The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his073/cult07.arj/CULT07.TXT

Text File | 1990-05-15 | 12KB | 208 lines

                            Cult of Error
                               THE WAY

.    You are approached on the street by a young man with a Bible.  A
member of the Jesus movement?  He may try to give that impression. He
asks a question like, "How many thieves died on crosses near Jesus?"
When you reply with an answer from the Bible he goes, "Aha, You're
wrong."  Then he gives an entirely different number or answer and asks
you, "Don't you wish you could know the Bible as well as I do?"  At
the end of the conversation he may say, "I'll bet you have never hecrd
the Scriptures explained like this before, have you?"  Who is this
young man?
.    Almost 2000 years ago Jesus prophesied the increase of false
prophets in the end times.  The world has continued confirming His
word by adding yet another group to the expanding list of cults.  "The
Way International" or the "Way Bible Research Institute", most
commonly called "The Way", iq a growing pseudo-Christian organization
largely comprised of young adults.  It is developing into a menace to
right-on body ministries and fellowships.
.    As most cults operate, the Way innocently infiltrates a
fellowship.  After the meeting they elgage new Christians in Biblical
discussions and invite them to Bible studies.  Left undisturbed, The
Way members will display loving dispositions and appear quite
harmless.  But beware - they are dangerous and would love to steal
sheep from the flock and create damaging divisions in a fellowship.
They preach another gospel and a different Jesus than the one you have
received.  No matter how they may disguise their message with clever
word games, it is erroneous.

                        VICTOR PAWL WIERWILLE

.    The Way's founder and teacher is Victor Paul Wierwille.  He
propagates his many apostate doctrines by misusing some scriptures and
ignoring others.
.    Wierwille has stated that he has produced the only "pure and
correct" interprevation of the Bible since the first century.  Nearly
all founders of cults take this proud unscriptural view: Herbert W.
Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God, Witness Lee of the Local
Church, Joseph Smith of the Mormons, Charles Russel of the Jehovah's
Witnesses.  Wierwille has also said, "I have read every commentary in
existence; I consign every one of them to Gehenna!"
                          THE INSPIRED WORD

.    Wierwille teaches that, "The Bible as a whole is not relevant to
all people of all times."  He rejects the Old Testament and the
Gospels as unnecessary.  Only the rest of the New Testament is
relevalt for his group which he calls the "Church of God."  The Way
also teaches that the Bible is not the Word of God, but only contains
the word of God.
.    The Bible teaches us an entirely different thing.  In II Timothy
3:16, the scripture clearly states that, "ALL scripture is given by
inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness."
.    The Greek word used in this verse for inspiration is theopneutos
and literally means God-breathed,  This is not the same word used for
inspiring music or books.  It is a special word denoting God's
penmanship.
.    The Bible says in II Peter 1:20, 21 that "Knowing this first,
that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Fop the prophecy came not in old times by the will of man, but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

                           COURSES FOR SALE

.    Wierwille offers numerous courses at a high price.  Each course
costs $65 or more.  To take all of his courses could cost a disciple
hundreds of dollars.  The initial "Bible" course, "Power for Abundant
Living," promises that right "believing" will keep away sickness,
insure prosperity, and even protect soldiers from enemy bullets.
Poverty is condemned as the result of imperfect faith.  The "Good
Life" is the proper reward for believing.
.    Wierwille seemingly teaches for gain and is nothing more than a
sophisticated Reverend Ike.  The Bible warns the Church about such
false teachers who preach for worldly gain.  II Peter 2:3 says that
such men are under judgment and damnation.  "And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment
now a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not".

