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A Search for "The Truth"
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The Workers' Words Exposed by Lloyd Fortt.
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"Language of Truth" - The Way of the Workers and Friends
(W)
Walk
"If only God's people would remember the necessity of having the right marks of preserving their testimony. They would be able to show whose they are and whom they serve. Satan would have no claim on them. God's people are to be known in the streets, among the multitudes of men. There should be sufficient evidence about us, about our attire, about our spirit, about our walk to show that we are the Lord's, that we are known of Him and chosen of Him. " Senior Worker, Portland, Oregon, Special Meeting.
The correct "walk" is exclusively within "The Truth," according to the Workers. The 'perfect walk" is only within the ranks of the cult's ministry; complete with its perversions of Scripture, authority snatched from Jesus Christ, hidden sexual activities, and dishonesties regarding finances; to name but a few of its darker features.
Way (The or This)
A term used by the members to name their group. This assigning an esoteric meaning to a common word and concept is a misleading tactic. This term is often seen in Scripture; John 14:6 for example, where the term "the truth" is also found (and which is used in the same fashion by members). Two-by-Twos usually see only the cryptic meaning in such phrases. Ex-members often find it difficult to rid themselves of this type of "programming" and read even simple passages for what they actually say, without the baggage of Two-by-Two interpretation and rationalization. (See also "Truth, the.")
'"When God planned His Way in the beginning, He planned the kind of Fellowship that He would have upon the earth and the love that would hold that Fellowship together and the kind of ministry that would bring people into that Fellowship. This was all planned before the world began. God measures our faithfulness by the way in which we keep true to that original plan. " Senior Worker, Medford, Oregon, March 6. 1978.
Wednesday Night Meeting These are the weekly "Bible study Meetings," where straight interpretation of the Bible is frowned upon and "spiritualized interpretations" are in competition for exaltation. They take the same formal, ritual format as do the Sunday morning meetings, except that the bread and cup are absent.
Whole Armor of God
Absolute assurance that "The Truth" and its workers are the way of salvation; which means that there is nothing to this "whole armor of God," since not even the most outstanding worker has such assurance.
Therefore, in keeping with scriptural command, one puts on a "powder puff' each day to protect himself from Satan's darts!
Whole Counsel of God
The teachings of the workers, and not, by any means, the counsel of all Scripture.
Willing
"Until people are willing to lay aside all former teaching, become as a little child, they never will understand the Truth as taught by Jesus in word and deed. " Senior Worker, January 17, 1971.
Willingness to give up all possessions, and earthly concerns, and believe and practice the Two-by-Two concept of "True Christian faith." Willingness to "pay the price" for salvation and to become a "professing" member of "The Truth." Just in case you wonder what "the price" of salvation is, it is the same price that Jesus paid on the cross -- which they spiritualize, however, reducing this down to "death to self," "self denial," "learning obedience through suffering, " etc.
Will of Man
The will of man must be completely broken in order to prepare him to receive the "gospel" of the workers. (See also, "Broken Spirit.")
Wind of Doctrine
The doctrines of the Christian Church (in the original universal sense of the term) along with those held by all denominations, sects, cults, and anything else outside of the Two-by-Two sect, according to the workers.
Windows of Heaven
"The conventions opened to us a view that we've never had before and God has shown us the things that pertain to his kingdom, because the windows of heaven have been opened to us and we have been able to see Jesus again in all his beauty." Senior Worker, 1990. See Chapter Ten for full text.
The imaginary porthole by which the workers supposedly get their views of heavenly things.
Word of God
This term, coming from a worker's lips, or from a member of the Two-by-Two church, most often refers to every word spoken by a worker while he or she is preaching. They sometimes are referring to the Bible, but one can hardly make the distinction, for they use the same term for both. This will help to throw a listening Christian off the trail of errors because it sounds good. Scripture as the only word of God is denied, though no other book than the Bible is used or recognized as the word of God. Denial of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) is necessary in order that the workers' words from the preaching platform be accepted as the word of God.
"Keep His words. Not only the Bible's words but also what is spoken when He feeds us through His ministry." Senior Worker, Post Falls, 1972.
Work (The)
See "Ministry (The)."
Worker
"Our workers are near the level of Jesus. Some are at His level. Jesus is very human and our example." Elder, Fellowship Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, May 5, 1985.
A Two-by-Two preacher; an apostle; responsible for evangelism, teaching, discipline, oversight of members, and comes under the direction of the regional Head worker. In order to become a worker, or "enter the Work" as they say, a member must be unmarried, give up all material possessions, and go out preaching; committed to remain so for life. They travel in pairs (hence the Two-by-Two name) of the same sex. Workers can be either sex, but females are lower in rank no matter how senior in years over the male workers. Workers are housed, fed and clothed by non-preaching member families who are "worthy."
