There is another kind of people, namely those who have been dismissed. How should we treat them? Whether these people are dismissed because they are incapable of doing real work and are classed as false leaders, or because they follow the path of antichrists and are classed as the kind of people who are antichrists, it is necessary to reasonably allocate these people to other work, and make reasonable arrangements for them. If they are antichrists who have done many evil things, then of course they should be expelled; if they haven’t done many evil things, but have the essence of an antichrist and are determined to be an antichrist, then as long as they can still render service in some small way without causing disruption or disturbance, they don’t need to be expelled—let them keep rendering service and give them a chance to repent. In the case of false leaders who have been dismissed, reassign them to different work based on their strengths and the duties they are suited to doing, but they are no longer allowed to serve as church leaders; in the case of leaders and workers who have been dismissed because their caliber is exceedingly poor and they are incapable of doing any work, also reassign them to different work based on their strengths and the duties they are suited to doing, but they can no longer be promoted as a leader or worker. Why can’t they? They have already been tried out. They were revealed, and it is already clear to see that such people’s caliber and work capability make them unfit to be leaders. If they are unfit to be leaders, are they unable to do other duties? Not necessarily. Their poor caliber makes them unfit to be leaders, but they can do other duties. After such people are dismissed, they can do whatever they are suited to doing. They shouldn’t be stripped of the right to do a duty; they can still be used again once their stature has grown in the future. Some are dismissed because they are young and don’t have any experience of life, and also lack work experience, so they are incapable of undertaking the work and are ultimately dismissed. In dismissing this kind of people, there is some leeway. If their humanity is up to standard and their caliber is sufficient, they can be used after being demoted, or they can be put to other work suitable for them. Once their understanding of the truth is clear, and they have a bit of exposure to and experience of the church’s work, such people can still be promoted and cultivated again based on their caliber. If their humanity is up to standard but their caliber is exceedingly poor, then there is no value whatsoever in cultivating them, and they absolutely cannot be cultivated or retained.

Among those who have been dismissed, there are two kinds of people who absolutely cannot be promoted and cultivated again. One is antichrists, and the other is those whose caliber is too low. Then there are some people who are not considered antichrists, but are only of poor humanity, selfish and deceitful, and some of these people are lazy, crave fleshly comfort and are unable to endure hardship. Even if such people are of exceedingly good caliber, they cannot be promoted again. If they possess a bit of caliber, then let them do whatever they are able to do, as long as suitable arrangements are made for that; in short, don’t promote them to be a leader or worker. Beyond having caliber and work capability, leaders and workers need to understand the truth, have a burden for the church, be able to work hard and bear suffering, and they must be diligent and not lazy. On top of this, they must be relatively honest and upright. You absolutely cannot select people who are deceitful. Those who are too crooked and deceitful always scheme against the brothers and sisters, their higher-ups, and the house of God. They spend their days thinking only devious thoughts. When dealing with someone like this, you must always guess at what they are truly thinking, you must keep inquiring as to what exactly they have been doing recently, and you must always keep an eye on them. Putting them to use is too exhausting and too worrisome. If this kind of person is promoted to do duties, even if they understand a little doctrine, they will not practice it, and they will expect benefits and advantages for every bit of work they do. Using such people is too worrisome and too much trouble, so such people cannot be promoted. Therefore, when it comes to antichrists, those of excessively poor caliber, those of bad humanity, those who are lazy, covet fleshly comfort and cannot bear hardship, and those who are extremely crooked and deceitful—once these kinds of people have been revealed and dismissed after being put to use, do not promote them a second time; do not put them to incorrect use again after they have been seen through. Some may say, “This person was previously defined as an antichrist. We’ve noticed that they have been performing well for a while now, they are able to interact normally with the brothers and sisters and no longer constrain others. Can they be promoted?” Don’t be in such a hurry—once they are promoted and acquire status, their antichrist nature will be exposed. Others may say: “This person’s caliber was exceedingly poor before; when they were asked to supervise the work of two people, they didn’t know how to allocate tasks, and if two things happened at the same time, they didn’t know how to make reasonable arrangements. Now that they are a bit older, they will be better at these things, won’t they?” Does this claim hold water? (No, it doesn’t.) When two things occur at the same time, that person gets confused and doesn’t know how to deal with them. They can’t see through anyone or anything. Their caliber is so poor that they have no work capability or comprehension ability. Such a person absolutely cannot be promoted as a leader again. This is not a matter of age. People with poor caliber will still have poor caliber when they are eighty years old. It’s not like people imagine, that as someone gets older and gains more experience, they can understand everything—that’s not how it is. They will just have some experience of life, but experience of life does not equate to caliber. No matter how many things one experiences or how many lessons one learns, it doesn’t mean that their caliber will improve.

