buylotrogold

On the recent ABCNEWS TV program, 20/20, viewers saw and heard (I refer to the unedited, uncorrectedd tran_script_), a one-sided perspective - it was clearly not 20/20 vision - of a certain church group whose faith in healing has led to the deaths of children in Oregon. I say one sided only because Chris Wallace was unable to interview in depth any current leader of the church, Followers of Christ. Those he interviewed, whether former members, parents, or outsiders did not provide any real insight into this cult's religion other than a simple 'God heals and if'n He don't, it is His will' outlook. That simply is not fair. Perhaps this reflects ABCNEWS fundamental attitude towards Christianity, of not presenting a favorable picture of the Christian walk - would they present an unfavorable treatment, say, of a Jewish or Islamic cult? Of course the bottom line is the producers sense of what makes for 'news.' And news makes for ratings ... and sick kids and cults are always hot items. Especially when the modifier, Christian, can be used. Of course we would prefer that they withold the story until they are able to comment in some depth just how this group relies on the _script_ures for healing. That is, nowhere in the text is there a sound _script_ural reference to Jesus Christ as Healer. The thrust is on the cult's faith, or religion, but not on Jesus Christ and yet that 'faith,' we presume, rests on Him. The stories of children suffering from hernia etc. are sickening, yes. But what does NOT emerge from this onesided story is that the cult is NOT Christian! But no one sought to put that spin on the story. There is no evidence whatever in the text that any leader of this cult ever sought the mind of Christ VIA HIS HOLY SPIRIT for guidance into healing! We therefore assume they merely stand on the written Word in times of crisis. That is, they pray. I have thundered against this practice and will do so until Christ our Lord takes me home! It is wrong, wrong, wrong! to not first seek HIs mind as to how one is to proceed when grave matters are at hand. For a spiritual leader at such times to pontificate on Christ the healer and then support their his beliefs by tossing in various healing verses is totally wrong! So I think. No! These unspiritual leaders are guilty, among other things, of not inculcating in their flocks over time an ever increasing faith in the Word of God, where that 'faith' depends on one's sensitivity to what is of God, and what is not! And that, my brother/sister comes only by a life centered more and more on His Presence for guidance and direction. Please see the full text on theNEWS website. I excerpt only a few items to comment on. (VO) It’s Sunday morning in Oregon City. And services are about to begin at the Followers of Christ Church. But if the scene looks familiar, outsiders worry that the lives of the group’s most helpless members could be in danger. TERRY GUSTAFSON, DISTRICT ATTORNEY We have neighbors who have called in and told us about children screaming and crying in pain and parents giving them nothing but prayer. JEFF GREEN, POLICE DETECTIVE I can’t believe that somebody would let their own child die. COMMENT: I can. These people are NOT followers of the Jesus Christ of the Bible. They are true fanatics, totally deceived and being used by Satan to sully and demean the name of the Son of God. I ask you, did not Jairus first SEEK Jesus for his daughter's healing? This distraught parent did not stand on the OT promises! No, he first sought the Healer. Christians today are to seek the mind of the Spirit of God first. Mere praying such as is the emphasis in this cult is not the same as seeking Him. RUSS BRIGGS, FORMER FOLLOWERS MEMBER ... They’re some of the best parents you could ever find anywhere. CHRIS WALLACE Why then are they allowing them to die these terrible deaths? RUSS BRIGGS God’s will. COMMENT: STOP! It is NOT the will of the God of the Bible that any perish, especially in light of His covenant name, Jehovah Rapha, the God that is healing thee! This view is not only un_script_ural it is blasphemous! Who, I ask, wants to follow a god who puts disease on his followers? This is demonic garbage! CHRIS WALLACE (VO) It’s a faith the Followers have no interest in sharing with outsiders. COMMENT: Precisely! Christians are the Light of this world. For any Christian to hide this light is to deny Christ as their Saviour. This group is NOT following Jesus Christ. It is a lie, and these poor dupes are paying for following the father of lies, Satan. (CHRIS WALLACE, on camera) Can you tell us why your group is allowing these children to die without getting them medical care? PHYLLIS SMITH, CHURCH MEMBER We’re trying to live our