Worker's Lists
There are two types. The first type are lists of workers' names and host addresses. The second type lists members names and addresses, and are for the use of the workers, though some elders and members are also given these.
Worker's Meetings
Meetings, usually held at conventions (but which may be held if needed at other times and places), in which new
workers are initiated and any problems are ironed out. I strongly suspect that these meetings are where such global unity as exists, is maintained; where major global decisions are made by Head workers. Head workers travel the globe attending conventions on occasion, so that it is reasonable to assume that any problems of a serious nature can be dealt with by them at such meetings. "Workers' Meetings" are not open to the members, nor are the topics discussed with or reported to the members, so that little becomes known to the member regarding any problems, or how problems have been dealt with. This allows any major problem to be concealed among a few workers, and hiding problems from the members is then very easy. Thus is the lie of complete agreement at all times able to be perpetrated over the member, who of course is awed by the "unity," and encouraged to believe that it is the result of the Spirit of God.
The member can usually rationalize away what differences or problems that are observed, since the serious confrontations and disunity which exist are kept well out of view.
This has a tendency to enhance the pedestal on which he places the workers; a pedestal that one Christian man who became entangled with this group stated, "belongs to the King of Kings." He was correct.
Grant Caseby, written testimony.
Works
"Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter. This tells us what these people did through faith. It was what they did about their faith that saved them. Faith without works is dead. It is through our works by which we are saved." Senior Worker, Gilroy, 1981.
Specifically speaking, the acceptable works of righteousness for the member are: to pick up and transport the elderly and disadvantaged to meetings; to comfort any distressed member if possible; to assure other members of the correctness of "The Truth;" and to serve the workers.
World
"Oftentimes we come into contact with people of the world today who feel the blood of Christ is going to make atonement for everything. If all Jesus was to do was shed His blood, He could have done that in a very short time; but He had a work to do even before He shed His blood. He spent something like thirty three and a half years giving His life to make plain and clear to this world once and for all what was Truth, and what was right and acceptable in the sight of God." Senior Worker, 1968.
The theological issues within the above quote will not be dealt with here, but let it be said that there is much to be concerned with in that respect. What is clearly portrayed here is just who is referred to as "the world." Since non-Christian people either don't know anything about Christian teachings, or reject them, it is unreasonable to think that they would defend the belief that salvation is by the blood of Christ. Therefore it should be obvious that the worker is referring to Christian people; those of the orthodox variety in particular.
"In the world there is the Argument of the Trinity. The Catholics believe in One person. But Jesus said 'That they may be one as we are one.' This was a number of people with one heart, mind and spirit to do one thing. There is one mind and heart of Father and Son and Spirit." Senior Worker, Post Falls Convention, 1989.
The above quote should substantiate this very clearly; as well as to show a serious lack of clear understanding of the Christian terms used to describe the doctrine of the Trinity; the Catholics believe in three "persons" in the one God, not "one person." The denominational churches, especially the Roman Catholic church are those referred to as "the world." And not only the mainstream denominational churches, but cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Scientologists, and Moonies are grouped in with all other denominations, as if there were no basic differences between them doctrinally. And because the doctrinal peculiarities of the above mentioned sects are often so similar to the views held by the Two-by-Twos, they are usually trounced upon all the harder. The workers foster the idea that because the denominations disagree on peripheral issues, and disagree totally with the cults, there is a war between them all. It was such a pleasure for me to find a degree of doctrinal unity between many "denominational churches."
"This is the only Fellowship in the world where elders and ministry work together. All others have a battle going on." Senior Worker, elder's meeting, Eugene, Oregon, March, 1980.
Those who are irreligious, or follow eastern religions, and secular society in general are not the ones referred to as "the world." They present no threat to the Two-by-Twos at all, and are therefore ignored. They are not generally evangelized by the Two-by-Twos. As a matter of fact, these are seen in a more favorable light than the organized churches.
Worldly
To be conforming or sharing beliefs with "the World" (Christian beliefs). Any attitude or activity that opposes the codes of the workers' cult.
Worship
There is very little said in this church regarding worship. The Sunday morning meetings are called fellowship meetings, not worship meetings, or services. They do sing hymns, many of which have been borrowed from the hymnals of other denominations and compiled into their own distinctive hymnal entitled Hymns Old & New (In the index of the 1951 edition, totally capitalized titles are those written by workers or "Friends," while the titles given in lower case are those written by people not members of "The Truth" -- 235 and 110 hymns respectively).
