All Posts in Category "Responses"

This page includes articles written to explain the criticisms of Christianity found in the teachings of Witness Lee and the local churches.

May 12, 2017 Bible Answer Man, Catholicism, Christianity, creeds

An index to the articles written in response to Walter Martin’s public criticisms of the teaching of Witness Lee and the local churches.

October 13, 2015 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

An index to responses written by members of the local churches to criticisms of the churches and of the ministry of Witness Lee.

June 13, 2014 church ground, deification, denominations, division, index, lawsuits, litigation, mingling, Norman Geisler, oneness of the believers, Open Letter, response, Ron Rhodes, scholars, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

An HTML version of Robert Govett’s classic study on The Twofoldness of Divine Truth, showing that biblical truth often has two sides which are not contradictory but complementary.

June 13, 2014 Arminianism, Calvinism, Robert Govett, Twofoldness of Divine Truth

A series of articles addressing various deviations from biblical truth and false and hypocritical statements in an article posted on the Internet by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. That article attacked the “We Were Wrong” issue of the Christian Research Journal and defended a 2007 open letter.

June 12, 2014 Christian Research Institute, Christian Research Journal, CRI, Elliot Miller, Hank Hanegraaff, index, Open Letter

The articles on this site responding to criticisms of the local churches and the ministry of Witness Lee are centered around three primary issues—the Trinity, God’s complete salvation, and the practical expression of the church. The first round of responses were published in the 1970s in response to the criticisms of inexperienced apologists who had a limited understanding of biblical truth and even less of the ministry of Witness Lee. After an interim in which many additional resources presenting Witness Lee’s teachings were published, beginning from 1999 Harvest House Publishers and others associated with that company raised the same issues again, essentially repeating those earlier accusations without regard to the responses or other writings already published. Those renewed criticisms called forth a second round of responses.

March 6, 2014 church ground, deification, denominations, division, History, lawsuits, litigation, mingling, Norman Geisler, oneness of the believers, Open Letter, response, Ron Rhodes, scholars, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

Members of the local churches have written many responses to criticisms of the teaching of Witness Lee and of the local churches. These responses address vital issues of truth concerning God, Christ, His salvation, and the church, among many other subjects.

March 5, 2014 1 Corinthians 15:45, beliefs, Christ and the Spirit, church ground, Isaiah 9:6, mind, modalism, Person of Christ, response, salvation, the Son and the Father, Trinity, tritheism, Triune God

In 2007 an open letter appeared on the Internet calling on Living Stream Ministry and the local churches to “disavow and cease to publish” certain statements by Witness Lee. The two books in the series A Defense of the Gospel: Responses to an Open Letter from “Christian Scholars and Ministry Leaders” (1) and 2 answer the concerns raised in that 2007 open letter and show the defects in its handling of important biblical truths.

March 4, 2014 church ground, Defense of the Gospel, denominations, oneness of the believers, Open Letter, salvation, Triune God

A brief examination of some key verses concerning the Triune God (including Isaiah 9:6; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 15:45; and Matthew 28:19) and an appeal to accept the biblical revelation of the mystery of the Divine Trinity.

November 16, 2013 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, Isaiah 9:6, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God

A 1978 booklet by Ron Kangas refuting the charge that Witness Lee taught that a person can be saved by calling on the name of the Lord apart from believing in Christ. In this booklet Ron Kangas shows that Witness Lee properly taught that:

November 16, 2013 calling on the Lord, salvation

A 1978 booklet by Ron Kangas refuting the charge that the local churches are exclusive. It discusses:

November 16, 2013 denominations, division, exclusivism, oneness of the believers

A small booklet published in 1977 rebutting various false accusations by the Spiritual Counterfeits Project.

