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See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. 15 H. A. Ironside, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1938) addresses the relation of the gospel to the church, the Bride and body of Christ, baptism, and related topics. Additionally, ex-members have on file letters and transcripts in which Way president L. Craig Martindale defends sex outside marriage in many situations. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Martindale told his followers at the 1995 Rock of Ages conference that new classes were needed because The Ways opponents had attended PFAL classes and learned how to use this material against The Way. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. Its current headquarters are in New Knoxville, Ohio; estimates of its membership range from 3,000 to 20,000. I was lucky enough to leave in high school when I was about 16. Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. About The Way International Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. 0 replies; 812 views; Fredchopin . The Way International is a shell of what it was during the lifetime of Victor Paul Wierwille. But in reality, women in the Way were valued primarily for sex and as caretakers. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Gross, right? The share and contributions of another Reddit member way help you with perspective and provide some form of comfort or solace as you and your family are ensuring the struggle currently. 17 Rick Lessing, An Analysis and Critique of the Theology of The Way International: An Evangelical Christian Response to Victor Paul Wierwilles Concept of the Trinity (unpublished paper, 1986), makes a case that Wierwille misunderstood Trinitarianism as (alternately) Sabellianism and polytheism, and that when Trinitarianism is properly explained, it is clearly biblically valid and coherent. This group was formerly known as American Fellowship Services. I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. Followers are now tasting the matured fruit of The Way Tree fruit of promiscuity, adultery, plagiarism (a form of lying), authoritarianism, false teaching, unfaithfulness, and lack of self-control. But at this point my goal has transitioned to educating the young and vulnerable population of college students by presenting an unknown and challenging thought. The CES meeting in May 1988 sponsored two and one-half days of biblical teachings and allowed sales of books by those attending, including Lynn, Lionel Recio, and myself. That made it harder for me to get a centered view on my life. Just after Wierwilles death, Geer published The Passing of a Patriarch, which is a rambling account of Geers final conversations with Wierwille shortly before his death. The Way International has a book value of all assets over $68 million, however believers often pay a facility fee to meet as a State or Branch, or they meet in only "budget" or "free" spaces. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. See the CultFAQ page Types of Cults for information about cults of Christianity or see CARM's The Way International page for more about the group. Stiles, a leader in the early charismatic movement. People were eager to engage, but I dont think answers were ever very satisfying. This is certainly helpful and appreciated. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. Started in the early 1950s by the late Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-1985), the original organization was called the Way Incorporated. 4v$gi However, it sucked to consider our loved as anything less than brilliant, observant, and aware. My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. Tired from excessive bible study, didnt share and/or complain about any of her home life and doodled a lot which always made me ponder what she was thinking about?. Strangely, that means that TWI is responsible for my birth. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. Moving on: I know a lot of people who grew up in strict religious contexts, but the thing that I always found kind of culty about the Way was how we were always supposed to prioritize people in the ministry to the exclusion of others. A name used by Share International. And I am glad you are with us. A few, but not tons. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Wierwilles stance that the whole Bible was authored in Aramaic, that parts of Scripture have been lost, that many Bible passages in popular translations were deviously inserted by pagans, and his Nestorian-like view of Jesus Christ (which drives a wedge between the human Jesus and the divine Christ) all trace to mystic George Lamsa. I was raised "in the word" as they say, meaning I was a born into the cult. It is apparent that almost all Wierwille taught he acquired from other men, not from original study of Gods word. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. Way followers say the first commandment is the most important: no false Idols before God. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. Michael Rood is a self-proclaimed Messianic preacher who was ordained as a Christian minister in The Way International (TWI).. Rood has continued many of the themes and practices which made TWI theologically a cult of Christianity. As a kid, I was always 1.) The termination of the WOW Ambassador program led to the start of the Disciples of The Way Outreach program. graduates of the PFAL Series (Power For Abundant Living) may find links to fellowship, study, friends, and loved ones, believers and seekers of all congregations or none at all may find wonderful links at this page. My Mom got heavily involved in the ministry straight out the gates - going WOW (their outreach program) shortly after taking the PFAL class in the early 80s and then we went Family Corp right after that. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. Accordingly, several groups have arisen to try to meet these needs. There are people who spend 7 nights a week at fellowship or taking classes or teaching. As Wayers recognize false teachings, they further see the inaccurate scholarship Wierwille used to defend his teachings.11 Therefore, they also criticize Wierwilles skill as a Bible researcher and teacher and call into question everything they learned from him. Have others committed suicide? 14:21-23); stringent laws are done away with when one is born again (Col. 2:20-21); God punished David for killing Uriah, not for having sex with Bathsheba; and the Bibles word for adultery has a spiritual, not a physical meaning. Hotel Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly, Vietnam | Melia.com We are spiritual beings in a material world, my mom would sometimes say. TWI splinter group leader John Lynn wrote a letter in 2008 defending and praising "the old" Way International, proof that the old Way Arrogance lives on as well. The group says that it will hold classes and smaller conferences instead, including a weeklong gathering of 2,000 at The Ways auditorium in New Knoxville, July 20-27. Martindale seems determined to remake The Way and close ranks, which may result in an increasingly cultic mindset. The level to which people beat themselves up for falling short, though, is intense. Take The Diary of Anne Frank for example. Anyways, one summer afternoon on a car ride to grandma's with a Way following family member: the tape deck had one of these Sunday service tapes start playing when they started the car. The most prominent of these groups are John Lynns Christian Educational Services (CES) and Chris Geers The Way of Great Britain. In the meantime, I want to share about her thread with you. This practice is intended to weed out any opponents. In addition, anyone who is well-acquainted with Wierwilles writings and reads Kenyons and Bullingers books is struck by the close parallels, even though one cannot always trace exact word-for-word plagiarism. He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. I want to be clear that if you think something nefarious has happened here, go with your gut. If youve seen the documentaries about Scientology or even that Nxivm sex cult this is practically a template for revenue income for these religious organizations. My parents are still standing, as they say. And we have to consider the times: inspired by peace movements and anti-war efforts. Boy howdy that was an ear-full. There are certain rules Mandalorians must adhere to . Protecting Colombia's Most Vulnerable on the Road to "Total Peace . The Way is predominantly financed via its course fees and tithing. CES holds two national meetings per year in Chicago (drawing about 150 people per meeting), publishes Dialogue magazine bi-monthly, circulates periodic newsletters, and distributes tapes. We ourselves have two articles in our website concerning that movement. Homey reported that it liquidated $29 million of debt by mid 1995. Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better. Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. I was forced to eat food I'm allergic to in order to prove God healed me. Geer is damaging to The Way because of his previous close ties to Wierwille. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. True Story: My Family Was In A Cult - Yes and Yes Sale of assets, reduction of overhead, smaller Corps classes, large numbers of defections (which left more staff openings), staff purges, and the sale of the The Way College of Emporia, Kansas, campus helped make this possible. We were taught that the Adversary is always looking for ways to break down our spiritual fortitude and that can come in the form of media, indoctrination in schools and even our own families. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. 4-5 maybe? The Way International (TWI) has been on cult watchers' radar screens for decades. One CES leader, with a touch of irony, attempted to distance CES from The Way by explaining that CES would do Christian study, not biblical research (A Way term). To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. For example, Geer describes Wierwille as one who was very hard to live with, often lashing out at those closest to him and hurting them.5 It includes a reproduction of handwritten notes in which the three trustees admit that the accusations against them are true. What practices are still common? Also former TWI here, my parents are still in it, and its causing incredible family pain, now between my older sister.