Newspaper Clippings re Witness Lee & the Lord's Recovery

[rayliotta]

Originally Posted by rayliotta

There may not be many articles out there, but there are some. Please contribute!

I'll start. This was recently posted by Friedel (on the thread "Sacrifice and Sail On - Book by Philip Lin"):

"Ex-official reveals fear, loathing in ‘Local Church’" (article ran in The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA, 17 December 1978, originally from the Los Angeles Times, by John Dart)

[rayliotta]

This was posted by UntoHim as an attachment to the forum:

"Leader's Son Excommunicated: Crisis Threatens Future of Little-Known Church" (Los Angeles Times, 7 January 1989, by Russell Chandler)

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by rayliotta

I'll start. This was recently posted by Friedel (on the thread "Sacrifice and Sail On - Book by Philip Lin"):

"Ex-official reveals fear, loathing in ‘Local Church’" (article ran in The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA, 17 December 1978, originally from the Los Angeles Times, by John Dart)

Wow.......the thought that leaving the LC will result in divine retribution has been around for 40 years. It's really something reading an article about the LC written by an "outsider".......helps you see that what's "normal" (due just to growing up in it) really isn't normal.

[aron]

The Local Church also underwent turmoil in 1978 when Max D Rapoport, then considered the heir apparent of the movement, quit his position as president of the Church in Anaheim. Earlier in the year, the leader of the Boston church departed.

Both cited intense psychological pressures to conform in one’s views and to perform up to expectations. Witness Lee, in a rare interview, denied the allegations. “In our church everyone is so free. We are free in our thinking,” he said then.

Witness Lee made some categorical, and quite striking remarks, in the 1978 telephone interview. He's either delusional, thinking of "everyone" and "we" as an extension of himself, and therefore he's a Christ-like figure, or he's simply lying. Those of us who went through the LC mental meat-grinder wouldn't say they're so "free in thinking".

Rather, it all pointed the other way. "You are in the army now", I was told. In Anaheim I heard, "Be a Witness Lee tape recorder". Later came buzz-words like "being restricted". Everything and everyone was "restricted", the exact opposite of "so free". Amazing that WL had the temerity to speak such words, so different from what was said behind closed doors, and even in the "trainings".

For that matter, if everyone's "so free", then why have "trainings", even "Full Time Trainings", i.e., 24/7 indoctrination camps? Rather, listen to the 2 prominent leaders who quit in 1978: "Both cited intense psychological pressure to conform" in views and behaviours. Doesn't that sound a little more like what was experienced in the LC? Witness Lee admittedly was so free, as he stated. Everyone else, not.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

Witness Lee admittedly was so free, as he stated. Everyone else, not.

When he said, "we are so free," he was only referring to himself and his two adult boys.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

When he said, "we are so free," he was only referring to himself and his two adult boys.

Witness Lee could tell the newspaper reporter in Seattle, "Here, we are so free", whilst Ray Graver could go to North Carolina and tell Bill Mallon, "Here, we do what we are told." Both expressed the same singularity, that "truth" could be whatever was needed at any given moment.

Thus women could be "pillars" at one time (Ruth Lee, Peace Wang), and later were to be "silent in the church", because of course Paul said so. Local churches could be autonomous at an early juncture and centralised later under the "Jerusalem principle". The psalmist at one moment was supposedly channeling Christ in his imprecations (defeating Satan), and later this was taken as evidence of fallen human concepts. Instead, we should love our enemies!

In all of it there's one truth, one constant: whatever the Big Boss says, goes. This is a culturally-mediated reality.

Now, the question becomes, "How could so many, to which these were alien, unnatural cultural values, fall so under its thrall?" At one point, I used the word "stunned", as in, "We were stunned out of our reasoning capacity." The charismatic experience of repetitive shouting caused a temporary cessation of thought. "Get out of your mind", we were told. Then followed the intensive "training" sessions, where we intensely focused one one person's speaking, and each tried to re-speak, in turn. Those who mimicked most closely were rewarded with approval, those who strayed from mimicry were viewed as independent.

It's not coincidental that Ray Graver rose to the top of this organisational heap. He knew how to read between the lines. He knew that "reality" was whatever Witness Lee wanted at any given time, even if not stated openly. "He doesn't tell you what he wants", he said.

Thank God for people like Ray, and the elder in Ft. Lauderdale, who'd make the programme plain for us dummies. Otherwise we might never have figured out what had hit us.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

It's not coincidental that Ray Graver rose to the top of this organisational heap. He knew how to read between the lines. He knew that "reality" was whatever Witness Lee wanted at any given time, even if not stated openly. "He doesn't tell you what he wants", he said.

Thank God for people like Ray, and the elder in FT. Lauderdale, who could make the programme plain for us dummies, us mooing cows. Otherwise we might never have figured out what had hit us.

