A Future and a Hope - Epilogue

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

There is absolutely no justification in the scriptures for the "management style" which he [Chu] exhibits over the GLA. Where is one verse which promotes his public shaming? Where is one verse which permits the mistreatment other brothers are forced to endure?

I remember watching a meeting where Lee was putting the latest tweak on the "God-ordained way". There was some practice in the Bible which, Lee was saying, we were all supposed to emulate in our local churches. Suddenly, Lee stopped speaking, turned to his left, and said, "Brother Titus, is this what you are doing out there in Cleveland?"

Titus Chu stood up slowly, stiffly, and gravely. With his head down he said, "I am ashamed to admit that in Cleveland we are not yet doing this." Then he sat down, and Lee turned back to the audience and continued with his "We must all do this" harangue.

Chu allowed Lee to use him as his public whipping boy. Why shouldn't he then expect to reciprocate this dynamic with those under him? Clearly the apple didn't fall far from the tree in this case.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

[Titus] Chu allowed Lee to use him as his public whipping boy. Why shouldn't he then expect to reciprocate this dynamic with those under him?

Exactly.

This cultural dynamic within the Recovery is programed into the mental DNA of her leaders. The source of the practice supposedly goes back to how the British missionary Margaret Barber "perfected" Watchman Nee in China. The rules are simple -- the ranking brother in the room has the license to abuse all others, and all the attendants are expected to understand that he is only "perfecting" them. All the leaders in SoCal used to have their weekly "ice baths" while WL berated them on a regular basis. Philip Lee apparently loved this aspect of the recovery the best.

When I first came to this forum, and began to realize how widespread and pervasive this practice was, I had my first "aha moment" -- the recovery produces bullies out of beloved brothers. It was a sobering thought. But for the first time I began to have answers to many of the nagging questions which had haunted me for years.

If only Titus Chu was like Witness Lee then perhaps the damages would be limited in scope, but that is not the case. National bullies produce regional bullies, and regional bullies produce local bullies, and local bullies produce household bullies. Not all the time in every brother, but far too often than anyone has cared to consider.

I watched one brother, whom I was close to for years, change for the worse after he dropped his job and began to serve under Titus Chu. At times he would mock and ridicule other brothers for no apparent reason. He was just "flexing his muscles" as he had learned from Titus. He learned too many bad habits from his mentor. As a brother, I love him dearly, but as a worker under Titus, I needed to step away to prevent further conflicts. It's one of my saddest memories about the churchlife.

[Ohio]

Myer's Epilogue, page 5 ...

"You were doing your own work all along," voices said. My response was, "Of course!"

When I first read this, I laughed, "Thank God for John Myer's honesty!"

This whole matter of "doing your own work" has become such a plague in the Recovery. Leadership in both Anaheim and Cleveland uses it to manipulate all their subservients. It has become the unforgiveable sin. Fear has gripped every leader lest it be ever said that they were "doing their own work!"

Like I said, "Thank God for John Myer's honesty!"

This one manipulative curse has paralyzed the creative thought process of all her remaining leaders. Beloved brothers, like Comfort and Myer of Columbus, would be expelled from the program and their epithet, engraved in granite headstones, would be the catch phrase "he was doing his own work." Talk about instilling fear into all those who remain.

Like I said, "Thank God for John Myer's honesty!"

I pray many of the brothers who know John Myer will be delivered from this paralyzing curse penduluming over their head like a guillotine and begin to realize that "their own work" may actually be God's own work. As Apostle John has told us, "perfect love casts out fear."

[alwayslearning]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Myer's Epilogue, page 5 ...

When I first read this, I laughed, "Thank God for John Myer's honesty!"

This whole matter of "doing your own work" has become such a plague in the Recovery. Leadership in both Anaheim and Cleveland uses it to manipulate all their subservients. It has become the unforgiveable sin. Fear has gripped every leader lest it be ever said that they were "doing their own work!"

This one manipulative curse has paralyzed the creative thought process of all her remaining leaders.