November 16, 2013 coexistence, cosmic Christ, cult accusation, Eastern mysticism, modalism, pantheism, Sabellianism, Trinity, Triune God

This 2011 book is one of a series of four addressing criticisms by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. This book addresses three key issues:

  • the error of making creeds, not the Bible, the rule of faith;
  • the twofoldness of divine truth; and
  • the infinite God becoming a finite man through incarnation.
June 30, 2011 authority, Bible, Brothers Hear Our Defense, creeds, God becoming man, incarnation, mingling, Norman Geisler, Person of Christ, Ron Rhodes, two natures of Christ, Twofoldness of Divine Truth

This 2011 book is one of a series of four addressing criticisms by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. This book addresses various points of truth concerning the Divine Trinity, including:

  • the use of the word persons to describe the Three of the Godhead;
  • the coinherence and co-working of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit;
  • whether Isaiah 9:6 prophesies that the “Son given to us” is the “Eternal Father”; and
  • whether the Apostle Paul said the Lord Jesus Christ is the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3:17.
June 30, 2011 2 Corinthians 3:17, Brothers Hear Our Defense, Christ and the Spirit, co-working, coinherence, identification, Isaiah 9:6, Norman Geisler, Open Letter, persons, Ron Rhodes, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God

This 2011 book is one of a series of four addressing criticisms by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. This book addresses various aspects their mistreatment of Witness Lee’s critique of the deviations of organized Christianity from the biblical revelation, including:

  • Misrepresentation of Witness Lee’s critique of the system of Christianity as an attack on Christians;
  • Misrepresentation of Witness Lee’s critique of the Roman Catholic Church; and
  • Double standard regarding criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church.
June 30, 2011 Brothers Hear Our Defense, Catholicism, Christianity, hypocrisy, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

This 2011 book is one of a series of four addressing criticisms by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. This book addresses three areas in which they have borne false witness related to our appeals to the courts for relief from libel:

  • their accusation that the local churches are litigious;
  • their claim that the local churches drove Spiritual Counterfeits Project into bankruptcy; and
  • their misrepresentation of many aspects of the case over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
June 30, 2011 Brothers Hear Our Defense, false witness, Harvest House, litigation, litigiousness, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, SCP, Spiritual Counterfeits Project

Brothers, Hear Our Defense is a series of four books correcting many errors in an article by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes. The subjects that these books deal with—the authority of the Bible, the incarnation of Christ, the nature of God, the state of Christendom measured against the Bible—are important matters deserving consideration by all serious Christians.

June 30, 2011 authority, Catholicism, Christianity, false witness, incarnation, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, Trinity, Triune God

An evaluation of a claim by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes that the local churches did not follow the principles in Matthew 18 in their dealings with Harvest House Publishers, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon.

January 1, 2011 hypocrisy, Matthew 18, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

Seven points that contradict a defense published by Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes of Harvest House’s history of filing lawsuits against fellow Christians.

January 1, 2011 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Harvest House, hypocrisy, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

An examination of whether the historic Christian creeds or the Bible should be the ultimate yardstick of truth in light of criticism from Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes.

January 1, 2010 authority, Bible, creeds, hypocrisy, Norman Geisler, orthodoxy, Ron Rhodes

While it is common (and not wrong) to refer to the Three of the Divine Trinity as three “persons,” the term persons is problematic because it can lead to misunderstanding. This article examines whether Norman Geisler was justified in criticizing a statement of faith in the journal Affirmation & Critique because it did not explicitly use the word persons in its definition of the Trinity.

January 1, 2010 coexistence, coinherence, Norman Geisler, persons, Ron Rhodes, Trinity, tritheism, Triune God

In a single paragraph in which Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes errantly accused Witness Lee and the local churches of teaching the heresy of patripassianism, they misattributed and misrepresented three quotes.

January 1, 2010 Christian Research Journal, coexistence, coinherence, Elliot Miller, Norman Geisler, patripassianism, perichoresis, Ron Rhodes, standards of scholarship

This article refutes the false accusation of Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes that the local churches teach patripassianism. It shows their error in asserting that affirming the involvement of the Father in the Son’s work is equivalent to of patripassianism and presents both the biblical record and a number of respected scholars that support the principle of the co-working of the Father and the Son (see also Scholars Who Affirm the Working Together of the Three of the Divine Trinity).

January 1, 2010 co-working, coinherence, impassibility, Norman Geisler, patripassianism, Ron Rhodes, Trinity, Triune God, two natures of Christ

Excerpts from respected scholars who affirm that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all work together and that the work of any of the Three involves the other Two.