Lee used his many trainings to rebuke the evils of "man-pleasing" as if he was saved from its fleshly effects, yet behind the scenes, he solicited and even rewarded those who revered him. Publicly he taught that he was not an apostle, yet privately he promoted those who exalted him.

This explains why so many fleshly rivalries existed. Lee would play his lieutenants one against the other. He fostered a network of spies, or sleeper cells, which kept all the leaders in check, sowing suspicions to facilitate his controls.

It is no coincidence that both the Exclusive Brethren and the LC's endured serious divisions once their MOTA was gone. As they celebrated their lives at their funerals, lieutenants were already plotting their own take over. Don Rutledge's account informed us that this is where all of Benson Phillips' strengths were put to best use.

[aron]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Lee used his many trainings to rebuke the evils of "man-pleasing" as if he was saved from its fleshly effects, yet behind the scenes, he solicited and even rewarded those who revered him. Publicly he taught that he was not an apostle, yet privately he promoted those who exalted him.

This explains why so many fleshly rivalries existed. Lee would play his lieutenants one against the other. He fostered a network of spies, or sleeper cells, which kept all the leaders in check, sowing suspicions to facilitate his controls.

It is no coincidence that both the Exclusive Brethren and the LC's endured serious divisions once their MOTA was gone. As they celebrated their lives at their funerals, lieutenants were already plotting their own take over. Don Rutledge's account informed us that this is where all of Benson Phillips' strengths were put to best use.

The people who rose in the ranks knew well how the system worked, presumably it was one thing but in actuality quite another. The quote by Don Rutledge in post #17 is invaluable because it shows exactly what dynamic lies behind the scenes, from the mouth of one of the system's prime exploiters. Ministry promulgators like BP, EM, RG could say, "There is no hierarchy" even as they held one inflexibly.

Hey folks -

"Read between the lines", and

"Hear what he really means", and

"He doesn't tell you what he really wants". Get it?

The 5,000 year-old, very human culture that lies behind all this isn't worse than another - "There is none good, not one". All have fallen short of God's glory. But there's no reason on earth to take it. If someone convinces you otherwise, that it marks the path to heaven, then they've stolen your birthright for their own selfish ends. You've given up God's kingdom for theirs.

[awareness]

Originally Posted by aron

the LC mental meat-grinder

Back in 78 it wasn't called that. It was called The Flow. If you were to be a burning brother you were to be totally given to The Flow.

Back then I naively thought The Flow was The Spirit. Until the lead elder of the c. in Ft. Lauderdale came back from Anaheim and told us what The Flow actually really was.

Using Revelation 22 he said something to the effect of : The flow comes out of the throne of God (carrying His authority) as the river of life, to the apostle on the earth, Witness Lee. Then, using Psalms 133, "the ointment upon the head" - Witness Lee - "runs down to the beard" - the elders in each locality, and then to "the skirts of his garments" - us little to-be-Lee-bots.

At least I finally learned what was meant by The Flow. No more 'in the sky' thinking about The Flow. The Flow wasn't a nebulous Spirit thing moving among us, and in our meetings. The Flow was a man ; the apostle on the earth ; the oracle of God on the earth ; and the authority of God on the earth.

And to be a burning brother was to be totally given to That Flow, and under That Authority ; under the authority of Witness Lee, by being under the authority of the elders. That was the real Flow -- none of that silly Spirit flow.

Now, thanks to brother aron, we know what it actually was. It was "the LC mental meat-grinder."

[Cal]

Originally Posted by awareness

Now, thanks to brother aron, we know what it actually was. It was "the LC mental meat-grinder."

I think what is most unsettling about the whole experiences is how easy it is to slant scripture to suggest the authority error which ensnares consciences into submission to men and movements.

Bait-and-switch and equivocation are usually the methods.

This was employed in the idea of "the one Ministry." It's easy to be convinced that Christ only has one ministry. Why would he have two? That's the bait. The switch is, So that one ministry must be one ministry on earth, that is, one man's ministry. That's the switch. The equivocation is the word "ministry" as applied to Christ and the word "ministry" as applied to someone else actually mean different things.

Lee used 2 Cor 4:1 to define the "one ministry" ("we have this ministry"). But 1 Cor 12:5 says there are multiple ministries ("there are different ministries"). The same Greek word for "ministry" (diakonian) is used in both.

Lee did this kind of thing over and over.

I think when it comes to authority you have to believe FIRMLY that only God is the absolute authority, and that if someone or something tries to take that role in your Christian life, you should feel free to part ways with him or it.

Authority is always limited to a finite group. You don't have to fight the authority in a group. Just leave and find another one. God has called us to peace. Of course, the LC violated this principle by claiming God would not allow anyone to leave their group, which plainly is a doctrine of demons, again based on bait-and-switch and equivocation.

[Weighingin]

Originally Posted by awareness

Back in 78 it wasn't called that. It was called The Flow. If you were to be a burning brother you were to be totally given to The Flow.