Yes indeed his honesty is a breath of fresh air!

Both Witness Lee and Titus Chu taught about The New Testament Ministry. Within this one overarching NT ministry are many ministers and their ministries. But ultimately what they did in practice is equate their own ministries with The New Testament Ministry thus the term The Ministry was applied to Witness Lee's ministry and I'm sure in the GLA to Titus Chu's ministry.

John Myers was doing his own work within The New Testament Ministry. That's what he's suppose to do! He's not suppose to do Titus Chu's work within the New Testament Ministry. That's Titus Chu's responsibility.

[james73]

Originally Posted by Ohio

This whole matter of "doing your own work" has become such a plague in the Recovery. Leadership in both Anaheim and Cleveland uses it to manipulate all their subservients. It has become the unforgiveable sin. Fear has gripped every leader lest it be ever said that they were "doing their own work!"

Like I said, "Thank God for John Myer's honesty!"

Yes doing one's own work is something altogether frowned upon, which makes for almost comical meetings when our group wants to actually do something (like go out preaching and someone needs to print the little leaflets- nobody wants to take any responsibility for ANY part of that lest it be seen to be their "own work" or they are "taking charge" with frankly poor results.

Perhaps the accusation of "being divisive" is similar. I have been warned, gently, about this, and I agreed with the warning, that to criticise the church in front of the others may well be "divisive". And I think we can all see the patient approach shown by John Myer as something to learn from. But then how to voice dissatisfaction or disagreement or point out where things are going awry? Perhaps one could find a way to start another "skunkworks" division, as John writes about- I would happily join that.

Here's the thing: we are starting a new Lord's Table district in Hong Kong, under the umbrella of all existing arrangements of course, and from the elders' initial discussions, it seemed to me as if this could be it, the skunkworks! It was one thing which attracted me back to the LC: we would be free to do whatever we wanted, as long as it was scriptural, we had no ties or controls from anyone, it was said. We are not an LSM church!! Of course not!!

Of course, that turned out to be complete smoke. Within a week, we were reading Witness Lee on how to select hymns, we have an 83-week LSM plan for learning churchlife set down by the "leading brother" (we have no pastors remember...), and we are fixed to the schedule for morning revival/life study reading as all the others in our district. So much for skunkworks....

But maybe I can do something. After all, I am about 10% of the new group Any thoughts on applying John Myers to an existing and a new LC group? I am a little inspired by the idea that my "own work" might not be so evil after all...

Originally Posted by james73

I am about 10% of the new group Any thoughts on applying John Myers to an existing and a new LC group? I after all...

It only takes 2 people to start a group. You, your neighbor and the Name of Jesus. Then, when the Holy Spirit comes, just follow.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by james73

Yes doing one's own work is something altogether frowned upon, which makes for almost comical meetings when our group wants to actually do something (like go out preaching and someone needs to print the little leaflets- nobody wants to take any responsibility for ANY part of that lest it be seen to be their "own work" or they are "taking charge" with frankly poor results.

Here you see the utter hypocrisy and selfish manipulation of all the saints by Witness Lee and other leaders. Everything Lee did was his own work, yet for anyone else to follow the Lord and initiate some action was condemned by Lee and the group. How can anyone begin to follow the Lord in such a system? Can you believe the frustration I had to endure when our local elder had to consult with Titus Chu in Cleveland for every church initiative? It was even more frustrating to invest spiritual labor down some path only to have it aborted by one phone call to headquarters. All the brothers would pray in one accord, being like-minded in our direction, only to have Cleveland press the "off" button on their remote control.

Originally Posted by james73

Perhaps the accusation of "being divisive" is similar. I have been warned, gently, about this, and I agreed with the warning, that to criticise the church in front of the others may well be "divisive". And I think we can all see the patient approach shown by John Myer as something to learn from. But then how to voice dissatisfaction or disagreement or point out where things are going awry? Perhaps one could find a way to start another "skunkworks" division, as John writes about- I would happily join that.

