Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Albion · 11-11-2002, 10:43 PM

I hope they don't waste their time coming here. I'm only a couple of cities away from Santa Clara.

Toto · 11-11-2002, 11:46 PM

Bibles for America appears to be a gimmick of the Witness Lee movement (also referred to as the Local Church movement) which other Christians consider to be a cult.

<a href="http://www.ltm.org/info.html" target="_blank">This website</a> appears to be devoted to exposing the cult.

The <a href="http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" target="_blank">Watchman site</a> describes it:

Quote:

Local Church, The, Watchman Nee, Anaheim, CA: Controversial movement begun in China in the early 1920s by Ni To-sheng (Watchman Nee). Growth and controversy developed during the administration of their second leader, the late Witness Lee, who moved to America in 1962 founding Living Stream Ministry. Among issues drawing criticism from evangelical Christians is the Local Church's use of the term �mingling� to describe the relationship between God and believers (i.e., Christians become both divine and human like Jesus). Some evangelicals have also charged that the church compromises the Trinity doctrine by confusing the Persons of the Holy Spirit and the Son in a way similar to modalism. The organization's exclusivity has also comme under fire. According to Lee, each city can and should have only one church. Denominationalism is seen as of the Devil. According to critics, the effect is that Lee-led local churches, usually called by the name of their cities (e.g., the Church in Anaheim or the Church in Chicago), become the only true expressions of the Body of Christ. Thus, according to former members, all other churches or denominations are seen as being outside the will of God or not true churches at all. The Local Church has also gained a reputation for threatening legal action to prevent unfavorable public evaluation of its movement. Even Christian critics have been targeted, adding to the evidence that they do not consider believers outside their movement to be true or obedient Christians (1 Corinthians 6:1�8).

The basis for the charge of being a cult is that they use techniques of "mind control".

freemonkey · 11-12-2002, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto:
<strong>The <a href="http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" target="_blank">Watchman site</a> describes it:</strong>According to critics, the effect is that Lee-led local churches, usually called by the name of their cities (e.g., the Church in Anaheim or the Church in Chicago), become the only true expressions of the Body of Christ. Thus, according to former members, all other churches or denominations are seen as being outside the will of God or not true churches at all.

<strong>The basis for the charge of being a cult is that they use techniques of "mind control".</strong>

<silly sarcasm> And that's what makes them different from all the other true churches. </silly sarcasm>

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11-11-2002, 10:43 PM	#11
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	I hope they don't waste their time coming here. I'm only a couple of cities away from Santa Clara.

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