If someone’s humanity is too selfish, too deceitful, and too wicked, and they are full of crafty schemes, and only think about themselves, can this kind of person change? They were dismissed for these reasons; now ten years have passed and they have listened to many sermons—is their humanity no longer selfish, crooked and deceitful? Let Me tell you: This kind of person will not change, they will be the same thing another 20 years down the line. Therefore, if you meet them again in 20 years’ time and ask them whether they are still as selfish and deceitful, they will even admit it themselves. Why won’t people of poor humanity change? Can they change? Supposing they could change, what would have to be the basis and conditions for that to happen? They must be able to accept the truth. People of poor humanity do not accept the truth, and inwardly they despise, loathe, deride, and are hostile to positive things—they just cannot change. So no matter how many years have passed by, don’t promote them, because they are incapable of changing. It is possible that in 20 years’ time, they will have learned to be even more slippery, and even better at saying nice-sounding things and things that deceive others. But if you associate with these people and observe their actions, you will discover one fact, which is that they haven’t changed at all. You reckon that after so many years have passed and they have listened to so many sermons and performed duties in God’s house for so long, they should have changed—you are wrong! They won’t change. Why? They have listened to so many sermons and read so many of God’s words, but they don’t accept or practice a single sentence, so they haven’t changed one bit, it’s impossible for them to change. Once such people are revealed and dismissed, they cannot be made use of again, and if you do make use of them, you are harming God’s house and the brothers and sisters. If you aren’t sure, just observe how they act, and see whose interests they defend when faced with things that bring their own interests into conflict with the interests of God’s house; they absolutely won’t sacrifice their own interests and go all out to defend the interests of God’s house. Looking at it from this regard, they are not trustworthy, and they don’t deserve to be promoted and used by God’s house. That is why such people are destined not to be used. Can people who don’t accept the truth still change? It’s not possible, and it’s a fool’s dream!

As for people who are lazy, covet fleshly comfort, and are unable to put up with even the slightest hardship, they are even less capable of changing. During their time as a leader, they don’t suffer any hardships, they don’t endure even the hardships that ordinary brothers and sisters are able to endure. In doing their duty they only go through the motions—holding gatherings and preaching some doctrines, then going off to bed to take good care of themselves. If, at night, they go to bed even a bit late, they will still be fast asleep in the morning when the brothers and sisters are getting up. They aren’t willing to be even a little bit tired or a little bit busy, or to endure even a little bit of hardship. They don’t pay any price and don’t do any real work. Wherever they go, as soon as they see nice food and drink, they get so happy that they forget about everything else, and they don’t go anywhere, but just stay there eating, drinking and enjoying themselves, and not doing any work whatsoever. They don’t listen when they get pruned by the Above, nor do they accept reminders and exposure from the brothers and sisters. They choose to live life in the most comfortable way possible, without paying any price, and without fulfilling their responsibilities or doing their duty, and so they become good for nothing. Are such people capable of changing? People of this kind are too lazy, covet fleshly comfort; they cannot change. This is what they are like now and this is how they will be in the future. Some people may say: “That person has changed, they have been putting a lot of effort into their work for a while now.” Don’t be in such a hurry. If you promote them as a leader, they will relapse into old ways—that’s just how they are. They're just like a gambler, who, when running out of money, will keep on gambling even if they have to borrow money, sell their house, or even sell their wife and children. If they aren’t gambling lately, it might be because the casino has closed down and there’s no place to gamble, or because all their gambling buddies have been caught and there’s no one for them to gamble with anymore, or because they’ve sold all the things they can sell and have no money left to gamble. Once they have money in their hands, they will start gambling again and won’t be able to quit—that’s just how they are. Likewise, those who are lazy and covet fleshly comfort are also incapable of changing. Once they gain some status, they will immediately resume their original form, and their true colors will be exposed. When they have no status, no one thinks highly of them and no one waits on them, and if they do nothing, then they should be cleared out, because the church doesn’t support idle people, so they have no choice but to reluctantly do some things. They do things differently from others. Others do things proactively, whereas they do them passively. Although outwardly there is no difference, in essence there is a difference. When others have status, they do what they are supposed to do and are able to fulfill their responsibilities; once these people have status, they seize the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of their status and don’t do any work, and their lazy and comfort-craving nature essence is thereby exposed. Therefore, people of this kind will not change under any circumstances, and once they are revealed and dismissed, such people should never be promoted and used again—this is the principle.