                         THE DIETY OF CHRIST

.    The most dangerous of all Wierwille's teachings are"those
concerning the Trinity and the Deity of Christ.  He teaches that Jesus
is the Son of God, but not God the Son.  "You shmw me one place in the
Bible where it says he is God," Wierwille thunders.  "I don't want you
rapping your double talk, your tpiple talk; all I want is Scripture!"
.    John 1:1 and 14 says, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word
was with God and Uord was God...And the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth".
.    Col. 2:9 tells us exactly what Jesus is, "For in him dwelleth all
the fullness of thg Godhead bodily."  The Greek word for Godhead is
Theotes meaning deity.  In other words, Jesus is the bodily
manifestation of all the fullness of Deity.
.    I Timothy 3:16 states this spiritual truth even plainer, "God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory."  Jesus is God the flesh.
.    "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the
government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6
.    Vhere is the excellent example of Thomas' unbelief changed to
belief in chapter 20 of John.  Thomas was absent when Jesus revealed
Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.  Thomas refused to
believe unless he saw and touched the nailprints and tje scar of the
spear on Jesus' side.
.    Later Jesus appeared to the disciples with Thomas present.  Jesus
said to Thomas, "Peach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and
reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not
faithless, but `elieving", Thomas responded with, "My Lord and my
God."  Jesus answered him saying, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me
thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed".

                             THE TRINITY

.    Uierwille absolutely rejects the Trinity calling such a doctrine
paganism and polytheistic.  In I John 5:7 the concept of the Tpinity
is given.  "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three ape one."  The
word "one" can mean one in unity as well as one in number.
.    John 17:11 speaks of the unity of the Father and the Son.  Jesus
answered Philip in John 14:9, "Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip?  He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
.    Jesus says about the Holy Spirit kn John 14:16-17, "and I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may
abide with you forever: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  In these
verses the Holy Spirit is shown to be a member of the Godhead, yet a
distinct Person from both Jesus and the Father.
.    Wierwille does not believe that the Holy Spirit is a distinct
personage and says. "the Holy Spirit is just a synonym for God."
.    The Father is called God, and the Son is called God, and the Holy
Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4).  As individual persons each can be
called God and collectively they can be spoken of as one God because
of their perfect unity.  Everything said collectively about God
applies equally to each member of the Godhead.  There are some things
spoken of each personality of the trinity such as office, position and
work that are unique to that individual.
.    An example is the Father having the position as the head of
Jesus.  "But I would have you know that the head of every man is
Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ
is God."  I Corinthians 11:3.
.    Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father and the price paid
for the redemption of man.  "For God so loved the world that he gave
his only begmtten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16.
.    Jesus is the mediatop between us and the Father.  I Timothy 2:5.
.    The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father in Jesus' name and will
teach us and anoint us with power.  "But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
aln things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you."  John 14:26.
.    "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and il Samaria and unto the utter most parts of the earth."
Acts 1:8.
.    The different names of God denote plurality.  The Hebrew Elohim
is the word used for God in Genesis 1:1 and in over 2700 other
scriptures in the Old Testament.  It is a plural noun mganing God, and
is translated 239 times as God.  Usually Elohim, a plural noun, is
used with a singular verb, showing unity in"plurality.  Plural
personal pronouns are also used in reference to God.  "And God said,
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." Genesis 1:26.
The Old and New Testament concept of God is plural and triune.

                            FALSE PROPHETS

.    Is Victor Wierwille merely an uneducated man ignorant of the
Scriptures?  Unfortunately, he is not.  Formeply he was a United
Church of Christ minister.  He has studied at the University of
Chicago Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary.  Wierwille
is a man, who being knowledgeable of the Bible, has rejected God's
truth in utter rebellion.
.  " Wierwille fulfills the Scriptures on false teachers.  "For there
are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers...; Whose mouths must
be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought
not for filthy Lucre's sake....Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith;" Titus 1:10a, 11, 13.
.    The followers of The Way commonly portray the druits of false
teaching by living carnal lives.  Titus 1:15-16 clearly illustrates
their spiritual state, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto
them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their
mind and conscience is defiled.  They profess that they know God; but
in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient and unto
every good work reprobate."
.    The heart of Christianity is not an organization but a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord.  Don't be led astray by false
doctrine.  There is no other gospel, only the one you have received.
(Gal. 1:6-8)
.    If any of The Way come to your fellowship, coffeehouse, or
churches, please ask them to leave.  The Way has just recently invaded
Chicago, trying to establish a work here.  Do not help them get rooted
by ignorance or tolerance.  Give them a false prophets left foot of
fellowship.  Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
enterest not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber...Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep." John 10:1,7.
.    Do not be fooled!  They are not just sweet people but dangerous
robbers of the sheepfold.  "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10a.

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