This site is written and maintained by EX members of this Secretive, Religious sect.
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We want to expose certain facts that have been carefully hidden from the members of this religion.
- We also want to inform the general public about this secretive group.
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Why don't the members of this group have all the facts?
- The early leaders of this 100+ year old church carefully concealed the truth of it's history.
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As a result they do not publish anything about their history, beliefs, or how they operate.
- This religious group is likely one of the few that try to remain hidden--and yet they have thousands of members worldwide!
An Overview of The Church Without A Name
The people, known within the group as "friends", believe that they alone, are in God's true and ONLY church.
In reality this no-name church was founded in Ireland in the late 1890's by a man named William Irvine. He was joined by Edward Cooney, who was later expelled. Cooney's small group of followers (Cooneyites) still survive today.
At the start Irvine's followers were required to renounce all and become "workers." Eventually his own workers excommunicated him and since that time they no longer acknowledge him as their founder.
Irvine's movement spread rapidly at first and continues today. It is in most countries and although no records are kept; no doctrine is published, and publicity is shunned; there are thousands of "professing people" worldwide.
The friends, also known as "saints", and "God's people", take pride in the "true ministry." The workers (preacher/evangelists) leave their paid careers, give up all possessions, remain unmarried and take no salary. (However, money is slipped to them quietly by the saints to assure they are well provided for. Tax receipts are not issued for these offerings.) Head workers in each area send out workers in pairs, hence the nickname, by "outsiders", of Two-By-Twos. The area in which each set of workers (either two males or two females) preach is called a "field." These "ministers of the gospel" live with the friends, moving to a different friends' house every few nights. They eat the friends' food and drive the friends' cars.
This group publishes only a scant few items. Their hymn book, entitled "HYMNS OLD AND NEW
", was published in 1951 and 1987. A "friends' list" giving name, address and phone number, is provided to a local area of friends. (Due to recent attempts to provide the friends with facts concerning their group, many friends' lists no longer contain addresses.)
A list of workers' names and mailing addresses is produced. Notes of workers' sermons, taken from Conventions or Special Meetings, are typed and passed among the friends. (Taking notes of workers' talks is currently discouraged because, as one senior worker stated, "there are people out there who are trying to find out what we believe.")
Within society the friends usually keep a low profile. Women are expected to conform to a strict standard of dress. The "sister workers" set the standards for the women's appearance. Ladies' long hair is usually worn in a bun. Plain dresses or skirts, rather than pants, are the norm. No jewelry is worn, except for watches, wedding bands and pins. No visible make-up is used. Men are to dress conservatively and maintain an "above the ears, off the collar" hair style. Most often beards are frowned upon.
Gospel meetings are held, usually in a rented facility, to recruit new members. Two-By-Twos believe that "new comers" must hear the Gospel preached by the workers in order to gain entrance into the "kingdom." All existing members are expected to attend these Gospel meetings purposefully held to educate "outsiders."
The Sunday morning meetings and weekly Bible study meetings are for members and are held in members' homes. Only the King James version of the Bible is recognized. Christian literature is to be avoided. Workers use allegories throughout their talks to prove their "way" is right or to warn people who might be questioning their beliefs. (It is possible to attend meetings for years and learn very little about God's Word.)
Church property is not acquired, although funds which are given to the workers are used to build and maintain convention buildings. The annual conventions are usually held on farms. These conventions last four days with food and lodging provided. There is no charge and no registration is required, however members do contribute food and/or money. Attendance varies from 300 to over 1,200 people. All members are expected to attend at least one full convention each year.
Generally the Two-By-Twos do not have televisions nor do they attend movies or go dancing. Drinking, smoking and gambling, including playing cards, is out. Christmas and Easter are not celebrated in any religious way.
Contrary to true Bible teaching, the 2x2s, sometimes mistakenly called Cooneyites, do not understand that salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned. Consequently they become "the best living people" in hopes they will earn their salvation. Most do not consider themselves saved, and feel they must remain in the 2x2 system until they die to have even a chance of salvation.
Some who leave "The Truth", as they call it, without learning that the group has a false doctrine and has hidden it's origin, continue to live in fear and feel they are doomed for a lost eternity.
The Two-By-Twos deny Jesus Christ. This would be a shock to them since they feel Jesus is the head of their fellowship. They do not acknowledge that Jesus, Himself, is the Almighty God. They worship "another Jesus."
Their ministers (workers) claim they have worldwide unity. However, they only have unity in the belief that the only true way to Heaven is through THEIR homeless ministry, and the church in the home--their "way."