When it comes to people with different situations, these are the principles for promoting and making use of them. The minimum standard is that they are able to exert effort and render service in God’s house without causing a disturbance; in which case, they can do a duty in God’s house. If they cannot even meet this minimum standard, then no matter what their humanity and strengths are like, they aren’t fit to do a duty, and people of this kind should be eliminated from the ranks of those who do duties. If a person’s humanity is malicious and equates to that of an antichrist, then once it is confirmed that they are an antichrist, God’s house will never make use of them, nor promote or cultivate them. Some people may say: “Is it okay to let them render service?” It depends on the situation. If their rendering service may have a negative impact and bring adverse consequences to God’s house, then God’s house will not even give them an opportunity to render service. If they know that they themselves are an evil person or antichrist who has been expelled, but they are willing to render service, and will do things however the church arranges for them to do, and can render service in a well-behaved manner without harming any interests of God’s house, then in that case they can be retained. If they cannot even manage to render service properly, and their service does more harm than good, then they won’t even have the opportunity to render it, and even if they do render service, God’s house still will not make use of them, because they aren’t even eligible or meet the criteria for rendering service. So people of this kind should not come back—let them go wherever they want. Some people may say, “If God’s house doesn’t put me to use, then I’ll preach the gospel myself, and I’ll hand the people I gain through preaching the gospel over to God’s house.” Would that be okay? (Yes.) Some may say, “You wouldn't use that person even to render service, so on what basis should they give You the people they gain by preaching the gospel? On what basis should they preach the gospel for You?” God’s house doesn’t make use of them due to various aspects. One is that they don’t conform to the principles of God’s house for using people. Another is that God’s house doesn’t dare to use people of this kind, because once they are put to use, there will be no end of trouble. So how should we explain this matter of them being willing to preach the gospel? What they bear witness to in preaching the gospel is God, and it is because of God’s words and God’s work that they are able to gain people. Although these people have been gained through that person’s preaching of the gospel, this in no way counts as being to their credit. At best, it is just fulfilling their responsibilities as a person. Regardless of whether you are an antichrist or an evil person, or whether you have been cleared out or expelled, fulfilling your responsibilities as a person is something you ought to do. Why do I say that it’s something you ought to do? You have received such a great supply of truths from God, and this is also God’s painstaking efforts. God’s house has watered you and provided for you for so many years, but does God demand anything from you? No. All the various books distributed by God’s house are free, no one has to spend a single penny. Likewise, God’s true way of eternal life and the words of life that He bestows upon people are free, and the sermons and fellowships of God’s house are all free for people to listen to. Therefore, whether you are an ordinary person or a member of a special group, you have received so many truths from God for free, that surely it’s only right you should preach God’s words and God’s gospel to people and bring people into the presence of God, is it not? God has bestowed all truths unto humankind; who can afford to repay such great love? God’s grace, God’s words, and God’s life are priceless, and no human being can afford to repay them! Is the life of man that precious? Can it be worth as much as the truth? Therefore, no one can afford to repay God’s love and grace, and that includes those who have been cleared out, expelled, and eliminated by the church—they are no exception. As long as you have some conscience, reason, and humanity, then no matter how God’s house treats you, you should fulfill your obligation to spread God’s words and bear witness to His work. This is people’s unshirkable responsibility. Therefore, no matter how many people you preach God’s words and spread the gospel to, or how many people you gain, this is nothing to compliment you on. God has expressed so many truths and yet you don’t listen to them or accept them. Surely rendering a little service and preaching the gospel to others is what you ought to be doing, isn’t it? Given that you have come this far today, shouldn’t you repent? Shouldn’t you look for opportunities to repay God’s love? You really should! God’s house has administrative decrees, and clearing people out, expelling them, and eliminating them are things that are done according to the administrative decrees and according to God’s requirements—doing these things is correct. Some people may say, “It’s somewhat embarrassing to accept into the church people gained by the gospel preaching of those who have been cleared out or expelled.” In actual fact, this is the duty that people should do, and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. People are all created beings. Even if you have been cleared out or expelled, condemned as an evil person or an antichrist, or you are a target for being eliminated, are you not still a created being? Once you are cleared out, isn’t God still your God? Are the words God has spoken to you and the things God has provided you with erased in one fell swoop? Do they stop existing? They do still exist, it’s just that you haven’t cherished them. All converted people, no matter who converted them, are created beings and should submit themselves before the Creator. Therefore, if these people who have been cleared out or expelled are willing to preach the gospel, we will not restrict them; but no matter how they preach, the principles of God’s house for using people and the administrative decrees of God’s house are inalterable, and this will never, ever change.