January 1, 2010 co-working, coinherence, perichoresis, scholars, Trinity, Triune God

Second Corinthians 3:17 says plainly, “And the Lord is the Spirit.” Many respected scholars recognize that “the Lord” in this verse refers to our Lord Jesus Christ. However, Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes argue otherwise. This article shows their error. (See also Scholars and Bible Teachers Who Affirm That the Lord is the Spirit).

January 1, 2010 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, identification, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, Trinity, Triune God

Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy concerning the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who through incarnation is the Child born to us, yet the mighty God, and the Son given to us who is called “Eternal Father.” Witness Lee affirmed the perspicuous meaning of this verse based on the principle of coinherence, that is, the mutual indwelling of the Divine Trinity. For this, Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes wrongly accused Witness Lee of heresy. This article shows their error.

January 1, 2010 coinherence, identification, Isaiah 9:6, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, the Son and the Father

A list of excerpts from respected scholars who affirm that 2 Corinthians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 15:45, and other verses identify the Lord Jesus Christ with the Spirit.

January 1, 2010 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, affirmation, Christ and the Spirit, Norman Geisler, Open Letter, Ron Rhodes, scholars

Norman Geisler criticized an article by Ron Kangas in which the latter said, “God is infinite, and man is finite, yet in Christ the two became one.” In his criticism Geisler both misrepresents what Ron Kangas said and deviates from the biblical revelation of both the Person of Christ and of the Divine Trinity.

January 1, 2010 God becoming man, incarnation, mingling, Norman Geisler, Person of Christ, Ron Rhodes, two natures of Christ

A list of excerpts from respected scholars who affirm the biblical revelation that God became incarnated in Christ, joining the infinite God with finite man.

January 1, 2010 affirmation, God becoming man, incarnation, Person of Christ, scholars, two natures of Christ

The Twofoldness of Divine Truth is a classic study by the British Bible teacher Robert Govett. Norman Geisler misattributed the principle Govett articulated, calling in “[Witness] Lee’s mysterious doctrine” and wrongly claimed that it contradicts a philosophical principle called “the law of noncontradiction.” This article sketches the scope of his error and links to both Govett’s original booklet and a more detailed examination of the application of Govett’s teaching in an Affirmation & Critique article by Ron Kangas.

January 1, 2010 Norman Geisler, Robert Govett, Twofoldness of Divine Truth

In an article in the journal Affirmation & Critique Ron Kangas applies the principle set forth in Robert Govett’s The Twofoldness of Divine Truth to central truths in the Bible. These truths include salvation, Christ indwelling the believers and being at the right hand of God, Christ being both the only begotten and the firstborn Son, Christ having a body of flesh and bones yet also being the life-giving Spirit to indwell His believers, God being immutable yet processed and consummated in His economy, etc.

January 1, 2010 Robert Govett, Twofoldness of Divine Truth

In an attempt to scandalize fellow believers, Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes strung together a series of quote fragments in a way that completely misrepresented Witness Lee’s biblical critique of the deviations from the biblical patternof the system of organized Christianity that has developed over the centuries. This article examines the true nature and content of that critique as well as the attitude of Witness Lee and the local churches toward fellow believers in Christ.

January 1, 2010 Christianity, denominations, division, false witness, Matthew 13, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

This article exposes the way Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes used a dishonest and hypocritical apologetic method to attack Witness Lee’s biblically-based criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church.

January 1, 2010 Babylon, Catholicism, Matthew 13, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes castigated Witness Lee for criticizing the Roman Catholic Church when they and apologists with whom they associate have made similar and even more severe statements concerning it.

January 1, 2010 ATRI, Catholicism, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

A list of biblical critiques of scholars and Bible teachers whose teachings parallel Witness Lee’s expositions concerning the parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32; the parable of the woman, the leaven, and the fine flour in Matthew 13:33-35; the identity of Thyatira and Jezebel in Revelation 2:18-29; and the prophetic identity of Babylon the Great in chapters 16 through 18 of Revelation. At the end of the list are biographical sketches of the authors cited.

January 1, 2010 Christianity, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, scholars

An evaluation of the accusation that the local churches are “litigious.” That accusation was based on false claims of legal threats with respect to Christian Research Institute, James Bjornstad and Regal Books, Salem Kirban, Jerram Barrs and InterVarsity Press, and Moody Press. The local churches’ application of an appropriate standard for considering legal action is evident also in dealings with Jesus People USA and Geisler and Rhodes themselves. While Geisler and Rhodes condemn the local churches for their appeals to the courts, they do not criticize those who have borne false witness against us and have, in fact, joined with them in propagating falsehoods.

