that are trapped there, and gives them a chase to experience the freedom in Him, and in His Grace!

As hard as I know it is to have anyone in there to read any spiritual writings that are not approved by the high priests of this system, I would strongly recommend that if there is even a small chance that one would consider to go outside of the bubble and read something, please read this book, and pray that God would show you something through it.

Thanks.
God bless!

[PriestlyScribe]

Originally Posted by Paul Vusik

Hi Gr8ful,

As hard as I know it is to have anyone in there to read any spiritual writings that are not approved by the high priests of this system, I would strongly recommend that if there is even a small chance that one would consider to go outside of the bubble and read something, please read this book, and pray that God would show you something through it.

Thanks.
God bless!

Paul, both authors of that book were interviewed by a former cult member and it's still on YouTube.

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse Part 1
https://youtu.be/DGL_Wl7BAfE

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse Part 2
https://youtu.be/MelXy5Gj7Jc

PS