Among these several kinds of people who have been dismissed, the majority are unlikely to truly repent and must not be made use of again. There is only room to promote and use those who were dismissed or had their duties altered because they lacked work experience and were thus unable to do their work temporarily. People of this kind are of sufficient caliber and there are no major problems with their humanity, they just have some minor shortcomings, vices, or bad habits inherited from their family—none of these things are a big problem. If God’s house needs them, they can be promoted and used again at the right time; this is reasonable, because they are not evil people and they won’t become antichrists. Their caliber is sufficient, it’s just that they hadn’t been doing work for long and had no experience, so they weren’t competent to do the work, which is not a serious problem. If they were dismissed for these reasons, then they have room to develop in the future and they can change. As long as someone has work capability, possesses caliber, and their humanity is up to standard, then during the period in which they experience God’s work and do their duty, people of this kind will gradually change, their humanity will change, they will grow in their life entry, there will be some corresponding changes in their disposition, and there will be some progress in their understanding of the truth. Depending on the environment, the duties they do, and their personal aspirations, they will change and grow to varying degrees, so it can be said that people of this kind are to be promoted and used. These are generally the principles for once again promoting and using the several kinds of people who have previously been dismissed.

Item Seven of the responsibilities of leaders and workers is “Allocate and make use of different types of people sensibly, based on their humanity and strengths, such that each is put to their best use.” In our fellowship just now, the meaning of putting people to their best use was already clearly explained. As long as there is the slightest value in cultivating someone, and provided that their humanity is up to standard, then God’s house will give them opportunities. As long as someone pursues the truth and loves positive things, then God will not give up on them or eliminate them so readily. As long as your humanity and caliber meet the standards that I fellowshipped on just now, God’s house will definitely have a place for you to do a duty, and will definitely make use of you sensibly, and give you sufficient room to bring your ability to bear. In short, if you have strengths and expertise in a certain profession that are needed for the church’s work, then God’s house will definitely let you do a suitable duty. However, if you have no aspirations or will and don’t want to strive upward, then just do whatever you can, do some duty that is within your ability to do, and nothing more. If you have aspirations, and you say, “I want to understand and gain more truths, and embark on the path to salvation as soon as possible, and enter the truth reality. I am willing to be considerate of God’s burden, willing to bear a heavy burden in God’s house, suffer more hardship than others, exert more of myself and forsake more than others,” and if you are suitable in all respects, but still no one recommends you, then you can also put yourself forward. Is that not reasonable? In summary, these are all the principles of God’s house for using all kinds of people, the goal being nothing more than to enable people to enter into the truth reality. What are the manifestations of entering into the truth reality? They are understanding the truth, understanding the truth principles when doing all the various items of work, and being able to practice the corresponding truths when interacting with all kinds of people, events, and things in daily life, rather than being confused and at a loss whenever anything befalls you—this is the goal. This being the goal that has been set, you should pursue toward it!

Here ends our fellowship on Item Seven of the responsibilities of leaders and workers. Some people may say, “You haven’t finished fellowshipping yet, You haven’t exposed false leaders with regard to this item.” I would reply that there is no need to expose them. In one sense, false leaders are of poor caliber and are incapable of doing real work; in another sense, they are devoid of conscience and reason, carry no burden, don’t put their heart into their work at all, and cannot even do some simple things well. Whenever they encounter a complex problem, or a problem that relates to truth principles, they cannot distinguish it at all, and even less can they see through to the essence of the problem. So, there is no need to expose them. Even if they were exposed, they wouldn’t accept it, and it would be a waste of words. What’s more, speaking of the things they have done would be nauseating and make people all angry inside. Assigning such important work to these false leaders was a mistake in using people. Being incapable of doing their work already makes them feel good for nothing, and if you expose them and dissect them, they will feel even more anguished. So let these false leaders hold themselves up for comparison and examine their own problems as much as they can. If they can discover their problems, see whether they can make improvements in the future; if they can’t discover them, then they need to keep on examining, and they can also ask the people around them to help them analyze and sort it out. If others have fellowshipped with them and they have put their heart into it but still can’t discover their own problems, and still don’t know how to recognize it or how to solve it, then they truly are false leaders and should be eliminated.

March 6, 2021