For over 10 years I met with the local church and saints of the Lord's
recovery, and I can confidently say you're spot on. The issue is that it's
a very subtle cult, and one which is rather helpful for 95% of its members.
Heck, I myself used to think people calling the LR a “cult” was
unwarranted, unfitting slander and used to defend it for all of its good
aspects. And again, therein is the issue: for most, it's a solid Christian
body, with God-fearing genuine believers and followers of Christ as its
members. Personally, I was saved and grew my relationship with Jesus through
the LR. I met many saints that I genuinely love, respect, and even look up
to. That is the lasting, positive impact this group will have on 95% of
faithful believers. However, it is undeniably a cult.
5% of believers in the LR may be people who experienced sexual assault or
other issues like spousal abuse that was shrugged under the rug by the
elders, or may be people who stepped away for a little while like myself and
started to think critically about the organizational structure of the LR, and
even some of its practices — like separating brothers and sisters from
sitting together. Most won't experience it in a big way, but the
hierarchical authority of so-called “elders”, coupled with their unknowing
idolizing of Watchmen Nee and Witness Lee, results in what can only be
described as a cult.
Let's put it this way:
Figurehead(s) who have “divine revelation” and who cannot, ever, be wrong
in their teachings / doctrine? Check
(watchmen Nee, witness Lee)
Publication company for said figurehead(s)? Check (Living Stream Ministry)
Congregation is heavily “encouraged” or forced to use only materials
published by said publication? Check (unless you want to lie and say that the
majority of the ministry at home meeting readings and books for the Full Time
Training are NOT Watchmen Nee / Witness Lee / Living Stream Ministry
publications.)
If this isn't starting to sound “cultish” to you, then it's difficult for
me to begin to explain the process of “indoctrination” to you. But, I think
everyone can attest and/or confirm what I’ve posted. Once again, there's a
ton of good from this group of believers, just be aware that they are all
flawed, sinful human beings, as we all are, and oftentimes the most
hypocritical ones are the ones sitting in first row, at the podium, or the
ones praising the loudest. Not always, of course, as I have been fortunate
enough to meet some of the most genuine followers of Christ.
我在地方教會以及主恢復中的聖徒們之中聚會超過十年，可以很有把握地說，你的看法完
全正確。問題在於：這是一個非常**隱微的異端團體（或可說是「微妙的邪教」）**，而
且對其成員中大約95%的人來說，它其實是**有幫助的**。
說真的，我自己過去也認為那些稱主恢復為「異端」或「邪教」的人是在**無理誹謗**，
並且我還曾經為它的許多好的一面**辯護**。但問題正是在這裡：對大多數人而言，這是
一個**穩固的基督徒團體**，其中有許多**敬畏神、真心跟隨基督**的信徒。
就我個人而言，我是在主恢復裡**得救的**，也在其中**與耶穌建立了關係**。我遇到了
許多我真心**愛、尊重、甚至仰慕**的聖徒。這就是這個團體對那95%忠信信徒所留下的
**持久正面影響**。
然而，**不可否認，它的確是一個邪教。**
在主恢復中，大約有 **5% 的信徒** 可能是那些曾經經歷過**性侵害**或其他問題（例
如**配偶虐待**），但這些事卻被**長老們掩蓋或忽視**的人；也可能是像我這樣，**暫
時離開一段時間後開始批判性思考**主恢復的組織結構，甚至質疑其中一些做法——例如
**分開弟兄姊妹就座**這類規條的人。
對大多數人來說，他們可能**不會有明顯的負面經驗**，但所謂「長老」的**階層權威**
，再加上他們對**倪柝聲和李常受**近乎不自覺的**偶像化**，最終導致的現象，只能被
稱作是**一種邪教體制**。
換句話說：
* 有「**領袖人物**」自稱擁有「**神聖啟示**」，而他們在教義或教導上**永遠不會錯
**？]倪柝聲、李常受）
* 有專門為這些人物服務的「**出版機構**」？]水流職事站，Living Stream
Ministry）
* 會眾被**強烈要求**甚至**被迫只使用**該出版機構所出版的材料？]除非有人願意
否認：在家庭聚會或全時間訓練中的大部分教材與讀物**都出自倪柝聲、李常受或水流職
事站出版物**。）
整體而言，這種結構與操作方式，確實符合**典型的宗教控制特徵**。
如果你聽到這些還**不覺得有「邪教味」**，那我可能很難向你解釋所謂**「灌輸」（
indoctrination）**的過程是怎麼運作的。
不過，我想大家都能**見證或證實**我所說的這些情況。
再說一次，這個信徒團體裡**確實有許多美好的地方**，但也要謹記，他們**全都是有缺
陷、有罪性的人**——就像我們每一個人一樣。
而且往往，**最偽善的人**就是那些**坐在第一排、站在講台上、或喊得最大聲讚美的人
**。
當然，也**不是全部如此**，因為我很幸運地遇見過一些**最真誠、最愛主的基督徒**。