Publisher's Synopsis
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE ABRIDGED VERSION OF THIS BOOK
The full version includes several sections that may only be of interest to those who were directly involved in the turmoil, or who meet with the churches raised up through Witness Lee. This abridged version omits those sections and focuses on the parts of the book that may be of interest to a wider audience. ________________In 2005 a severe turmoil arose among the churches the Lord raised up in the 20th century through the ministry of Witness Lee. Eventually, this turmoil resulted in the most significant split among these churches to date.
Writings on the Turmoil among the Churches brings together all of all of the author's articles and public letters written in relation to that turmoil. It presents the case that this turmoil was almost entirely the result of efforts by a group of Brother Lee's co-workers, the "Blended Brothers," to take control of all of the ministry among the churches. It is my hope and prayer Writings on the Turmoil among the Churches will be helpful to the saints as they consider the turmoil and the issues it involved. May it serve, in addition, as a witness both to what the churches originally stood for, and against the evil work the Blended Brothers carried out against the churches, including their usurpation of Brother Witness Lee's ministry, to bring them under their authority, thus replacing the headship of Christ among the churches. In so doing, may it help to turn so many of the saints back to the Lord and to His desire. - From the Introduction - As I have reviewed these writings to prepare them for publication in this book, my chief regret concerning them is that I did not speak out sooner, and more forcefully, than I did, in warning the saints as to what was happening to the churches. Once the Blending Brothers released the document, "Publication Work in the Lord's Recovery," early in the summer of 2005, no one could doubt their intention to establish themselves as a hierarchy among us, since in that document they claimed for themselves the right to oversee all publications for use among the churches, and by extension all ministry as well....Looking back now, I feel I was naïve; I simply did not realize just how relentless was the evil working among us, or that these brothers had already fully settled on their intended course.... Although I failed to speak out sufficiently to warn the saints before the division occurred, in the following months and years I did produce a number of writings to that end. One of my prayers, as I make them available now in the form of this book, is that doing so will help the dear saints who are still in the churches affiliated with the Living Stream Ministry to see just how those churches have forsaken their testimony to Christ, and in so doing encourage them to turn back to their original standing. - Contents of the Abridged Version- Preface to This VersionPreface
Introduction 1. The Pattern of New Testament Ministry
2. Cover Letter for "Brief Lessons"
3. Brief Lessons from Church History
4. Response to the "Warning" Statement
12. Eliashib and the Nobles of Judah Appendix A: A Public Statement of the Church in Los Angeles - 1963
Appendix B: The Letters of 1986
Appendix C: Brother Lee's Letter of 1988
Appendix D: The Phoenix Accord of 2003
Appendix E: Response of the Elders in Cleveland to the "Warning" Statement - 2006 Bibliography