January 1, 2010 Christian Research Institute, CRI, false witness, litigiousness, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, SCP, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, The God-Men, The Mindbenders

Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes repeated a falsehood that is accepted as axiomatic among some countercult apologists, namely, that the local churches drove SCP into bankruptcy. From source documents this article looks at the actual causes and motivating factors behind SCP’s bankruptcy declaration.

January 1, 2010 false witness, Neil Duddy, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes, SCP, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, The God-Men

An examination of how Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes misrepresented the subject and scope of the libel lawsuit over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, the content of that book, and of the court’s decision in the case.

January 1, 2010 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, false witness, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, libel, litigation, Norman Geisler, Ron Rhodes

In various venues Harvest House President Robert Hawkins and authors John Ankerberg and John Weldon have misled the public regarding the local churches and facts surrounding the litigation over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.

October 23, 2006 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement, Robert Hawkins

Harvest House and its authors John Ankerberg and John Weldon sought to make the local churches repulsive in the eyes of the Christian public using out-of-context quotation and misrepresenting our Scripture-based rejection of unbiblical teachings, practices and institutions as a rejection of fellow believers and of the faith. In doing so, they pervert Witness Lee’s plea for recovery to the biblical standards of life, service, and testimony among Christians.

October 23, 2006 Christianity, clergy-laity, denominations, division, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, oneness of the believers, recovery, subjective experience of Christ

The local churches seek to return to the biblical standard concerning the subjective experience of Christ, the function of every member of the Body of Christ, and the practical testimony of the oneness of the Body of Christ. Harvest House, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon misrepresent Witness Lee’s biblically-based critique of organized Christianity on these three lines, even though they and their associates acknowledge the same deficiencies in Christendom today.

October 23, 2006 Christianity, denominations, division, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, oneness of the believers

Harvest House feigns indignation over our criticism of organized Christianity, yet their own books contain very harsh statements criticizing evangelical Christianity, Christianity and the church generally, and the Roman Catholic Church specifically. They even attack prominent evangelicals such as Billy Graham.

October 23, 2006 Christianity, denominations, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon

The Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1999) accuses the local churches of rejecting Christianity, implying that we reject fellow believers and the Christian faith.The authors and their publisher have never corrected this deceit despite extensive documentation provided to Harvest House proving the contrary.

October 23, 2006 Christianity, church ground, clergy-laity, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, subjective experience of Christ

Harvest House has attempted to turn Christians against the local churches with a series of out-of-context quotations posted on its corporate website. This article contextualizes those quotes and exposes Harvest House’s unfaithfulness to the Bible and to the Lord’s church in misrepresenting the teaching of Witness Lee.

October 23, 2006 Christianity, church ground, clergy-laity, division, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, oneness of the believers, subjective experience of Christ

Harvest House publicly accused the local churches of being litigious. This article contrasts the history of the local churches’ appeals for relief from character defamation with Harvest House’s lawsuits against fellow Christians over financial disputes.

October 23, 2006 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, litigiousness, SCP, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, The God-Men, The Mindbenders

An introduction to a series of articles on how Harvest House misrepresented the local churches’ appeal for relief from libel and our objections to the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.

October 23, 2006 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon

Harvest House attempted to recast the litigation over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions as a theological dispute, but a reading of the libel complaint filed in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al shows this claim to be false.

October 23, 2006 Christianity Today, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon

John Ankerberg and his attorney Shelby Sharpe both claimed that the local churches registered no objections to “The Local Church” chapter. This article shows that their claims are false and misleading.

October 23, 2006 Christianity Today, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Fuller Theological Seminary, Harvest House, hypocrisy, John Ankerberg, John Weldon

On a syndicated radio broadcast Harvest House President Bob Hawkins, Jr., gave a distorted account of the history of the local churches’ protests over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. This article contrasts the statements he made on the air with the actual facts.

