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"A Search for "The Truth"
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The Workers' Words Exposed by Lloyd Fortt.
Check out this link: "Language of "The Truth" - Workers and Friends"
(F)
Faint
A term that means the same as to fall away from "the Faith." To become complacent about reading the Bible, for example. The word "faint" is used in order to sound biblical.
Faith
"Faith is believing what you do not see. When we first come to meetings, and before faith comes, we must almost 'like' the messengers, or trust them, then faith will come. There are two things to believe in order to come to the position of faith, 1/ What Jesus did for us, and 2/ That this is the way of God. " (34b) (34b) Senior Worker, Prince George Convention, 1989. From personal notes.
What is said here points to having trust, or faith in the workers, and believing that their ministry and church system are the only way of salvation. In other words, if you trust the workers, then you will believe what they say, and then you will have faith in the message that "this is the Way (church) of God." ("Faith cometh by hearing, " the workers preach, ignoring the remainder of the passage from which this verse is taken.)
Faith is belief in the unseen (things not understood), as the workers put it. If one cannot understand something about what a worker teaches, he must have "faith," and believe it anyway. Persuasion based upon solid facts plays no part in this "faith." Primarily, one exhibits faith when he or she accepts the workers' message that the church that they represent is the only correct church on earth, and therefore is the only way of salvation.
"The Faith" is sometimes used by members to put a name on their church for ease of discussion among themselves (i.e., the members of "The Faith").
"Pistis: primarily, firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing (akin to peitho, to persuade), is used in the N.T. always of faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual." - Vine's.
Faith, as presented in Scripture, is simple trust in God. For example, Abraham believed God when God told him that his seed would number as the stars of heaven. He believed God to the degree of certainty that he could obey when God told him to offer Isaac up as a burnt offering, believing that God would raise Isaac from the dead, and through Isaac God would keep His promise that Abraham's seed would number as the stars of heaven.
Of course, we know by reading, that God stopped Abraham just short of killing Isaac, but there is no way that Abraham could have known that God was going to do this. Abraham's belief in what God had said to him went beyond any naturalistic logic, and accredited God with supernatural abilities to perform His promises regardless of the fact that he had nothing within his personal human experience on which to base his trust; i.e., he had never before witnessed a resurrection.
The lesson here for us is that if God has said it, then we can depend upon it as if it has already happened; it is a certainty that it will take place just as God has said it will!
By way of application of this lesson, we can be absolutely certain that belief in the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross in the place of sinful mankind will result in eternal life for any and all who believe it; not because it is wishful thinking based upon unrealistic hope, but because GOD SAID SO! It does not matter at all what style of ministry is practiced by the preacher, nor the form of church one attends. Receiving salvation is based upon believing what God has said, not upon what men say. To believe other than what God has said, necessarily makes God out to be a liar! How then can such a person expect God to be pleased, and award him eternal life?
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "
If you are going to believe in Him, first you must know who He is; not by men's description, but by God's description! Who does God say that His Son is?
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. "
God the Father here calls Jesus Christ, "God." The fact that we as human beings cannot reason out in our minds how God the Father and Jesus Christ are both God (singular) does not in any way subtract from the fact that God the Father said it. Therefore, if you do not believe it, you are making God out to be a liar! If you are making God out to be a liar, how then is it that you have faith in God? How is it that you can expect God to be pleased? If you believe that Jesus Christ is a man, you are correct, for God has said this also. (John 1:1,14) God has said that His Son Jesus is both God and man. If you don't understand how this can be, you are in good company; I am sure that Abraham didn't understand how God was going to raise up Isaac either; but Abraham BELIEVED God, and his belief was accounted to Abraham as RIGHTEOUSNESS! Abraham didn't have to abandon his home and family and go out preaching in order to be seen by God as righteous!
Abraham just believed God.
So why can't you, or anyone else, do the same?
Perhaps you, like all Two-by-Two's insist upon paying for your own sins (as defined in Scripture!).
After all, God wouldn't give such a valuable thing as eternal life as a free gift would He?
Surely we must do something to obtain it, right?
Wrong!
God said it is a free gift, given because of God's favor (grace) towards mankind, even though we do not deserve it! Ephesians 2:8.
The minute that we insist on doing anything to earn it, we call God a liar, negate His grace, and our sins are counted against us because we refuse to accept God's gift.
How tragic, when all God asks us to do is believe Him, and enter into His rest, or trust that He will perform it just as He said He would.
- Can you think of anything which would bring more peace than to rest on the promises of the Creator of this whole universe?
- Could you describe anything more sure and dependable than God, who said He never changes?
