Whistleblower

[awareness]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

these whistle blowers were labeled as traders, "negative" "rebellious" "touching God's anointed"
-

When I stated that Lee brought Nee's ministry to America, and Lee's sons brought Nee's sexual improprieties to America, I failed to mention that Lee also brought his bag of tricks in covering up such improprieties. Given Nee's improprieties back in Shanghai, this was old hat to Lee. He knew exactly what to do, and what to say. He had pulled off this scam before, and saw it work.

Some might consider: “By telling the truth, the children of God will stumble, God would not be glorified, and the current Local Churches will also be suffered.” Even some might condemn those who intend to expose the true history of Nee. During the family chaos after Nee’s wedding, Witness Lee said: “By the Lord’s mercy, Sister Wang and I decided to know nothing, do nothing, and say nothing concerning this problem.”(22)
~Hsu M.D, Lily M.; Roberts M.A M.T.S, Dana. My Unforgettable Memories:Watchman Nee and Shanghai Local Church (Kindle Locations 4397-4400). Xulon Press. Kindle Edition.

In Shanghai Nee was looked up to as God's anointed.

Okay, given that Nee started the local church movement in China, this notion of "don't touch God's anointed" made some sense, even if covering up for Nee's sexual sins and adultery, by using Old Testament history, was reprehensible. However, it made no sense when applied to Philip. Philip, in no way shape or form, could be considered God's anointed

Still, Lee reached into that old grab bag, that he used and brought from Shanghai, and whipped out "don't touch God's anointed."

Lee's sons brought Nee's sexual ways to America, Lee brought his ministry, and Lee also brought the way to excuse and cover up such illicit matters. He had seen it before, done it before, having applied it to Nee, back in Shanghai.

Maybe it was old and shopworn, but it worked when applied to Nee, back in the day, and I'll be darn, it worked when applied to Philip too.

I'm sorry, but this makes Lee look like a shyster. And Nee too.

[Nell]

The Shameful Behavior Continues

Poster “Hope” has revealed his own name: Don Rutledge. I believe this is common knowledge now.

The posts below do not make it clear, but there were two instances of sexual immorality discussed below. Don Rutledge (Hope) revealed the first instance when Ben McPherson confessed to Ray Graver. I don’t have an exact date for the conversation among the 5 elders below, but it can be traced back to the approximate time that Ben moved to Tyler, which we also don’t have an exact date for. If someone has this date (Don?) please post it.

The second instance occurred quite a few years later, and was discovered in 1991. If not for Witness Lee, Benson and Ray, the sisters in Irving, Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth would have at least known that there was a sexual predator among them. Instead, they never knew...until the unthinkable happened. How many sisters today know that there are sexual predators among them in the Local Churches????

…and the history of sexual sin and sexual abuse in the Local Churches continues.


The Public Square (http://www.thebereans.net/forum2/index.php)
- Nee, Lee & the Church of Recovery
(http://www.thebereans.net/forum2/forumdisplay.php?f=342)
- - Texas History (http://www.thebereans.net/forum2/showthread.php?t=39906)

SECOND IMMORAL CASE (EMPHASIS BY NELL TO CLARIFY)
Ben McPherson had an affair with the wife of a brother he had served with in the Local Church in Houston, and then divorced his wife. When the affair was found out, she divorced her husband.

Ben is now married to his brother's former wife. She was my friend, my sister in the Lord, and a spiritual mother to me for years. Some of us tried to help rescue her, but we all failed.

We begged Benson Phillips to try and help rescue these two marriages too. Benson was close to all the parties involved and was responsible for a serious problem which only he could clear up. He was too busy. He had to fly off to spread the church life to Russia. KSA can tell you how well that went.

Ben's children and his brother's children all grew up together in Houston.

Nell

Nell 10-29-07 09:38
________________________________________
Quote Thankful: post #102

If anyone "in-the-know" in Texas had spoken out "negatively" about Ben M.'s condition many years ago when it was discovered, what happened to the brother who lost his wife might have been avoided.

Whoever knew and didn't tell bears a measure of responsibility in that situation since Ben M. was an elder and should have been publicly corrected. Ben M. might have even been helped. Instead, it looks like he was "protected" at his own expense and at the expense of the uninformed sheep.

No Christian likes to hear these kind of things about a fellow believer. But then again, neither does anyone like to hear a doctor say they have cancer.