October 23, 2006 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, History, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, letters of protest, Matthew 18

To mislead both the court and the public, Harvest House portrayed the nature of the definition of cult in the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions as purely theological in nature. This article shows the falsehood and duplicity of that claim.

October 23, 2006 cult accusation, ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon

A public statement concerning the decision to appeal the Court of Appeals decision which granted Harvest House, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon summary judgment in the libel action over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.

February 27, 2006 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement

An examination of what the Bible says about how Christians should deal with disputes and under what circumstances an appeal to a secular court system may be justified.

December 5, 2005 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, lawsuits, litigation, Matthew 18

A press release concerning public postings on Harvest House’s corporate website libeling the local churches.

April 20, 2004 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement

Ten irrefutable facts about the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions that show reckless disregard for the truth and malice on the part of both the authors and the publisher in including the local churches in the book.

April 20, 2004 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, litigation, public statement, publishing standards

Harvest House claimed to use “professional editorial standards” in the development and publishing of the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. This article shows the emptiness of those claims.

April 20, 2004 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement, publishing standards

Harvest House claimed that its use of The Chicago Manual of Style discharged its responsibility to use “acceptable editorial standards” in publishing the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. The Chicago Manual, however, focuses on stylistic and not substantive issues and cannot be used to justify shirking editorial norms in publishing a book that makes false and defamatory accusations.

April 20, 2004 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement, publishing standards

A press release responding to a Harvest House statement on its corporate website following the District Court’s rejection of its summary judgment motion.

March 19, 2004 ECNR, Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, First Amendment, Harvest House, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, public statement

An historical overview of the controversy surrounding Walter Martin’s criticisms of the teaching of Witness Lee and the local churches.

March 1, 1994 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

The oneness of the Triune God can be seen in three categories of Scriptures, which this article calls interpenetration, identification, and interchangeable Scriptures.

March 4, 1978 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, coinherence, Isaiah 9:6, Orange County Register, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

This article points out key faults in arguments concerning the Triune God presented in the pamphlet The Teachings of Witness Lee and The Local Church. It contrasts:

February 25, 1978 coinherence, Orange County Register, Sabellianism, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

This article gives brief rebuttals to accusations in the pamphlet The Teachings of Witness Lee and The Local Church concerning:

February 11, 1978 Bible, denominations, division, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

God is moving today to recover what was lost by the historic Christian church. This article presents:

February 4, 1978 Orange County Register, recovery, subjective experience of Christ, Walter Martin

Those who desire to return to the “historic Christian church” should consider the epistles to the seven churches in [Revelation chapters 2 and 3]. The prophecies there trace the historic development of the church and its degradation from the New Testament standard.

January 22, 1978 Christianity, clergy-laity, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, recovery, Walter Martin

Calls to return to “historic Christianity” as represented by the great ecumenical councils are misguided. This article gives many examples of deviations from the Bible brought in through some of those councils.

January 21, 1978 Christianity, creeds, Walter Martin

Those who call for a return to “historic Christianity” should consider the Lord’s speaking in Matthew 13, in which He prophesied concerning the deviation of the church from His original desire and intention.

January 21, 1978 Christianity, creeds, Walter Martin

A rebuttal of Walter Martin’s claim that the Roman Catholic Church does not teach or practice idolatry.

January 14, 1978 Catholicism, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A critique showing that Walter Martin’s explanation that the Three of the Divine Trinity are separate persons sharing an ill-defined common nature is tantamount to having three separate Gods.

January 7, 1978 Orange County Register, Sabellianism, Trinity, tritheism, Triune God, Walter Martin

A booklet published by Living Stream Ministry in 1978 outlining:

This booklet also answers some questions raised at that time about the beliefs and practices of the local churches.

January 1, 1978 beliefs, church ground, modalism, oneness of the believers, pray-reading, recovery, salvation

A critique of Walter Martin’s insistence that Christ is not actually present but is only represented in the believers by the Holy Spirit.

December 31, 1977 identification, Isaiah 9:6, Orange County Register, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

An affirmation of the biblical truth that the believers partake of the divine nature in contrast with Walter Martin’s preference that “nature” in 2 Peter 1:4 be translated as “attribute” instead.

December 24, 1977 2 Peter 1:4, Orange County Register, partakers of the divine nature, Walter Martin

An examination of Walter Martin’s claimed educational credentials.

