一位在美国地方召会圣徒真实的心声
送交者: Nicodemus 2005年3月14日16:42:39 于 [彩虹之约]http://www.bbsland.com

一位在美国地方召会圣徒真实的心声 (see attached for the English Original)
译文如下：
　　我在地方召会聚会。我一点儿也不认为地方召会是「邪教」；但是，我认为她们（我们－指地方召会）的光景，就是当一个基督徒团体把自己看得太重之时，所会发生之光景的典型。
　　在地方召会中，特别是我认识的一些圣徒，都是非常亲切、宝贝的圣徒，他们都非常爱主。他们也爱主的话（不是只有恢复本圣经）。然而，也有一些人很重视人工的方式，并且坚持「非圣经」的作法，如「与职事是一」。这种作法确实产生一个压迫人的气氛。不过，先不论（一些领头者）尝试去达到合一这件事，我们必须知道，各地地方召会的景况和观点是大异其趣的。
　　很多圣徒确实被目前的光景所扰搅，他们也知道，（主的恢复）有一些事物是不健康的。同时，在他们个人的基督徒生活中，他们追求在日常生活中去跟随主。并不是所有在地方召会中的圣徒，都赞成这种专注在一个（主的）仆人身上，而牺牲了对基督之专注的教训与实行。
　　但是，我必须承认，我确实认为李常受弟兄是主一个真实的仆人。我不认为他是不会错的。我认为他确实犯了一些错误。但是，我也相信他的职事，从过去（而且还会持续下去）就有极高的价值；并且，我个人也从他的职事获益。说实在的，我认识一些从未和地方召会一同聚会的基督徒，他们确实从李受弟兄的著作得帮助，如同他们从倪柝声弟兄的著作得帮助一样。
　　我加入这个讨论区的原因，是因为我观察到这里呈现了两种立场，而我认为真理应当是在中间的某处。我认为地方召会，或说李常受弟兄，并不当受这里某些言论的鄙视。（我不是要『丑化』（mischaracterize）任何人，如果我说得太过，请不用挂心的改正我。）但是，我也不认为，评论的人是在作「假的控告」。在这里之地方召会的信徒，知道他们在谈论什么。并且，我参与这些谈论，首先，是希望那些认为地方召会不过是个邪教（cult）的人（译者注：括号未翻译的话请参英文原文，或看看有谁可以把它翻得更清楚），能够知道事情比（用邪教一词去描绘）还多得多（我想，应当是指不能只是把地方召会说成邪教）；第二，是希望那些把这些评论贴上「谎言」和「控诉」而没有真正引述其内容的人，或是那些缺少个人评述，而仅仅大量引用水流职事站之书籍的人，能够学习，他们若肯（细心）听这些批判，就可以从中学到一些东西。
　　完全无庸置疑的，李常受弟兄确实被称为「时代性的职事」、「神的出口」或是其它头衔。他似乎也为此背书。而这是不可原谅的。基督是我们的目标、我们的生命、我们的爱、我们的中心和我们的一切。没有任何人可以取代祂的地位。
　　但是，这也不是李常受弟兄的全部。我在训练和特会中见过他很多次，他身上确实是有谦卑、温和、恒忍和其它基督徒真实的美德。我不是说说而已。我也不是要替他辩护。有些人在本讨论区中说，李常受弟兄没有得救。我依据我基督徒的良心说，这不是真的。他是一个弟兄，也是主的一个仆人。我知道在这里有些人把他看成异端（heretic），或许（虽然我不是学者）这个可再深入讨论。但是，圣经中有太多的真理，是我已过所不明白的；许多基督徒生活的经历，是我从前所没有摸着的；直到我听到李常受弟兄的讲论，或说直到我读了他的出版（我才明白更多圣经，并经历到更多基督徒的经历）。我不认为我被骗了。我认为，我得到生命的传输，就如我从地方召会之外许多的执事得到生命的传输一样。
　　地方召会信徒所挣扎的，就在于发现到这么一个为主忠信并亲爱的仆人，竟然有如此基本性的错误，特别是在神借着独一的职事，只有一个独一的行动，和类似的事情上。如同本讨论区某些讨论一样，李常受弟兄在晚年，公开为了错待其它基督徒而悔改；也为了所带进众召会当中之骄傲的灵而悔改。那个悔改是真实的。可惜，他所兴起的后继者，并没有跟随（李弟兄的悔改）。
　　已过在地方召会中聚会的信徒，有一些人经常参与本站。我不认为你们是「消极」或「背叛」，或是其它类似之无聊的说法。我完全相信，你们正（或最少说你们可以）在地方召会之外跟随主。并且，你们许多的反应都是正确的。
　　但是我能证实：得帮助来爱主耶稣，同时享受李弟兄的著作以及许多「非恢复」的著作，不带任何轻视的与非地方召会的基督徒交通，充分领略主的同在与祝福，与留在地方召会之中是不相冲突的。（译者注：意即，你能同时作这些事，也能同时留在地方召会中）换句话说，在最低限度，我和任何不用自己的思考，而只是拥有肤浅、引用李氏的、洗脑式之意识型态（来与人交通）的信徒，就无法相合。坦白说，我很少遇到这样的人（但是，是的，确实有些人是如上所描述的）。
　　我在这个讨论区中，读到有些人在地方召会中，由于受到错误之教训和实行的影响，加上缺少基督徒的爱，婚姻因而遭受破坏与摧毁。我为这个感到难过。我很惊讶，这种事竟在我们中间发生，因为，宗教的狂热是很可怕的事，而有时候，我们竟会推广这个。