Perhaps you might this minute desire this for yourself; God's ear is always open to anyone who will come to Him, and agree with Him about the sin of former days. He said that He is faithful to forgive our sins; that He is willing to save to the uttermost all who repent (change your mind about Jesus) and believe Him. You don't need some meeting place, ruled by some preacher to go to God; there is no mediator between you and God other than Jesus Christ. You can accept God's gift right were you are! You don't need anyone to guide you in prayer, Jesus will take what you say to Him, and present it before God in a way acceptable to God (intercede for you). Being God, Jesus knows just how to do this. The Holy Spirit, who is God, will guide you through His word (the Bible) in every step that God wants you to take, from that point on into eternity in His blessed presence. You might want to share it with some other believers though; they will really love you, even if you were a "Friend." They have in my case, and you can't be much more unlovable than I.
Faithful
To continue till death to hold the "purity" of "The Faith." To attend, and take part in every meeting locally held, and never question the workers' teachings. To abide by all the laws - written, spoken or silent - for a lifetime. After all this work, one might just "make it!"
Fall (of Adam)
This is mentioned in the preachings of the workers, but its significance is not understood nor taught in a way so that a person has a clear understanding of the fact that all are born in sin on account of the fall. In fact the opposite was Irvine's view. Many of the workers share Irvine's view. God says that all have fallen short!
Fall by the Wayside
To fall away from "The Faith."
Fall from Grace
To fall away from "The Faith." To come into disrepute in the eyes of the workers, and thus "the friends."
False
Anything that is not held as being true by the workers; including Hebrews 1:8.
Fame
That which is sought after by "The World." If one recalls that "the World" is considered primarily as the denominational churches, this becomes rather interesting indeed. (Christians all are seeking fame?)
Family of God
"The Truth," i.e., The Two-by-Two church exclusively.
Fanatic
A Pentecostal adherent; A Jehovah's Witness; Those of the Charismatic denominations; etc. Anyone who witnesses enthusiastically to his peers. Any person who believes that God is concerned with the material necessities of human life, and who will therefore pray for the supply of their natural needs. Any religious person who takes his religion seriously, other than a professing Two-by-Two.
Fasting
An Old Testament practice the Two-by-Two's suppose was abolished as "pharisaical" by Jesus.
Favor
That goodwill obtained through adherence to a standard of conduct. It is goodwill that is conditional upon obedience; even in the case of God's favor shown towards the Jews. When they cleaned up their act, God prospered them, but when they fell to sinning again, God punished them. It is not the concept of favor as part of God's grace that the Two-by-Twos find repulsive, but the idea that God bestowed His favor upon sinners while they were yet sinners. Often in prayers of Two-by-Two's, one will hear a pathetic plea to God for His help for them to be worthy of His love. If God answered those prayers, salvation would no longer be by God's grace, love, and mercy; it would be earned by their worthiness, and all that Jesus did on their behalf would be negated. God would have become a liar; and He would not be immutable or trustworthy. By God's answering that Two-by-Two prayer in the affirmative, He would have to abandon all other people who trust and believe Him.
Feel
To believe, on the basis of emotion, tradition, or submission; and not on the basis of fact. Not the "Burning in the bosom" experience of the Mormons, but thoughtless acceptance on the basis of being told by a worker. In other words, if Scripture can be twisted to agree with the workers, then one can "feel" that he is correct! If Scripture disagrees with the workers, then it is either ignored, or they "feel" that there is an alternative "spiritualized" explanation - one need only wait for a worker to find it. The workers' interpretations are the measuring stick of "The Truth." The members "feel truth" in a flood of emotions and fanatical confidence towards the ability of the workers to interpret Scripture, which ability is held in great awe. "Feeling" is held to be the basis of "discernment" between truth and error.
Fellowship Meetings
Sunday morning meetings. The equivalent to denominational Sunday or Saturday worship services, though worship of God is not a great part in the meetings. The greatest part of these meetings is the "testimony" time; both in the sense of value, and the sense of time consumed by them. The "testimony" is considered to be the "bread of life." During the "testimony" time, each member stands to his feet (in some areas while seated), and tries to express some thought which lines up with the accepted precepts of the cult. In many - but by no means all - cases, the aim in delivering the "testimony" is to appear to have studied the Scripture at home. The more in line with the presuppositions of the cult, the greater is the appearance of spiritual life, and hard work at home. In this sense, "testimony" time is turned into a "spiritual contest," the winner of which is the closest to the pattern of worker-style interpretation. The prize is the praise of men for a "good testimony," during the short visiting time after the meeting is over, especially if such praise comes from a worker who may mention one's "testimony" while preaching.