This no-name church subtly propagates control, fear, guilt and anxiety within its members. However, because of the way they are organized, and because of their beliefs, the people are sheltered and they do not understand that they are in a spiritually abusive and emotionally abusive organization.
There are a growing number of EX-Two-By-Two members who are now informing others about this group. As of 1996 eight books have been published to document the beliefs, explain the history, and reveal the inner workings of the 2x2s.
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES vs. WHAT THE WORKERS' SAY
The WORKERS suggest that SALVATION is through them, by WORKS (self denial)
The BIBLE teaches that SALVATION is through Jesus alone, by grace, through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The WORKERS suggest that REPENTANCE is following the workers' rules and believing other churches are wrong.
The BIBLE teaches that REPENTANCE is turning from sin.
The WORKERS suggest that SIN is "worldliness" as defined by the Workers.
The BIBLE teaches that SIN is the works of the flesh.
The WORKERS suggest that FAITH means following the Workers.
The BIBLE teaches that FAITH is believing in Jesus.
Romans 3:22,25; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 15:14,17
The WORKERS suggest that the GOSPEL is the Two-By-Two homeless ministry and the church in the home. (i.e. their system)
The BIBLE teaches that the GOSPEL is the message of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1-3 This is the Good News.
The WORKERS suggest that TRUTH is the 'meeting' in the home and the Two-By-Two ministry. (i.e. their system)
The BIBLE teaches that the TRUTH is Jesus Christ.
The WORKERS suggest that the WAY is the 'meeting' in the home and the Two-By-Two ministry. (i.e. their system)
The BIBLE teaches that Jesus Christ is the only WAY to God.
The WORKERS suggest that JESUS CAME to show us a ministry. (i.e. the 2x2 homeless ministry--the workers)
The BIBLE teaches that JESUS CAME to be the Savior of the world; to save all who trust in His Sacrifice for their sins.
The WORKERS preach that Jesus is our example; that He is our elder brother.
The BIBLE says that Jesus is GOD. He is our Savior.
John 1:1-14; Luke 1:47; 1 Timothy 2:3; Isaiah 9:6; John 20:28; Titus 2:10
The WORKERS suggest that the Holy Spirit is a force.
The BIBLE teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, that He is God the Holy Spirit.
The WORKERS suggest that the BODY of Christ are all those who follow the workers. (i.e. all those in the 2x2 system)
The BIBLE teaches that the BODY of Christ are all those who believe and follow Jesus.
1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18; 24
The WORKERS suggest that that WORD OF GOD is a dead book unless made alive by one of their workers.
The BIBLE teaches that the WORD OF GOD is alive and powerful and that God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, which is God's Word.
The WORKERS suggest that the CROSS is no big deal.
But the BIBLE says: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
An explanation of why we say (as above) that the Workers *SUGGEST* -
The Two--By-Two Workers preach in such a way that their message is always rather subtle and vague. They do not TEACH so much as they SUGGEST by use of allegories. This leaves those they preach to drawing their own conclusions as to what is meant. (Refer to the sermons by workers in this web site.)
The Workers use allegories. What is an ALLEGORY? "An allegory is a description of one thing under the image of another; a narrative in which a teaching is conveyed symbolically." (eg. from a worker's sermon: "He missed the plane because he was at the wrong gate." translated means: "He did not go to heaven because he was not in the 2x2 way." and "We need a fence around our lives" translated means: "We should not associate with those outside of our group and we need to avoid worldly activities of which the workers do not approve.") It takes time to understand what the 2x2 workers mean when they speak in their "Gospel" meetings. To an "outsider" their preaching style is always confusing and difficult to follow. However, once a "newcomer" has caught on to their preaching and figures out that what they are really saying is that the 2x2 WAY is "God's ONLY way" it is said that he or she has "received the revelation."
By contrast to the 2x2 workers' preaching, a good way to learn about the Bible is through sound EXPOSITORY preaching. Most Christian pastors who teach about the Bible use this method. They explain the Bible; they expound on it. Many a 2x2 having left the sect, has been surprised and delighted by the clear understanding they receive once they have listened to expository preaching. Expository preaching tends to be clear, specific and detailed. Most often the Bible is expounded upon line by line with an explanation of each verse given. This is unlike the 2x2 preaching, as the workers usually have a theme and then they choose the verses or chapters to try to support their theme.
"The Bible is so alive to me now. Since so many verses were taken out of context, and there was so much skipping around, I felt my knowledge was so disconnected. Our pastor teaches the Bible verse by verse. It is so neat to be able to hear the whole story rather than pieces of it. When you study this way, it's pretty hard to get something out of context. So to me, Bible reading is like completely new."
