I heard from a friend whose child has been drawn into a innocuously sounding Christian student bible study group a school here in Texas. Says it it is now apparent it is a part of the Witness Lee cult movement, using his reworded bible, etc. Says his kid was told to beware of parents, pastors at home, since they will trick you. My friend is panicked. Says many kids on this campus are getting sucked into going to Anaheim for the summer to be indoctrinated by Living Streams Ministry.

Anyone else here anything like this?

Unfortunately, I am very familiar with the Local Church movement. My BIL has been involved with the group for years. Sucks you in is an understatement. They purposely schedule conferences on holidays to further separate members from family. When visiting family, they often have an escort to keep them on the straight and narrow. My BIL also complete a 2-year post-college seminary in Anaheim. This has cause huge turmoil in our family. I could write volumes on this, but the short answer is get this kid free now before they get their hooks in too deep...

I am familiar. My mom and sister were part of it very recently. Sister went to the "training" in Anaheim for two years.

The theology is very similar to the Keswick-Holiness movement. "Let go and let God." Good overview here: http://andynaselli.com/keswick-theology

Excellent sermon series on the subject:
Major Principles of Christian Living - No Area of Passivity
1 of 4 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1014111329510
2 of 4 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1017111436271
3 of 4 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=101811143182
4 of 4 https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1019111256462

It started with Watchman Nee and I believe he was influenced by the Plymouth Brethren. After he died, the ministry was led by his successor Witness Lee who turned it very "cultish." They will only read Witness Lee books and filter any question/teaching through his.

As with Keswick theology, the teachings are very mystical and non-concrete. If you don't "get it", then that's because you don't have the Holy Spirit. This is characteristic of the movement as there is a second work of grace in which the Christian moves into a "higher life". (you'll hear a lot about the old v. new man, or carnal v. spiritual man) They rely on key passages such as Gal. 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." They take this to mean that Christ attempts to live your life for you. Anytime you sin, that's you not "letting" him lead your life (carnal). It can drive a man insane. In one of the sermons above, the pastor describes standing in front of the refrigerator trying to determine if it was him or Christ who wanted a glass of milk before going to bed.

The church itself is strange. There is no organized worship, but rather one "lead by the Spirit." This entails random people talking about the Bible study lesson they were assigned the past week and what they got out of it. Some people stand up and start singing a random hymn in which others join in. All around a tiered circle with elders in front. Also, it's about 90% Chinese.

That being said, it's not a koolaid drinking cult and Witness Lee is dead. Your friend doesn't need to worry about the physical well being of their child. They are just being taught mystical garbage and yes, to be aware of their parents' theology and them trying to lead them away from the "truth" which only they possess.

As the theology is very feminine, I'm assuming your friends' child is a girl. I'm not sure what kind of advice to give. My mom and sister were in it for 3-4 years and it was very frustrating dealing with them. Always wanted to talk about it and when I had questions (because it doesn't make sense), then it was clear I was simply not a Christian or still had a "carnal" mind without the Spirit. Eventually, my mom found something wrong with the church and moved on. She's not in church at all anymore, but her attitude is worlds better. Sister had one more semester of the "training" during this, finished it up and is no longer with the church (or any other as well).

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The church itself is strange. There is no organized worship, but rather one "lead by the Spirit." This entails random people talking about the Bible study lesson they were assigned the past week and what they got out of it. Some people stand up and start singing a random hymn in which others join in. All around a tiered circle with elders in front.

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You should attend one of the weddings...three hours of gibberish on repeat...

AggieRain said:

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The church itself is strange. There is no organized worship, but rather one "lead by the Spirit." This entails random people talking about the Bible study lesson they were assigned the past week and what they got out of it. Some people stand up and start singing a random hymn in which others join in. All around a tiered circle with elders in front.

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You should attend one of the weddings...three hours of gibberish on repeat...

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I have to start remembering the stuff my sister got in trouble for out in Anaheim. Not brushing her hair correctly. Toothbrush not in the correct position. My wife has a better memory, I'll ask her tonight.

I'd love to compare notes. My BIL & SIL are still fully immersed. The women definitely have it worse than the guys...there is a creepy Stepford Wives vibe to the whole relationship.

Never heard of this. Is it big culty like Scientology, or small culty like the Church of Wells?

Beer Baron said:

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Never heard of this. Is it big culty like Scientology, or small culty like the Church of Wells?

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Think Chinese Pentecostals.

Small scale, and as Chuck mentioned, you probably won't find dudes with quarters in their mouths waiting to catch the next comet. I think it has been accepted by some evangelical circles.

It is popular on college campuses, and they tend to prey on the marginalized of society. Disenfranchised, foreign students, etc. They do their best missionary work in air conditioning. Bible for America is a publication of the Living Waters Ministry, so you may see kids handing these out on campus too. They appear mainstream on the surface, but do a little digging and some of the creepy is sure to ooze.

I made some copies of their information manual from the training:

"Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, including brushing the back of the tongue to keep breath free from offensive odors. Use dental floss regularly." Picture of how towels are supposed to be folded.

No denim, no shorts, specific shoes, no make-up, etc. No dating.

Need to ask permission to skip an assigned meal.

"No use of any telephone after 9:55pm" (what an odd time)

"Toothbrushes, deodorants, shaving kits, and other personal bathroom items must be placed neatly in specified places."

Discipline includes reading Witness Lee "life-study messages" and writing a summary.

Leaving the training for a family emergency, funeral, wedding must be pre-approved one week in advance.

That's messed up. Dang.

Ciboag96 said:

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That's messed up. Dang.

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It's strange. They would preach at me up and down about how the law is old testament, yoke of slavery, etc. Just let the Spirit lead. Then I read this manual with the most detailed rules I've ever read. A modern day Leviticus.

Sounds like bording school rules. For those who may wonder about the applicability of a 2000 year old book..

20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Col 2:23

The Christian Research Journal wrote a scathing essay on the Chinese Home Church movement many years ago, then wrote a long apology article several years ago, admitting they were wrong. This sort of encapsulates the dilemma of interpreting something that was uniquely Chinese in our Western notion of Christianity. Strange does not equate to cult, and neither does heresy. There are just a lot of different groups out there. I used to read Myles Stanford, and there was nothing horribly wrong with it. He would quote Watchman Nee regularly, but he never gave instructions on how to brush teeth.