Back then I naively thought The Flow was The Spirit. Until the lead elder of the c. in Ft. Lauderdale came back from Anaheim and told us what The Flow actually really was.

Using Revelation 22 he said something to the effect of : The flow comes out of the throne of God (carrying His authority) as the river of life, to the apostle on the earth, Witness Lee. Then, using Psalms 133, "the ointment upon the head" - Witness Lee - "runs down to the beard" - the elders in each locality, and then to "the skirts of his garments" - us little to-be-Lee-bots.

At least I finally learned what was meant by The Flow. No more 'in the sky' thinking about The Flow. The Flow wasn't a nebulous Spirit thing moving among us, and in our meetings. The Flow was a man ; the apostle on the earth ; the oracle of God on the earth ; and the authority of God on the earth.

And to be a burning brother was to be totally given to That Flow, and under That Authority ; under the authority of Witness Lee, by being under the authority of the elders. That was the real Flow -- none of that silly Spirit flow.

Now, thanks to brother aron, we know what it actually was. It was "the LC mental meat-grinder."

Those were some days! I recall getting the impression that the flow came down from the throne to WL, from him it flowed to Max, then to leading bros, finally to us lowly ones.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Weighingin

Those were some days! I recall getting the impression that the flow came down from the throne to WL, from him it flowed to Max, then to leading bros, finally to us lowly ones.

Because Max was deputized the "Universal Coordinator of the One New Man!"

[Cal]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Because Max was deputized the "Universal Coordinator of the One New Man!"

Actually he gave himself that name. Sort of like when Michael Irvin started calling himself "Playmaker." Troy Aikman once called him on that in a joint interview. It was hilarious.

[aron]

Originally Posted by awareness

Back in 78 it was... called The Flow. If you were to be a burning brother you were to be totally given to The Flow.

Back then I naively thought The Flow was The Spirit. Until the lead elder of the c. in Ft. Lauderdale came back from Anaheim and told us what The Flow actually really was.

Using Revelation 22 he said something to the effect of : The flow comes out of the throne of God (carrying His authority) as the river of life, to the apostle on the earth, Witness Lee. Then, using Psalms 133, "the ointment upon the head" - Witness Lee - "runs down to the beard" - the elders in each locality, and then to "the skirts of his garments" - us little to-be-Lee-bots...

The lead elder of the c. in Ft. Lauderdale was like RG in Houston, who said, "You have to know what Brother Lee is thinking. You have to be able to read between the lines." Those are the ones who fare well in the LC.

In another quote from the interview, when asked if he was God's oracle, Witness Lee replied, "I am a Bible teacher." Yes, and so was Jim Jones, David Koresh, Marshal Applewhite and Elizabeth Claire Prophet. They all taught the Bible, too: stressing the parts they liked and ignoring the rest. Just bring up the "wrong verses" to an LCer and get ready for the silence and the blank stare. They weren't programmed to receive that verse.

Originally Posted by Don Rutledge

In the church life at that time, Witness Lee was very much in the background among the churches. While we sought the Lord for our daily walk, family life, and function in the Body of Christ, Ray would constantly reference Witness Lee for all matters – personal, local, and extra-local. Ray often told others that they needed to be able to “read between the lines” of what Brother Lee was saying and “hear what he really means” and that “he does not tell you directly what he wants”. Ray was always bringing Witness Lee to the foreground in the church, a trend that only increased with time. Because of his position of leadership, Ray, with his superstitious notions, eventually became a great problem to many. One of Ray’s ambitions was to serve Witness Lee directly, and he believed that one day Witness Lee would relocate to Texas, probably to Houston.

The formula for success in the LC was simple: if you promoted Lee, you got promoted. Your elder in FT. Lauderdale & RG both understood this.

[awareness]

Originally Posted by aron

The lead elder of the c. in Ft. Lauderdale was like RG in Houston, who said, "You have to know what Brother Lee is thinking. You have to be able to read between the lines." Those are the ones who fare well in the LC.

In another quote from the interview, when asked if he was God's oracle, Witness Lee replied, "I am a Bible teacher." Yes, and so was Jim Jones, David Koresh, Marshal Applewhite and Elizabeth Claire Prophet. They all taught the Bible, too: stressing the parts they liked and ignoring the rest. Just bring up the "wrong verses" to an LCer and get ready for the silence and the blank stare. They weren't programmed to receive that verse.

The formula for success in the LC was simple: if you promoted Lee, you got promoted. Your elder in FT. Lauderdale & RG both understood this.

The elder in Ft. Lauderdale had zero Spiritual content, and it was obvious when he'd stand up and ramble on.

But he was a Lee loyalist, and that's the only reason Lee made him lead elder. At the time I would have preferred Ron Kangas, but prolly would have been the same loyalty to Lee, but with at least some spiritual content and maturity ... which was prolly just his Princeton education.