The attitudes of each member are monitored in any meeting where "testimonies" are given. On one occasion, I wept while giving my "testimony." I did so because I had been struggling with the idea of becoming a worker; a struggle that was only known by myself and God. During that meeting, I had listened to very little, but had decided that if God did want me to preach, I would preach, and in silent prayer, I told God that I would obey Him. The flood of emotion that came over me had me in tears of joy. There was a sister worker in attendance, and she came to me privately after the meeting, and asked me if I was OK; was anything wrong? For some reason that I cannot recall now, I did not confide in her what had taken place inside me. I do recall that she made me feel nervous and very self conscious; I wanted to get away from her.
I had not thought of that worker's concern in that meeting, until I met others who had shifted away from the accepted presuppositions of the cult, and had some private talks with concerned workers afterwards. Theirs was not as pleasant a visit as mine was. Nor was the aftermath of their visit at all pleasant. They are not members anymore, having been put out in the way described under the definition of the word "Excommunicate". In my case given above, I would have been received most lovingly, had I confided in the worker, since my case was in great agreement with their tenets. In their case they disagreed because of the obvious contrast between the presuppositions and the Scriptures. For a view of their case, see pages 92 and 93 of "The Secret Sect."
Fellowship (The)
A name used by members referring to their church.
Fidelity
Marital fidelity hardly needs to be defined here, but spiritual fidelity to a Two-by-Two is the compliance with all of the unwritten rules and regulations of their church. (All those laws that they deny having, but will call one an infidel if he or she fails to comply.)
Filled
In relation to being filled with the Holy Spirit, this is generally thought to be a ministerial privilege alone. The workers are supposed to preach as they are moved by the Spirit, and the members then are to follow their lead. They alone know what it is to be guided into all "truth; " they alone are able to make the Bible a "living book;" they alone are V.I.P.s on a cosmic scale - dwarfing God Himself, who (according to their doctrine) cannot reach a sinner through His Word without their aid!
Follow
Copy, emulate, imitate (after the manner of interpretation of the "life of Christ" as literally meaning the Two-by-Two concept of the pre-resurrection human life of Jesus, "the pattern").
This is an extremely difficult term to define in the sense in which it is meant within this group, for every explanation they give sounds orthodox on the surface.
Perhaps a word picture will convey the idea: Suppose that Jesus was present and physically walking along a sandy beach in front of you, and leaving his prints in the sand. You would be "following" Jesus if you placed your right foot into his right footprint, and your left foot into his left footprint, for each step that He took. Jesus is seen as the "example preacher," the "pattern" which all "true preachers" are to follow. He denied Himself, so the true preacher must deny himself. He had no home, so the true preacher must have no home. He was crucified, here you must "spiritualize:" i.e., the "true preacher" need only crucify his "worldly interests." He was poor (materially), so the true preacher must be poor. He traveled about, so the true preacher must travel about. If you have the concept of their "gospel," you will easily understand why they cannot accept Jesus as God, for they find that a bit tough to "follow." Human logic dictates that the member who is not a preacher must consider his salvation as dependent on having the right type of ministers leading him. The "example" of Jesus is seen primarily for the "true" preachers who are, in turn, the example for the non-preaching member, therefore the salvation of the ordinary member comes by coattail-hanging.
Compare Howard Mooney's words to what the Scriptures say: "He is the true vine. The true preacher is like the branches. He [the true preacher] gives his life solely for others. He is just the medium by which the life of the vine may flow into the fruit. The little clusters of grapes on the vine are like God's people; the most important part. We [the members] are gathered here today like little clusters of grapes. All these good things have been planted for us. The most important thing we [the members] can do is hang on.... It is wonderful to be able to hang on to something [the preachers] that can give us life. " Senior Worker. Special Meeting. Oregon, 1954. Text in brackets is mine.
John 15: 1-8 "I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. "
In these words of Jesus, I find only a Husbandman, a Vine and branches either bearing fruit, or unfruitful. Jesus leaves no misunderstanding of who is the Husbandman, and again no misunderstanding who is the Vine. The only room here for misunderstanding is who are the . branches. There are only two possibilities: the preachers, or all believers. If Jesus meant the preachers, then their fruit cannot be His disciples, since the fruit abides in the branches. Were this true, then there is no hope for converts of the preachers - all must become preachers in order to abide in Jesus. Therefore all of the non-preaching converts of the workers are wasting their time. If Jesus meant that all believers were the branches, then the workers are wrong to place themselves between their converts and Jesus. In this case also, the fruit cannot represent the believers since they are called "branches." I urge you to go to your Bible and see what God says fruit is, for 1 Timothy 2:5 leaves no doubt as to which was the intended meaning of Jesus words. There is no man between men and Jesus. Another special thing to take note of is that right at the beginning of John 15:1 "I AM" is capitalized in the King James Bible; why is that?