John Myer was permitted a certain amount of liberty by Titus Chu, as long as he was fruitful, brought his young people to Cleveland, and turned them over to Titus. In a business sense, this is understandable. When I join a company, and they pay my salary, then all of my product developments belong to the company, and not to me. But this does not work in the body of Christ. First of all, the saints make offerings to the Lord, and then ones like Titus use the money to further his own work. John Myer serves God, not Titus. God supports him thru the saints' offerings. Titus has no right to undermine the relationship that Myer has with young people, and claim them as his 'fruit.' Once Myer decided that Titus Chu's public insults were no longer acceptable, his liberty ended.

Originally Posted by james73

Here's the thing: we are starting a new Lord's Table district in Hong Kong, under the umbrella of all existing arrangements of course, and from the elders' initial discussions, it seemed to me as if this could be it, the skunkworks! It was one thing which attracted me back to the LC: we would be free to do whatever we wanted, as long as it was scriptural, we had no ties or controls from anyone, it was said. We are not an LSM church!! Of course not!!

Reminds me of Henry Ford's infamous saying, "the customer can have any color Model T car he wants, as long as it is black." LSM's version is strikingly similar, "Of course you have complete freedom, you have the liberty of the all-inclusive Spirit of God in your mingled spirit, you can do any scriptural thing you want, as long as it's what we say!"

Originally Posted by james73

Of course, that turned out to be complete smoke. Within a week, we were reading Witness Lee on how to select hymns, we have an 83-week LSM plan for learning churchlife set down by the "leading brother" (we have no pastors remember...), and we are fixed to the schedule for morning revival/life study reading as all the others in our district. So much for skunkworks....

I used to think (for more than a quarter century!) that having a pastor was such a horrible thing, until the day I woke up and realized that having Pope Witness Lee in Anaheim, the Blended Cardinals around the globe, and Bishop Titus Chu in Cleveland was far worse!

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I used to think (for more than a quarter century!) that having a pastor was such a horrible thing, until the day I woke up and realized that having Pope Witness Lee in Anaheim, the Blended Cardinals around the globe, and Bishop Titus Chu in Cleveland was far worse!

I still struggle with having a pastor, but realize HE IS ACCOUNTABLE! Being trained under an accredited seminary, there is less danger of giving a message or a word that does not glorify God.

[alwayslearning]

Originally Posted by Terry

I still struggle with having a pastor, but realize HE IS ACCOUNTABLE!

In my experience and observation many churches have a number of pastors not just one and these pastors have an equal standing although their daily work usually focuses on a certain ministry e.g. youth, missions, etc.

Some churches have a senior pastor who is "above" the others which in practice means if a final decision has to be made he can do it after he receives input from all the other pastors. This is useful in situations where if 1 out of 5 pastors disagree with a certain direction instead of waiting for the 1 holdout to come around the senior pastor can make the final decision and move things forward.

[alwayslearning]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I used to think (for more than a quarter century!) that having a pastor was such a horrible thing, until the day I woke up and realized that having Pope Witness Lee in Anaheim, the Blended Cardinals around the globe, and Bishop Titus Chu in Cleveland was far worse!

Indeed! And if further truth be told the elders and coworkers had the position of pastors but thought it clever somehow to call themselves something different. There were a lot of such language games in the LC system.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by alwayslearning

Indeed! And if further truth be told the elders and coworkers had the position of pastors but thought it clever somehow to call themselves something different. There were a lot of such language games in the LC system.

Yes, I can think of several elders who could function as pastors. Meaning they could labor through the Word to deliver a message without relying on Witness Lee's ministry as a crutch to deliver the message.
Of course those I thought of were Bill Freeman, Al Knoch, John Ingalls, Francis Ball, and Gene Gruhler.
In present tense I cannot think of any current elders/co-workers who can function as a pastor. Truth be told alwayslearning I see it situation by situation whether an elder is functioning as an elder or functioning as a steward. My hope is for elders to function as elders.