December 24, 1977 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

The writer of this article called on Walter Martin to correct errors spoken in public concerning Witness Lee, the local churches, and vital biblical truths.

December 10, 1977 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, exclusivism, mingling, modalism, Orange County Register, partakers of the divine nature, pray-reading, Sabellianism, Walter Martin

Some Christians believe that man has two only parts—body and soul. However, the biblical view that man has three parts—body, soul, and spirit—is vital to our experience of Christ.

December 3, 1977 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Orange County Register, soul, spirit, tripartite, Walter Martin

Witness Lee used the expression “four-in-one” to express the marvelous reality that the Triune God and the believers in Christ mutually indwell one another (John 14:20; 17:21, 23). However, some have misrepresented this “four-in-one” mutual indwelling to falsely claim that Witness Lee makes the church part of the Godhead.

November 5, 1977 four-in-one, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, standards of scholarship, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

Walter Martin brandished a single sentence from a footnote in the Recovery Version of the New Testament as “proof” that Witness Lee was anti-Christian. His out-of-context quotation of this sentence obscured Witness Lee’s biblical critique of the deviation of “isms” from the revelation in God’s Word.

November 5, 1977 Catholicism, Christianity, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

In response to Walter Martin’s counseling of a radio listener to remain as a believer in Roman Catholicism, this article presents a biblical evaluation of the Roman Catholic Church who degradations caused the Lord Himself to cry, “Come out of her, my people” (Rev. 18:2).

November 5, 1977 Catholicism, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A consideration of mingling as the most accurate term to describe the union of God and man based on 2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Timothy 4:22, and 1 Corinthians 6:17.

November 5, 1977 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, identification, mingling, Orange County Register, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

A brief exposition of the proper place of the subjective experience of Christ in the believers’ life as witnessed by the Holy Scriptures.

November 5, 1977 Orange County Register, subjective experience of Christ, Walter Martin

To those who hold that Christ is only at the right hand of God and does not actually dwell in the believers, this article offers a strong biblical corrective.

October 29, 1977 Orange County Register, subjective experience of Christ, Walter Martin

A clear biblical corrective to those who attempt to negate 2 Peter 1:4, which says the believers have the divine nature.

October 29, 1977 2 Peter 1:4, Orange County Register, partakers of the divine nature, Walter Martin

A testimony that as believers in Christ we can enjoy Him as the one who dwells as the Spirit in our human spirit and who supplies Himself to us as the bread and water of life through His Word and our calling upon His name.

October 29, 1977 Orange County Register, subjective experience of Christ, Walter Martin

A 1977 response to a speaker at Melodyland Christian Center who belittled members of the local churches as theologically untrained.

October 22, 1977 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A 1977 answer to Walter Martin’s claim that a footnote in the Recovery Version of the New Testament altered the meaning of a word in the Bible.

October 22, 1977 Bible, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A brief examination of some key verses in the New Testament on which Walter Martin erred and of his condoning of idolatry in the Roman Catholic Church.

October 22, 1977 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Catholicism, Christ and the Spirit, Orange County Register, subjective experience of Christ, Walter Martin

An overview of the scriptural meaning of the Triune God, including the basic facts, the value of being limited to biblical terminology, the principle of the twofoldness of divine truth applied to the oneness and threeness of God, an understanding of how the Bible reveals the Triune God, the relationship among the Three in the Godhead, and the meaning of the Triune God in the believers’ experience.

October 22, 1977 coinherence, Orange County Register, Trinity, Triune God, Twofoldness of Divine Truth, Walter Martin

An answer to Walter Martin’s accusations that Witness Lee and the local churches practice “dividing the Body of Christ,” “proselytizing among other Christian groups,” and “sheep stealing.”

October 22, 1977 church ground, division, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

In this statement Witness Lee responds to criticism of his teachings by explaining three reasons for different understandings of the Scriptures:

Witness Lee closes with an appeal for conduct becoming of Christians in disagreements of understandings of Scriptures.

October 15, 1977 Bible, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, partakers of the divine nature, recovery, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

An Introduction and Conclusion that frame the controversy surrounding a speaking at Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim in 1977.

