Deputy Authority and the Ground of Oneness

aron · 12-05-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana

Former leader's email - 2001

Everything I learned about LC authority, rank and file, how dissenters were dealt with, taught me this: no one admits to wrongdoing. Their “truth system” in the LC does not allow any ground or room for making mistakes or being wrong. How can they admit to mistakes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFP

Now, however, mother Nee was saved.... she was deeply convicted by the Spirit of God that she must make an open confession to her son before she could worship publicly. To the utter surprise of the entire family she suddenly stood up, walked over to her son, wrapped her arms around Watchman, and cried out, “For the sake of the Lord Jesus, please forgive me for beating you unjustly and in anger.” This touched Watchman deeply. Never had he heard of a Chinese parent accepting such loss of face. (The Finest of the Wheat, CFP, p. 15)

In 35 years of public ministry in the U.S., did anyone see Witness Lee accept such loss of face? If not, then what assurance is there that he was even a Christian? Or at least that he was a mature and transformed Christian, versus a "shallow" or "natural" or "soulish" one? In other words, how much (if at all) had he freed himself from his native Chinese culture?

TLFisher · 12-09-2015, 12:03 PM

"There has been to some extent an atmosphere of fear brought in among the saints and among the churches, bringing the conscience of the saints into bondage. I believe this has been done by an over-stressing and distortion of the teaching concerning deputy authority. This has brought the saints into a condition where they are fearful to follow their conscience, to be one with their spirit, and sometimes to speak their genuine concerns."
Speaking the Truth in Love

Concerning the teaching of Deputy Authority, there is a distortion. Maybe even a twisted practice on deputy authority. The emphasis is on absolute submission. All the while the practice of deputy authority is treated irrelevant. It doesn't matter if the practice of deputy authority results in abuse. All that is considered important is the brother and sister submits.
When a brother won't allow deacons, elders, co-workers to run roughshod over him, the brother is characterized as troublesome, rebellious, etc.

In the teaching of Deputy Authority, Moses is often viewed as a Biblical model. What about the Kings and prophets?
Following is an excerpt from Nehemiah 5:6-13

"Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise."

My point, those who support the teaching of deputy authority as infallible without checks and balances don't want contention from a type of Nehemiah. Such a one becomes subject to quarantine.

12-09-2015, 12:03 PM	#2
TLFisher Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, Washington Posts: 3,562	DISTORTION OF THE TEACHING CONCERING DEPUTY AUTHORITY "There has been to some extent an atmosphere of fear brought in among the saints and among the churches, bringing the conscience of the saints into bondage. I believe this has been done by an over-stressing and distortion of the teaching concerning deputy authority. This has brought the saints into a condition where they are fearful to follow their conscience, to be one with their spirit, and sometimes to speak their genuine concerns." Speaking the Truth in Love Concerning the teaching of Deputy Authority, there is a distortion. Maybe even a twisted practice on deputy authority. The emphasis is on absolute submission. All the while the practice of deputy authority is treated irrelevant. It doesn't matter if the practice of deputy authority results in abuse. All that is considered important is the brother and sister submits. When a brother won't allow deacons, elders, co-workers to run roughshod over him, the brother is characterized as troublesome, rebellious, etc. In the teaching of Deputy Authority, Moses is often viewed as a Biblical model. What about the Kings and prophets? Following is an excerpt from Nehemiah 5:6-13 "Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, “We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? And likewise I, my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us leave off this usury. Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them.” Then they said, “We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say.” So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “Thus may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill this promise; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise." My point, those who support the teaching of deputy authority as infallible without checks and balances don't want contention from a type of Nehemiah. Such a one becomes subject to quarantine.