Reconsideration of the Vision

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Indiana

The Father is number one, the Son is number two, the Spirit is number three, and Witness Lee is number four; and then there are those who are with Witness Lee. A brother asked, “And who is number five?” The trainer replied, “It is not yet quite clear who number five is”, but pointing out “You brothers do not have access to Brother Lee. I and another trainer do. We can walk into Brother Lee’s apartment any time and have breakfast with him. The way to know what Brother Lee wants us to do is to be in contact with those who have access to him. They will tell you what he wants you to do.” The hosting brother asked, “Isn’t this a hierarchy?” The trainer replied, “No!” The brother asked, “How then does this differ from what we’ve been condemning?” The trainer answered, “If the elders in a local church would practice in this way to carry out their burden, it would be a hierarchy; but if this is practiced to carry out the ministry’s burden, it is not a hierarchy”.

This sentence caught my attention.

“If the elders in a local church would practice in this way to carry out their burden, it would be a hierarchy; but if this is practiced to carry out the ministry’s burden, it is not a hierarchy”.

How can this be? Was the trainer expressing his own views or views shared by other trainers? For the trainer to say it is not hierarchy, is he also saying when it comes to the ministry’s burden there is a unrestrained license to do things?

The quote is appropriate for the current time as it was for that time in 1986 One can make points there is intentional and unintentional hierarchy in the local churches. Intentional meaning localities need to line up with the ministry by taking one publication. Unintentional hierarchy meaning certain brothers are respected so highly they become untouchable.

Terry