Church or a Cult?

I would ensure that the church believed in the Trinity, reccomended groups outside of their own and did not suggest that their group was the only one correct.

 

I don't tell this story often but, I am a cult survivor. Trivial to me now, but very devastating at the time.

I had to get to a point of utter despair, financial ruin, abandonment and rejection by my church before I just gave up on trying any more. It took 3 years for me to learn that they did not love me at all and did not consider it a loss to see me go. I had poured my whole heart into that church. I was 23 years old, very young and naive, but I loved the Lord.

They had a chance to instruct me that by my leaving their church, I was leaving God. As much pain as I was in, I was even willing to still believe them and leave God. That is how brainwashed I was. They were very sincere.

The funniest thing (of course now) is that I went straight out of them and into the Word of Faith movement. From one extreme to another. I pursued WOF for a much, much longer time span. I tend to be so simple.

Nevertheless, God is faithful and I learned a lot from the experiences. I even look back on the whole thing and sort of see the them as ordained by God. Meaning, he saw them coming, and allowed me to go through it.

Could I have been smarter? Maybe, but I wasn't and I had to learn a difficult lesson in a very difficult way. I am trying to cling to him more, because I am still prone to being mislead by men.

I learned something about God's ways and I've learned to consult him more about stuff that I am interested in. With honesty, I asked the Lord if it was possible that I could learn difficult things in an easier way. So I stick closer (cling) to him and pay much more attention to the scriptures.

Dave.

 

Hey Walls~To leave Bible-teaching churches would appear as leaving God; especially if one turns from the truth to something centered in false doctrine, eh?

In the case of our youngest son(now 31), when he renounced his Baptist heritage 4yrs ago, he had fallen into the Oneness/Jesus-only cult. He no longer has the "assurance" of his salvation, among other things.

They twist the Scriptures to suit their agenda...it's mandatory to give "at least" 35% of his income...they "require" certain dress-codes, including no facial hair(as a means of getting to Heaven)...they will not "allow" him to be as close to his family as he once was...he has to "check" with the bishop before taking a trip or making major purchases...the "elites" there drive the same kind/color of vehicle...

Well, I could go on & on, but this may give you an idea of what to look for.

 

YIKES, Walls! Right now your posts # is 666! Hurry, quick!

 

Good night! Seems like they would ask for his first born son as well!


"Well, they have, sort of! When he got involved in this mess, the wife-of-his-youth divorced him(they had a son). Being a "baby" christian, she did not know how to handle the change in him.

He has since remarried someone hand-picked-by-the-bishop & they also have a son...he does not ever get to see his firstborn & the second child will be brought up "apostolic".

I don't get to see either one & hardly our son because "we're too-Baptist".

 

David Mark wrote:

I would like to know what church treated you that way?

Was it one we recognize as a cult, like Jehovah's Witnesses or The Way International or a local church?

 

Ask for a copy of their constitution or statement of beliefs. If they don't have one or are hesitant about giving you such information then run just as fast as you can away from them.

Secrecy is a major tenet of most cults as is a very strong effort toward mind manipulation. Restricting normal contact with outsiders (family, friends, and others).

 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Study the Scriptures. Put everything everyone says o the test. Test it with the Word. If the Word doesn't back up what some of these churches are teaching, then you'll know that they are fake and teach lies to the poeple. Stay away from these places. They are from the evil one. Peace. Rev. Mike Estes.

 

It was a local church.

I don't mind disclosing more details for the sake of just being informational. I have no bitterness toward them nor do I desire to degrade them. So I will just try to be factual.

When I joined them they were called The Church of Our Savior (COS) Dr. Frederick Drummond was and as far as I know still is the pastor and he ruled with an iron hand or rather fist. The Church was in Concordville PA, very close to Philadelphia. I've tried to follow their movements and as far as I know they are still in Concordville.

I left them 20 years ago and they have gone through some name changes. Controversy frequently surrounded them in the media. I guess for the most part they referred to themselves as Non-denominational or maybe even Independent Baptist (I'm not sure of that). Nevertheless, their roots or origins were as a baptist assembly.

The story is long, and I will strive to refrain.
They have made it to a national list of cults, and I frequently find them listed as such.

For the most part they preached salvation through the Christ, baptism by immersion and observed the Lord's supper. After that it gets into what I've heard as stewardship error and mind control. All kinds of folks were involved. From layers and other professionals and young naive folks like myself. The whole place was vibrant, zealous and no one could get away with being slack for one second. Everyone had to pull their weight or they were disciplined immediately, publicly, and harshly. Not physically though that I know of. I was one of those who began to stumble at all of my responsibilities and my inabilities were met with quick and painful discipline. Not physical though.

I'll just stop there, but there is so much more.

Cheers,

Dave.

 

I am so glad that God is as fatihful as he says he is. Because he never stopped pursuing me.

He is so very wonderful in that way.

Dave.

 

Okay - Dr. Drummond, from Durban, South Africa, if memory serves.

They were originally a church in Springfield, Missouri, associated with the Baptist Bible Fellowship.

About 1975 they began making plans to move to the Philadelphia area for the Bicentennial.

They moved as a church - about 200 people - and bought land and a building, started businesses with church members to support the church ministries, began a radio and television and print ministry, etc.

I've always wondered what happened to them.

I never went to their church but knew some of their people - went to BBC with them and knew Dr. Drummond slightly.

 

Yes! Yes! Yes!

How amazing that you know all of that.

Dave.

 

Hi, everyone.
I myself went to a independant Baptist Church.
They preached the Word,but I had problems in which they based there personal convictions on.
for ex: Anyone that didnt beleive like we beleived stay away from them, including family members.Also, if a family member fell into sin for a season, God would take someone close to them home, to get there attention. Also it was a shame to have long hair.When ever the church had a event, you were exspected to be there. Or they would ask you if you were slipping into sin.
This is of man, not God!
The church is no longer around! I wonder why!

 

The problem with a Shame to have long hair,
is I was told to have my hair above the ears.
Where is that scriptual? Secondly, High Priests had long hair, to stand out from everyone else.
Were the Priests all wrong? Thirdly,if people would quit judgeing other people from there out ward appearance, maybe more people would get Saved!