　　但是，我可以说，自己的婚姻，在地方召会中得到帮助。我也知道许多已婚者诚实的见证，他们的婚姻在破裂边缘，是因来到地方召会聚会才得恢复。我不是杜撰的。在地方召会中，曾有许多（现今还是）人的家庭得到帮助，包括我自己的。
　　总结来说（避免漫谈得太长），在地方召会中有许多爱主耶稣的人，他们为着如何往前有许多祷告。主并未引导他们离开。反之，主把他们留在这里，他们在里面寻求主。或许，有些在此讨论的人，会把这些人看作被误导，或是无法脱离他们所依靠的。我却不认为如此。我认为，主确实在地方召会中，许多亲爱的圣徒心里作工；主没有叫他们离开，但是，却叫他们在这些危难的光景中跟随祂。而这才是一个真实的「恢复」。
　　地方召会的圣徒所努力的目标－主在约翰福音十七章所说之一的彰显，乃是真实的。或许，强调「地方立场」只是某一种方法，而不是实行上要维持一的独一方法。无可置疑的，以为只有在这个道路中聚会的基督徒，才是主今时代行动之一部分的想法，乃是不恰当的。但是，那些认为一的实际彰显能讨主的喜悦，并付上代价去追求这一的人，也是为了要讨主的喜悦；因此，定罪他们也是不恰当的。某些实行会带进滥权与独特（如闭关弟兄会）是不可否认的；这是必须拒绝的。但是，渴慕并盼望神能得着一群人，以起初的爱爱祂，专属于祂，远离传统宗教系统的光景，则是可鉴赏的。并且，我在地方召会之中，看到了这个。

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一位在美国地方召会圣徒真实的心声

I meet with the local churches. I don't at all consider them a 'cult,' but I do think they (we) are an example of what can happen if a Christian group takes itself too seriously.
There are many people in the local churches, certainly the ones I know, who are very dear, precious believers, and who love the Lord very much. They also love the Word (and not just the Recovery Version). But there are others who have a heavyhanded approach and insist on non-Biblical matters like being 'one with the ministry.' And that can indeed produce an atmosphere of oppressiveness. However, it should be understood that even among the local churches (and despite attempts to create uni????ity), there are varying conditions and perspectives.
Many saints are sincerely troubled by the present situation, and know something is unhealthy. At the same time, in their own Christian lives, they are endeavoring to follow the Lord in their daily walk. Not everyone in the local churches agrees with the teachings and practices that focus on one servant at the expense of focusing on Christ.
But I should admit, I do think Witness Lee was a genuine servant of the Lord. I don't think he was infallible. I think he made real mistakes. But I also believe his ministry had (and continues to have) tremendous value, and I have benefitted from it. Indeed, I know Christians who never met with the local churches who still were helped by his writings, as they were helped by Watchman Nee.