Singing is hardly described as worship by them. I believe that they view worship as simply thankfulness toward God; something that is expressed privately from the heart, not openly in public. Open praise of God is not practiced. In fact, attributing any blessing to the hand of God is usually done in such a vague way that the outsider would likely not notice it.
Physical acts of praise to God, such as raising of the hands, or clapping of hands is viewed as silly.
The words "Praise God" as an expression of praise or thankfulness toward God are not used and are thought to be silly. Even the singing of hymns is done in such a doleful tone and rhythm, that it suits more a funeral march than praise of God. Joy is expressed in such a way as to seem mundane, or lacking in exuberance altogether, for expression of such emotion is viewed as silly. Submission may at times be thought of as worship (in the sense of bowing down), but actual submission is to the workers, rather than to God. Kneeling for prayer is the closest thing to bowing down to God, but this is seldom practiced.
Their practice of quietness, or near absolute silence prior to the commencement of a meeting is probably offered in some cases as worship to God, but I think that God likes joyful noise from His people. Even now, after several years in an orthodox church, my own expression of praise to God embarrasses me, in that it tends to be expressed in tears of joy that sometimes disallows me to sing. The old tendency to suppress emotion causes what leaks out to take that form, but God has been so good to me that suppression of all emotional expression is quite impossible for me now.
Hymns Old & New, q.v.
"An unrighteous person is one who doesn't worship God in the right way or think right thoughts." Senior Worker, Walla Walla, Washington, 1959.
Worthy
One who is considered to be in accord with the teachings of the workers. One who is "humble" in appearance, and seems to have things under control. One who is financially stable, having the facilities available to accommodate, feed, finance, and otherwise take care of the needs of the workers. The "worthy" family must be able to overlook the extra stress exerted upon them by not only an intruder from outside their family in their private domain, but the terrific stress of having to put on their best act of "righteousness" without a break for days at a time. This act would include the hushing of family related difficulties, which could become extremely stressful if the children are in their adolescence and going through a rebellious stage of life.
The child of this category will suffer the stress of having another, almost superhuman, authority figure within the home. The parents will suffer the stress related to a desire that the child "behave" in an appropriate manner. If at any time during a stay of a worker, the family breaks down in any area, it could mean that their "worthy" status will be tainted, and future "privilege" of having a worker stay at their home may become jeopardized. This can be very stressful even after the worker has left, since gossip will follow such a case church-wide. This is but to scratch the surface of the problems related to being deemed "worthy," but will give a good idea of the emotional cost of status maintenance for all concerned. Blessed are the children in families considered "unworthy; " they have more freedom to be themselves!
There is also the aspect of being "worthy" before God that is held to be necessary by the workers and members of their cult! This in no way implies that one has received absolute perfection through the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ to one's account. Indeed it entails great effort at becoming righteous all by one's self. This supposed righteousness is to be achieved gradually as one succeeds in ridding one's self of sins; in effect becoming righteous just like Jesus did! In fact, a great cry goes up to their god every Sunday, for him to supply strength in order that the one praying be enabled to become worthy of His love! No one seems to realize that if God were to somehow grant the petitions of such a prayer, then He would have had to have lied when He stated that salvation is by Grace through faith, as a gift from Him, and not achievable by the efforts of men no matter how genuine the desire of men to achieve it. You cannot purchase a Gift! (Ephesians 2:8, paraphrase) According to scripture, God gives men salvation even as they do not deserve it (Grace) through our trust (Faith) in the completed work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Nowhere in Scripture is there any inkling given that God supplies men with the "strength" to achieve salvation through making one's own self righteous (Works), or by our becoming "worthy" of His love.
It is hypocritical and illogical for one to pray for God to provide unmerited "worthiness."
This is asking for another Christ other than the Christ which He has provided. It is also asking God to give again, by His unmerited favor (Grace), the imputed worthiness which He has already provided, once for all, through His Gracious sacrifice of Jesus for all the sins of the world. By rejecting the first and only gift of grace, and insisting on a fresh sacrifice, they reject both Christ and God.
This idea is but the active imagination of people who insist on rejecting God's GIFT, mainly because of the value of that GIFT. It is thought that such a valuable thing as eternal life could never be received unless a heavy duty price be paid for it by the receiver; thus the love of God is rejected, His gift is rejected, and Jesus Christ's righteousness is refused!
Can you imagine the indignation and hurt of a loving God who wants to give away such a gift?
Could it be greater than the indignation and hurt felt by a worker who is refused her gift of a Bible by her new convert?
May the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, touch any spot of understanding within the heart of the reader.
Wrong
Any view that disagrees with that held by the workers.
"Trusting in the Blood is the wrong thing. It will only bring disillusionment. "Senior Worker, Spokane, Washington, 1983.