1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; "
Forever
An almost limitless amount of time; I say "almost" since the workers harp on the dangers of one easily losing eternal life, which is the height of contradiction - since if "eternal" means "without end," then how is it possible to lose eternal life once it has been given? Could it be that their god is so weak that he cannot hold onto them once he has them?
Fornication
"Spiritual fornication" is the variety usually being discussed when this term is used. This is the act of "fooling around" with anything of the denominational churches. Fooling around with the opposite sex outside of wedlock, though not condoned, is somewhat less likely to receive much attention.
Foundation
The foundation of God's spiritual house is everything. There is first the foundational "rock" (revelation) on which the foundational walls (Apostles) sit, on which the foundational roof (Two-by-Two preachers) is attached. On the foundational roof is probably some foundational shingles (Two-by-Two members) Their church is supposedly built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets of whom the workers are the modern day version. Even Jesus the chief cornerstone is believed to be a foundational prophet, or maybe a foundational Apostle, since he was the example Two-by-Two preacher "for the gospel's sake." According to the workers then, God's house is all foundation.
Freedom
"Sometimes we say that in God's Kingdom there are no rules, no regulations, no forms or traditions, but if we have a proper understanding of God's Kingdom, we will find to our advantage and benefit, that God hasn't left us without some guiding influences to govern and to guide our lives. If this were not true, where would we be? Everyone would go by his own thinking. God gave us this new nature first of all, then an understanding that made us want to be under the new rule. The point is, are we willing to walk according to this rule?" Senior Worker, Olympia Convention, 1957.
Freedom is just like the "child" that the workers say all must become; one must abandon any realistic thought. The idea the workers present is that we are set "free" to live a life of bondage to a standard of no television, no current clothing styles etc. etc. etc. - and that, on account of having abandoned clear thinking for ourselves. How illogical!
Friends
"The Friends" is another name used by the members to refer to their church, but is most often used to refer to a particular group of their own people. This is indeed curious because they are continually monitoring each others' conduct. It is a society of people who are always ready to condemn one another as well as those "outside" - in a most friendly way, of course!
Fruit
There are two basic types of "fruit" in the Two-by-Two church; one type for the preachers, and the other for the members. The fruit of the workers is their converts, but the fruit of the members cannot be the same since they do not try to convert anyone. The members' fruit is evidence of acceptance and adherence to the general views of the workers. One worker put it this way, speaking of the members' fruit (calling this the "first fruit."):
"There are things that accompany salvation and if they are not there, we will never stand. There must be a true revelation first of all, a revelation of Truth. That this is God's Way. And then there must be gratitude that is welling up in our hearts and humility of spirit and obedience of all that God asks. If these things are lacking, we will never make it, and God wants to help us so that we can have the first fruit. Have those things that accompany salvation in our lives so that we will be able to stand and have His favor and blessing in our lives and the Lord desires to continue to help us all to possess the basis. " Worker, Pukekohe, New Zealand, 1986.
Let's analyze this worker's statement. Salvation, according to him, could be had, yet the possessor of it could fail to "make it." This casts some doubt upon the worker's understanding of what salvation is, for salvation is, in itself, "making it." The worker suggests that salvation is not enough; in other words, being saved from sin, death, and hell is not enough. Then he adds the supposed necessity of possessing his version of the "first fruit" of "true revelation," (that his church is God's "Way"), "gratitude" (for the "right Way"), "humility of spirit" (humble attitudes), and "obedience" to all that God asks (as defined only by the workers). The message here is very clear; in order to make salvation valid, one must agree that the workers' church is the "right Way," be thankful that he found it, debase oneself (see "Humility"), and abide by the instructions of the workers. In other words, this "first fruit" is seen as unquestioning acceptance of the sum and total of the workers' ideas, including their so called "right church." The Bible describes salvation in very different, very specific terms; as defined by Jesus Christ in his prayer for us in John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. "
Of the workers' fruit, worker William Lewis is quoted in a newspaper interview: "Lewis says they are not in the business of actively seeking converts. We don't do that so much, he says. People have been taken so much ... you know ... the televangelists. We're here to be strangers because Jesus himself was a stranger. We depend on our own people. It's like a family. "
Brad Stutzman, "The Church with No Name Comes to Town," The Sunday Sun (Weir County, Texas), 7/14/91, section 1, p. 2.
In other words, the workers desire to have very little fruit these days! So, what does Scripture say about fruit? There are nine things described as fruit of the Spirit (singular) in Galatians 5:22, 23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. "