If a doctor isn't willing to speak "negatively" when cancer is found, he plays a part in the outcome.

Thankful

Nell 10-29-07 09:42
________________________________________
Hope: #103

Regarding Ben McPhersons immorality, this is the report from a first hand witness: Ray Graver was the first to know. He contacted Benson Phillips who called for an urgent gathering at his home with Ray, Joe Davis of Houston, Don Looper of Austin and Don Rutledge of Dallas. This occurred the morning after Ben was found out. All the brothers there were furious. Don Rutledge angrily declared that they had all been betrayed. All agreed that Ben should be publicly excommunicated and publicly rebuked that all may fear. All agreed that the Lord could not bless the church in Irving due to Ben’s sin. Ben had confessed to Ray that this sin was not a one time thing but had been going on for some time including when he was in Arlington. Ben also admitted that he knew the Church in Arlington had lagged the other Dallas area churches in blessing due to his sin. At that time, none of these brothers would sympathize with any immorality and especially from an elder or co-worker.

While they were meeting, Witness Lee returned Bensons urgent message. After about a 30 minute conversation, Benson returned to the room where the brothers were waiting, still in a state of shock and outrage. Witness Lee urged them to consider Bens family and the harm to them if he was publicly exposed. He urged them not to publicly excommunicate him but simply ask him to move away. That is what Ray and Benson decided to do. The other three had big reservations but deferred to the Irving brothers to take care of the matter.

But then the lying started. Many people began to call wanting to know what happened to Ben. Since Witness Lee, Benson and Ray had decided to keep the real situation under wraps, what where these brothers to say. Looper and Rutledge would say that something must have happened in Irving and they did not know for sure – A LIE. Benson and Ray told various stories, Ben wanted to get away etc and not to worry since he was in fellowship.

Witness Lee urged Benson and Ray to spend time with Ben and seek to recover him, but they were too disgusted to seek to contact him.

Yes the worldly wisdom from Witness Lee and the unfaithfulness of the five brothers led to more tragedy. All five have an account to give at the judgment seat.

Hope

In Christ Jesus there is hope for us all.

[Ohio]

Once again scripture was discarded in favor of the MOTA.

How many times were brothers led by the Lord in a definite direction only to get a call from HQ's that changed everything?

Yet we called this "fellowship." And we declared ourselves a "local" church, governed by local elders.

No more need to pray and seek the Lord ... had not God spoken?

Yet ... this new way from HQ's never was blessed by the Lord. And no one dared to bring that up.

[Nell]

This is what happened when the family of the abuser was protected. What has always amazed me is that these elders KNEW scripturally what they should do, but were directly influenced by Witness Lee's personal intervention via BP.

Post #27 below.

The Shameful Behavior Continues

Poster “Hope” has revealed his own name: Don Rutledge. I believe this is common knowledge now.

The posts below do not make it clear, but there were two instances of sexual immorality discussed below. Don Rutledge (Hope) revealed the first instance when Ben McPherson confessed to Ray Graver. I don’t have an exact date for the conversation among the 5 elders below, but it can be traced back to the approximate time that Ben moved to Tyler, which we also don’t have an exact date for. If someone has this date (Don?) please post it.

The second instance occurred quite a few years later, and was discovered in 1991. If not for Witness Lee, Benson and Ray, the sisters in Irving, Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth would have at least known that there was a sexual predator among them. Instead, they never knew...until the unthinkable happened. How many sisters today know that there are sexual predators among them in the Local Churches????

…and the history of sexual sin and sexual abuse in the Local Churches continues.


The Public Square (http://www.thebereans.net/forum2/index.php)
- Nee, Lee & the Church of Recovery


SECOND IMMORAL CASE (EMPHASIS BY NELL TO CLARIFY)
Ben McPherson had an affair with the wife of a brother he had served with in the Local Church in Houston, and then divorced his wife. When the affair was found out, she divorced her husband.

Ben is now married to his brother's former wife. She was my friend, my sister in the Lord, and a spiritual mother to me for years. Some of us tried to help rescue her, but we all failed.

We begged Benson Phillips to try and help rescue these two marriages too. Benson was close to all the parties involved and was responsible for a serious problem which only he could clear up. He was too busy. He had to fly off to spread the church life to Russia. KSA can tell you how well that went.