religion. COMMENT: Fine, sister! But do NOT identify yourselves with Jesus Christ, the Healer since, obviously, none of you seek His will or His Spirit for guidance. Indeed, it is 'religion,' and not Christ the Healer whom you are involved with. And guess who is the 'leader' who you're involved with? CHRIS WALLACE (on camera) The Followers have their own cemetery on the outskirts of town, and dozens of children are buried here in tiny graves. But what’s most chilling about coming here is that medical experts say many of these children didn’t have to die, that their lives were sacrificed for their parents’ religious beliefs. DR LARRY LEWMAN (PH), OREGON STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER It’s senseless. It is totally, completely senseless ... CHRIS WALLACE (VO) It all started with one man, Walter White, a “fire and brimstone” preacher who brought the church to Oregon in the ’30s. The Followers believe that God appeared to him in a dream and chose him to lead their group. COMMENT: Clearly, to me, a man totally insensitive to the Holy Spirit who indwells all who believe in Christ the Healer. Such extreme literalists are the very tools of the devil, using God's precious Word against Him by misleading those unable to draw close to God by His Spirit. Such innocents are worse than dupes, they are victims of a hoax that has eternal implications - their stance denies Christ Jesus as the God who heals. RUSS BRIGGS Very dictatorial, all powerful. He was considered to be a lot closer to God. And he interpreted God’s word for his church and his congregation. COMMENT: I'll bet he did! I've known others like this, and I BEG anyone who is subject to such an ass, flee now! God's Spirit indwells you and He, not man, can open the _script_ures to your spirit. CHRIS WALLACE (VO) White has been dead for almost 30 years, but his congregation of more than 1,000 still follows the path he laid out for them. They send their children to public schools, and many of the Followers work in town. But they are told not to socialize with outsiders. And as Russ Briggs found out, anyone who leaves the church is shunned even by his own brothers and sister. COMMENT: First of all, any socalled Christian group that conducts its 'religion' in a corner, i.e., shuns the public, cannot be of God! It is not Christian despite their use of the _script_ures! One such still exists in Indiana, their leader having died a horrible death thru standing only on the Word when he ought to have SOUGHT the Living Word. Look first at whether a group is secretive. If it is, in any way, shun it like Hell itself! God's people are children of the Light, Jesus Christ, and are to shine in this evil world. Hence secrecy is not, indeed cannot be, of God. CHRIS WALLACE (VO) But what really separates the Followers from most people is what Walter White taught them about treating the ill. He preached that they should put their faith in God, not medicine, that prayer is all there is to cure any illness. COMMENT: There is a whole lot more! We are to be led, directed, controlled by His Spirit, and it is this aspect of the Christian walk that is totally absent from this cult's philosophy. DR LARRY LEWMAN If you’re an adult and you want to die this way and become a martyr, that’s your business. But you can’t apply that philosophy to a child. COMMENT: Exactly! This cult has a philosophy, it does not have Christ Jesus. CHRIS WALLACE The death of Bo Phillips and the attention it has brought to faith healing is now prompting action in the Oregon legislature. A bill will be introduced next week to change the law so that parents who refuse to get medical help for their children can be prosecuted. COMMENT: Do you see how Satan corrupts a man who, for reasons that are never clear, is able then to influence others to follow him? But we Christians are to follow a man ONLY as he follows Christ! (1 Cor 11.1). And if one does not know the _script_ures firmly, it is easy to be mislead by false leaders who spout the Word constantly, misapplying it to fit scenarios and situations that make one sick, rather than offer healing. If you, reader, know of anyone remotely connected with a cult that is not open, it is your Christian duty to warn them, even if it costs you their 'friendship.' In the long run it may cost you much more, a whole lot more (Ezek. 33.7-9). The man who delivers my fire wood is, I have reason to think, involved with a similar cult in Washingon state. I have failed to penetrate his Christian beliefs since he will not discuss them with me. But I fear for his family in the years ahead except he comes to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. JT This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it