commentary to our own experiences?
Of course not. Because, you see, the groups covered in the book were all false movements and churches. We, on the other hand, were absolutely sure that we were members of the “Only True Church of God on Earth Today.” Once again, we were, in our own minds, the exception that proves the rule!
Proving the Exception
It was many years after the incidents described above before we were able fully to face our own folly … and realize we had merely avoided making some hard, painful judgments. (For more details on our personal spiritual journey, see the Afterword chapter of this Field Guide.)
We realize now that there really are some solid signs that a religious group or teacher is attracting and keeping followers through humanly coercive methods, rather than through biblical methods blessed by God, and through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. If a few, some, many, or all of the factors below seem to apply to a group you are involved with, or considering involvement with, you can save yourself a lot of grief by facing reality and taking steps to get free now. If you choose, as we did, to remain in irrational denial, you may find some day that you wasted much of your life in bondage to mere men rather than in true service to God.
Signs of trouble
Does the group or leader:
•Demand the exclusive loyalty of followers?
•Condemn any serious questioning of the integrity of the leadership, even if followers have access to strong evidence of irregularities in matters of finance, morals, or ethics?
•Condemn any serious questioning of the policies or tactics of the leadership, even when such policies or tactics have been clearly shown to lead to emotional, mental, spiritual, or perhaps even physical suffering of followers?
•Forbid anyone with even minor questions or concerns about the leadership from expressing them to others in the group?
•Insist any questioning of the leadership is tantamount to questioning God, and is an affront to Him personally?
•Twist scriptures regarding authority, particularly in the Old Testament (e.g., “the rebellion of Korah”), to make it appear that there is a direct correlation to contemporary circumstances, and that God’s wrath will be felt once again by those who reject authority within the group?
•Make grandiose claims to such biblical roles as prophet or apostle, with nothing more than self-aggrandizement to establish the validity of such claims?
•Make grandiose, unsubstantiated claims to have “restored truths lost to the world for 1900 years”?
•Insist that the average person is unable to understand the Bible through independent study, but instead should rely entirely on the interpretations and explanations of the leader or group?
•Make extremely excessive demands on the time and financial resources of followers, to the point of physical or financial exhaustion?
•Insist or strongly imply that there is a direct correlation between financial contributions to the group and God’s blessings and protection on the donor?
•Threaten that God will withhold blessings from—or perhaps even inflict His wrath upon—those who resist the leader’s or group’s demand for sacrificial giving beyond even the “prescribed” amount (such as the tithe)?
•Forbid or strongly discourage followers from reading or listening to material produced by any outside source?
•Encourage or demand that followers seriously reduce, or cut off entirely, relationships with family members outside the group?
•Discourage or forbid the development of relationships with friends who are not part of the group?
•Make decisions to expel members through a secret process not open to the observation of the average member?
•Encourage or demand that followers cut off all contact with former group members, even though such ex-members have not been found guilty of, or even publicly charged with, any flagrant violation of biblical standards of morality or ethics?
Few groups display all the characteristics above. If someone suddenly realized that the group they were involved with did have all of these characteristics, I would recommend that they run, not walk, to the nearest exit, and never look back!
But even if one recognized only two or three of these problem areas in a group, that should raise some very bright red flags. Quite frequently, new followers do not realize that many more of these conditions may exist within a group than are obvious on the surface. Only as they become more deeply involved than just getting some literature, or visiting group meetings a few times, will the “rest of the story” become clear. The time to look for danger signals is before one has invested so much time, effort, emotions, and resources into involvement that it becomes almost impossible to disengage without significant trauma. The truth of the Bible will remain the truth, and remain accessible to you, even if you find you must withdraw from support of the person or group that first pointed out that truth to you. There are no scriptures that put you into bondage to a human group or a human leader, no matter how persuasively some group or teacher may have tried to convince you that there are.
But what if it is not you who are involved with such a group or teacher? What if your concern is for a loved one who appears mesmerized by a situation which seems spiritually dangerous to you? The following chapter will offer some insight and guidance for those who find themselves in those circumstances.
Chapter 7
Prescription for Intervention
Suggestions for dealing with friends or family members who are, or are on their way to becoming, affiliated with what you believe to be a potentially harmful religious group
Those who have family or friends involved with groups which have some of the characteristics described in the previous chapter are often very concerned about their loved one’s welfare. Such involvement usually puts a great strain on the relationship, as the new convert becomes more and more involved in the activities of the group and pulls further and further away from fellowship with any “unbelievers,” including family and former close friends. The temptation is great to try to pry them loose. But please note the following observations before attempting such a project.
1.Arguing doctrine with a dedicated convert is usually a losing battle. By the time they are seriously committed to their newfound leader or group, they usually have pat answers for almost any biblical issue you can bring up. In addition, the organization’s “reasoning” methods may be so convoluted that normal logic doesn’t apply.
2.One of the doctrines that many such unhealthy groups inculcate very early in any convert is absolute, unquestioning loyalty to the organizational leadership, unquestioning agreement with its teachings, and unquestioning obedience to its policies. This makes it even more difficult to discuss any biblical matter. The new convert will defer to the leadership whenever they are confused about a Bible passage.
3.Many, many members of a wide variety of potentially harmful groups, including even such large groups as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have left—or been kicked out of—such groups in recent