Ben's children and his brother's children all grew up together in Houston.

Nell 10-29-07 09:38
________________________________________
Quote Thankful: post #102

If anyone "in-the-know" in Texas had spoken out "negatively" about Ben M.'s condition many years ago when it was discovered, what happened to the brother who lost his wife might have been avoided.

Whoever knew and didn't tell bears a measure of responsibility in that situation since Ben M. was an elder and should have been publicly corrected. Ben M. might have even been helped. Instead, it looks like he was "protected" at his own expense and at the expense of the uninformed sheep.

No Christian likes to hear these kind of things about a fellow believer. But then again, neither does anyone like to hear a doctor say they have cancer.

If a doctor isn't willing to speak "negatively" when cancer is found, he plays a part in the outcome.

Thankful

Nell 10-29-07 09:42
________________________________________
Hope: #103

Regarding Ben McPhersons immorality, this is the report from a first hand witness: Ray Graver was the first to know. He contacted Benson Phillips who called for an urgent gathering at his home with Ray, Joe Davis of Houston, Don Looper of Austin and Don Rutledge of Dallas. This occurred the morning after Ben was found out. All the brothers there were furious. Don Rutledge angrily declared that they had all been betrayed. All agreed that Ben should be publicly excommunicated and publicly rebuked that all may fear. All agreed that the Lord could not bless the church in Irving due to Ben’s sin. Ben had confessed to Ray that this sin was not a one time thing but had been going on for some time including when he was in Arlington. Ben also admitted that he knew the Church in Arlington had lagged the other Dallas area churches in blessing due to his sin. At that time, none of these brothers would sympathize with any immorality and especially from an elder or co-worker.

While they were meeting, Witness Lee returned Bensons urgent message. After about a 30 minute conversation, Benson returned to the room where the brothers were waiting, still in a state of shock and outrage. Witness Lee urged them to consider Bens family and the harm to them if he was publicly exposed. He urged them not to publicly excommunicate him but simply ask him to move away. That is what Ray and Benson decided to do. The other three had big reservations but deferred to the Irving brothers to take care of the matter.

But then the lying started. Many people began to call wanting to know what happened to Ben. Since Witness Lee, Benson and Ray had decided to keep the real situation under wraps, what where these brothers to say. Looper and Rutledge would say that something must have happened in Irving and they did not know for sure – A LIE. Benson and Ray told various stories, Ben wanted to get away etc and not to worry since he was in fellowship.

Witness Lee urged Benson and Ray to spend time with Ben and seek to recover him, but they were too disgusted to seek to contact him.

Yes the worldly wisdom from Witness Lee and the unfaithfulness of the five brothers led to more tragedy. All five have an account to give at the judgment seat.

Hope

In Christ Jesus there is hope for us all.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by Nell

This is what happened when the family of the abuser was protected. What has always amazed me is that these elders KNEW scripturally what they should do, but were directly influenced by Witness Lee's personal intervention via BP.

Nell, I'm afraid we are going to need some more detail here. I wasn't aware that Ben M. was an "abuser." I thought his issue and that of the elder's wife he had an affair with (I know who she is because I was in Austin) was one of mutual consent. Not good, but not necessarily abuse. Can you clarify please? Thanks.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Nell, I'm afraid we are going to need some more detail here. I wasn't aware that Ben M. was an "abuser." I thought his issue and that of the elder's wife he had an affair with (I know who she is because I was in Austin) was one of mutual consent. Not good, but not necessarily abuse. Can you clarify please? Thanks.

When someone in a powerful position has an affair with a subordinate staff member, a church member, or an employee, it can be both consensual and abusive.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by Ohio

When someone in a powerful position has an affair with a subordinate staff member, a church member, or an employee, it can be both consensual and abusive.

Ok, I can see that.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Nell, I'm afraid we are going to need some more detail here. I wasn't aware that Ben M. was an "abuser." I thought his issue and that of the elder's wife he had an affair with (I know who she is because I was in Austin) was one of mutual consent. Not good, but not necessarily abuse. Can you clarify please? Thanks.

