Did Witness Lee believe his teaching on "One city one church"?

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I believe it is scriptural there is one church, ONE body in Christ Jesus. If there is -one- church, -one- body, then there is one church in each city. I give credit to the LC teaching enlightening me of this fact through the scriptures.

I cannot imagine the agony I might be struggling in my spiritual journey had I gotten saved through a congregation of believers who called themselves _______, ___________, or________ (fill in the blanks!)

I am often puzzled by Christians who believe and state clearly believers are the church (including the LRC) yet it is obvious to all of us, we are divided.

Lee no doubt believed his teaching on "one city one church" as that was his agenda. It was not to the benefit of the saints to see one body-one church. I think many of us did nonetheless.

I believe the majority of LCrs who were truly seeking and getting to know our Lord through the Word, the Bible, had a pure heart and a pure vision and thus did see the ONE BODY of CHRIST, ONE CHURCH. It is something we genuinely tried to practice.

The vision of the one church, the one body of Christ was sadly changed by Lee or Nee or both. By teaching one city, one church, they manipulated the saints. They should have stuck to emphasizing one Body and ONE Church IN Christ Jesus. Instead the one city-one church teaching is how the LC or LRC became...LEE'S church!

Had he not tried to dominate the elders, and the young saints through -his- messages, his meetings, his version of the bible, perhaps the church could have truly come alive and resurrect through his leadership which would not have been -his- leadership but the Holy Spirit's Anointing.

As it is, the LRC is virtually dead now even if there are still thousands congregating together under that umbrella.

There was Light in the LC under Lee's leadership at one time. While I was only 'consecrated' to "Christ and the church" for a few short years in the mid 70s, it was there that the foundation of my faith in Christ was rooted and grounded. It was there I learned to apply the Precious Blood of Jesus. It was there I learned there was/is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. It was there that I learned Jesus came that I/we would have Life and have it more abundantly. It was there that I learned Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the LIFE and no person can get to the Father but through Jesus. HEY ! And I wasn't the only LCr and now former LCr who reaped the benefits of these Life SAVING Biblical Truths. We ALL did! Some to a greater extent. Others to a lesser extent. But that does not make any of us greater than others if we have more Light. Just gives us more responsibility for the Light we have. Right?

We had some great mini conferences on the sound doctrines of the Triune God, the Blood of the Lamb, on Sanctification, on the inner life, on group fellowship, on sharing the gospel. I have shared the following observation before but I will share it again. For me, by 1978, the LC was elevating Lee at every meeting, at every home gathering, at every one on one fellowship. He was the 'oracle' of God. How did the saints not see he was becoming their pope? After all, did we not study the 7 churches in Revelation? Could they not see what they were doing? I did and that is when I left.

Lee stifled the saints. He did not permit them/us to be led by the Life giving Spirit operating in us although it was emphasized enough. Perhaps he figured if we did, he would lose his 'authority' over us. IMHO, the one church, one city doctrine fit Lee's agenda nicely.

We read and studied the Word through his interpretation. Not all of it was wrong. However no doubt he controlled his flock.

The one city, one church doctrine he taught was having everyone look alike, talk alike, dress alike. THAT was the one city - one church teaching!

OH !!! And remember the pumping fists we used in our prayers?

Guess what ? As I was watching the North Korean kids pay homage to their leader on the news, they were PUMPING their fists just like we did when we were in the LC!! Imagine that !!!! Those kids all looked alike, dressed alike and all pumped their fists with vigor. They were 'one' with their leader.

How terribly sad so many people suffered horrificly through Lee and his minions.

Thank GOD for His Son Who restores our health and Heals our wounds, Who is the Living Word of GOD, operating through His Spirit in us Who is also THE ALMIGHTY GOD.

Blessings and Peace to all.

Carol Garza