The reason I decided to enter into the discussion on this forum is because to my observation there are two sides depicted here, and I honestly think the truth is somewhere in the middle. I don't think the local churches, or Witness Lee, are as deserving of contempt as some here seem to think. (I don't mean to mischaracterize anyone, so if that's going too far feel free to correct me.) But I also don't think the people who are making those comments are 'false accusers.' The people here who have met with the local churches know what they are talking about. And I guess I would just like to enter into these conversations, first, so that people who think the local church is simply a cult, to be rejected hook, line and sinker, can learn that there's much more to it than that; and second, so that people in the local church who respond to criticisms by labeling them as 'lies' and 'accusations' without really addressing them, or who simply paste huge quotes from LSM books without personal commentary, can learn that they have something to gain from listening to those who are critical.
It is absolutely indisputable that Witness Lee has been called 'the minister of the age,' 'the oracle of God,' and other titles. He seemed to endorse this. And that's inexcusable. Christ is our goal, our life, our love, our center, and our everything. No man should ever take His place.
But that's not all there was to Witness Lee. I saw him in trainings and conferences many times, and there was also humility, meekness, longsuffering, and genuine Christian virtue with him. I'm not just saying that. I'm not trying to vindicate him. Someone on this forum said that brother Lee was not saved. I can only say with my Christian conscience, that's not true. He was a brother, and a servant of the Lord. I realize some here consider him a heretic, and maybe (though I'm no scholar) that can be addressed. But there are too many truths in the Bible that I never understood, and too many experiences of the Christian life that I never touched, until I heard this man speak, or until I read his publications. I don't think that means I'm deceived. I think that means I was given life, just as I have been given life by ministers outside of the local churches.
What many believers in the local churches are wrestling with is the recognition that a very faithful and dear servant of the Lord could also be fundamentally wrong, especially in this matter of God having one unique move, through one unique ministry, etc. As has been referred to somewhere in this forum, at the end of his life, Witness Lee publicly repented for mistreating other Christians, and for the spirit of arrogance and pride that had come into the churches. That repentance was genuine. Unfortunately, for the most part it has not been followed by the brothers he raised up to take the lead.
There are several consistent participants here who were past members of the local churches. I don't consider you 'negative,' or 'in rebellion,' or any other such nonsense. I fully believe you are (or at least can be) following the Lord outside of the local churches. And a lot of what you react to is accurate.
But I can attest that it is possible to stay in the local churches, be helped to love the Lord Jesus, enjoy brother Lee's writings and simultaneously enjoy numerous other 'non-recovery' writings, fellowship with believers who do not meet with the local churches without any sense of disdain, and be fully aware of the Lord's presence and blessing. In other words, at the very least, I don't fit anyone's stereotype of a shallow, Lee-quoting, brainwashed member who can't use his mind. Frankly, I know very few people like that (but yes, there are people like that).
I've read elsewhere on this forum that marriages have been damaged or destroyed because of improper teachings and practices, and a lack of Christian love, in the local churches. I am so sorry for that. I am not surprised that such things happen among us, because religious zealotry is a terrible thing, and sometimes we promote that.
But I can also say that my own marriage has been helped by being in the local churches. And I know many married couples who have honestly testified that they were on the verge of divorce, until they started meeting in the local churches. I'm not making that up. There have been families who were, and are, helped by being in the local churches, including my own.
And to sum it up before rambling too long, there are many people in the local churches who love the Lord Jesus, and who are very much in prayer concerning how to proceed. The Lord has not led them out. Instead, He has kept them here, and they are seeking Him within. Maybe some here in this forum will interpret this to mean that these people are still being misled, or are unable to break away from their dependence. I don't think so. I think the Lord is working in the hearts of many dear saints in the local churches, and the Lord is not telling them to leave, but telling them to follow Him in the midst of a troubling situation. And that truly is a 'recovery.'
What Christians in the local churches are fighting for is real: an expression of oneness, that the Lord spoke of in John 17. Maybe emphasizing the 'ground of locality' is simply one way, and not the only way, of practically maintaining that oneness. And it is no doubt improper to presume that only Christians who meet this way are part of the Lord's present move. But it is equally improper to condemn these Christians who are trying to please the Lord and who believe that a practical expression of oneness is pleasing to Him, and is worth paying a price for. The fact that it can lead to abuses and peculiarities (i.e. the Exclusive Brethren) is something that can't be denied, and this must be resisted. But the desire and hope that God would gain a group of people who love Him first and belong to Him alone, apart from traditional religious systems, that's something to be appreciated. And I see that here, in the local churches.