It’s in the post. Read the red section by Don Rutledge marked 103. This happened 15-20 years before Ben seduced his brother’s wife as you refer to.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by awareness

Witness Lee said: “By the Lord’s mercy, Sister Wang and I decided to know nothing, do nothing, and say nothing concerning this problem.”(22)[/B]
~Hsu M.D, Lily M.; Roberts M.A M.T.S, Dana. My Unforgettable Memories:Watchman Nee and Shanghai Local Church (Kindle Locations 4397-4400). Xulon Press. Kindle Edition. [/COLOR]

My goodness! Never read the book, but it is telling. If you don't learn from history, you're bound to repeat it.
Fast forward 40+ years to late 1980s Anaheim and you wonder why the Church in Anaheim was in a riotous atmosphere?
Saints were looking to the elders to do the just thing. The elders were looking to Witness Lee to do the right thing. All the while he "knew nothing, did nothing, and said nothing concerning this problem”.

[Freedom]

What is perhaps the most disturbing of it all was the fact that Lee was in a position of power and trust, and he continually abused it. He disregarded concerns that were brought to his attention, because it benefited him to do so. He ignored Nee's escapade, saying that he wanted to know nothing about it. He protected his own sons, despite the outrage at what they had done. In another case, he just had the elders tell a brother to move away instead of actually dealing with the situation.

[Nell]

The horror in this post was removed by Happiernow after only a few minutes. She revealed so much that she, at once, thought better of it, and I totally understand. I read all of it and was shocked. It was the worst case of spiritual abuse by a man/predator in the Local Church that I have ever seen.

The replacement post she left in tact asks a question. A few more have responded with their own experiences by Local Church predators who abuse women.

http://localchurchdiscussions.com/vB...18&postcount=1

Originally Posted by happiernow

The church allows sexual predators to flourish. I have experienced this first hand. Does anyone else have experience with this?

Originally Posted by Nell

Happiernow,
Your story breaks my heart. I'm so sorry. It's amazing that you have chosen "happiernow" as your moniker. I believe that during the horror you've experienced in your young life, that God was weeping with you and his heart is surely broken also. The things you described are not of Him, but clearly from his enemy, the Devil.

No one can hurt you as much as your family. That includes your earthly family as well as your Christian brothers and sisters. There are many stories of abuse by Local Church "authorities" who lord it over God's children.

Please don't give up on Him. How can I help you?

Nell

Nell

[Nell]

Here's another story from a young woman who says "It is quite liberating to be out of the LC and live like a normal person again.".

The full post is here:
http://localchurchdiscussions.com/vB...96&postcount=1

Originally Posted by QOTSA

Hi everyone!
Long time lurker, first time poster.

Long story short, I was involved in LC in the Midwest for a good 4 years. I was gained on campus when I was a freshman. Was very active on campus. Been to all training and conferences I could afford to go to. Loved spending time with the saints. Dropped out of all other extracurriculars by the end of those 4 years. Lost almost all other contacts as well.

...
Been in behavioral therapy for two years and I can't praise it enough. Therapy saved my life. It rebuilt me as a person from thought processes to actions. I was so damaged and biased and narrow minded I would literally gasp reading some of my old journals from LC years. I didn't sound like a real person; everything on those pages sounded very manufactured and... fake. I was so lost that I didn't feel safe to be honest with myself even, what a tragedy.
Going back to the title. I am a proud feminist and am really into social justice because of my LC years.
...
... I can't think of any other social groups I've been in contact with that exhibit the same level of sexism and oppression. It is unbelievable. ...

It is quite liberating to be out of the LC and live like a normal person again.

Nell

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by Nell

Here's another story from a young woman who says "It is quite liberating to be out of the LC and live like a normal person again.".

Her apparent support for the lqgbtqy makes me suspicious. Then again that and feminism go hand in hand dont they? Feminism is about getting rid of men and lesbianism is about filling the void.

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Her apparent support for the lqgbtqy makes me suspicious. Then again that and feminism go hand in hand dont they? Feminism is about getting rid of men and lesbianism is about filling the void.

Women being sexually abused in the Local Church for decades and it being covered up by Née, Lee and the current leadership makes me suspicious.

Don't blame the victim for the damage done to them.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Her apparent support for the lqgbtqy makes me suspicious. Then again that and feminism go hand in hand dont they? Feminism is about getting rid of men and lesbianism is about filling the void.

Does the LC leadership take any responsibility for many young people who leave their faith and have negative attitudes towards men after being victimized?

What do you think "stumbling the least of these" looks like, Evangelical?