October 8, 1977 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

Two articles that point out flaws in criticisms of Witness Lee’s teaching concerning the Divine Trinity.

October 8, 1977 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, Isaiah 9:6, modalism, Orange County Register, Sabellianism, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God, Walter Martin

A short article showing the basis for the teaching of the mingling of God and man in both the Old and New Testaments and how mingling is the most appropriate word to describe the relationship of the divine and human natures in Christ.

October 8, 1977 mingling, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A brief survey of the truth concerning the oneness of the church, both spiritually and practically, and of the truth that the church is God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:15-16).

October 8, 1977 2 Peter 1:4, church ground, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, partakers of the divine nature, Walter Martin

A return to “historic Christianity” and a creed-based faith would bind the church to the church councils that brought in many deviations from New Testament Christianity. The second and third parts of this post address the truth concerning Babylon and denominations.

October 8, 1977 Babylon, Christianity, creeds, denominations, division, oneness of the believers, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A short article on man in creation and in the fall with particular attention to the nature of indwelling sin and the needing to forgo the lust of the flesh.

October 8, 1977 fallen man, Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A brief survey of the biblical revelation of God’s desire to enter into man.

October 8, 1977 Orange County Register, salvation, Walter Martin

A brief look at the release of the spirit and its relationship to the practice of calling on the name of the Lord and at taking the Word of God through means of prayer, or pray-reading.

October 8, 1977 calling on the Lord, Orange County Register, pray-reading, Walter Martin

This article decries the association of the local churches with cultic groups by a speaker at Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim and his endorsement of The Mindbenders.

October 8, 1977 cult accusation, Jack Sparks, Orange County Register, The Mindbenders, Walter Martin

A defense of Witness Lee by one of his co-workers against a personal attack launched by a speaker at Melodyland Christian Center in 1977.

October 8, 1977 Orange County Register, Walter Martin

A 1977 response to a speaker at Melodyland Christian Center concerning the study of the Bible in the local churches, the Recovery Version of the Bible, and biblical interpretations related to the Divine Trinity.

October 8, 1977 2 Corinthians 3:17, Bible, Christ and the Spirit, Isaiah 9:6, Orange County Register, the Son and the Father, Twofoldness of Divine Truth, Walter Martin

A 1977 booklet by Ron Kangas that examines the false accusation of mind bending in The Mindbenders by Jack Sparks in contrast with the biblical revelation regarding :

January 1, 1977 1 Thessalonians 5:23, fallen man, Jack Sparks, mind, soul, spirit, The Mindbenders, tripartite

In this 1977 booklet, Witness Lee directly rebuts the accusation that his teaching is modalistic. He examines key verses such as Isaiah 9:6, 1 Corinthians 15:45, and 2 Corinthians 3:17, showing that some who twist these verses to avoid their obvious meaning end up in the heresy of tritheism. Witness Lee concludes by showing that the biblical revelation of the Triune God is not for doctrinal formulations but for His people to experience of the reality of God.

January 1, 1977 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, heresies, Isaiah 9:6, modalism, recovery, Sabellianism, the Son and the Father, Trinity, tritheism, Triune God

A booklet by Ron Kangas published in 1976 by Living Stream Ministry that:

November 16, 1976 coexistence, heresies, identification, modalism, Sabellianism, Trinity, tritheism, Triune God

A 1976 booklet by Ron Kangas refuting criticisms that those in the local churches are modalists. The booklet:

October 6, 1976 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Isaiah 9:6, modalism, Sabellianism, subjective experience of Christ, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God

A booklet by Witness Lee published in 1976 presenting the basics of his biblical teaching concerning the Triune God:

The booklet concludes with a section on the Triune God being a mystery beyond explanation and an appeal to accept the full biblical revelation of the Divine Trinity.

January 1, 1976 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Christ and the Spirit, coexistence, Isaiah 9:6, the Son and the Father, Trinity, Triune God

A booklet compiled from messages given by Witness Lee in 1970 in which he explains six errant schools of thought concerning the Person of Christ throughout history and reviews the biblical revelation of Christ as one Person with two natures, being both God and man, both Creator according to His Deity and a creature, man, through His incarnation.

January 1, 1971 heresies, Person of Christ, two natures of Christ