The latest issue of the Bible Standard magazine July/August 2010 contains some harsh words for those that have left their group.
On page 57 in the top right column it says, “It is for this reason that those who once were in, but then go out from, the light of Present Truth, can think, and say, and do, more mean and contemptible things than can the worldly that still retain helps to order and decency by having in mind what their fellows in life would think of their course, their words and conduct.”
The article presents two options for people: being "in the light" of their truth and remaining loyal to it or "being in outer darkness" for having left that truth or not being in contact and understanding it as they do.
On page 57, column 1, paragraph 1, it states: “It is rather for us to show our obedience to the Lord, to demonstrate our love for Him with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and strength, by acquiescing to the Divine arrangements and judgments”. In this case they mean "the Truth and its arrangements" as defined by their group or their leader. Anyone who disagrees with the present establishment is going against "the arrangements".
The article identifies those in darkness as those who have left the “present truth”. Page 56, paragraph 3: “The inference is plain that those who were once in the light and go out of the light into darkness will feel as contented as those who have never come into the light of present truth...“They seem to be capable of saying and doing and thinking more mean, uncharitable, wicked things, than before they were enlightened.”
I am one such person who does not agree with the “present truth” teachings of the Bible Standard Ministries. I also know many other Christ followers who have also left. They are living good lives and following Jesus.
These statements are offensive and sectarian. They are coercive to those who are in the “present truth”. They say that if you "don’t acquiesce to the Divine arrangements and judgments", you will be manifested as being one in outer darkness. The article, “Speak the Same Things” makes it clear that “perfect unity of thought, of mind” (p. 52, paragraph 1) is the proper and the right condition for those associated with the “Movement”. This amounts to spiritual abuse.
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4 comments:
Not to agree with the info here.
A point of interest: 2John esp vs.7-11
Good Scripture and to the point. The question then becomes...what is the truth? Not so easy to discern. Especially when you are taking the words of 1 or 2 people as being a special messenger from God that have more authority to interpret Scripture than you do as a thinking Christian. Read the verses that come just before the ones you mentioned. 2John 5-6. "...I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." Some truths are more important than others. Some are more practical than others. Some are worth splitting over and others are not. You can die for some, defend some, and discuss others. When you put everything into the "die for" category is when you create problems. One of the issues the pharisees had was that they added many new rules to the Scripture that they felt needed to be followed to please God.
Matthew 28:19-20… Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2Peter 3:14-18 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Luke 12:41-44
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Acts 8 Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [c] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Do we need the help from others?
Are we humble, meek or teachable enough?
John wrote the last of scripture. The trinity and many other doctrines developed many years after John’s writings.
Are we accepting a “new commandment”? or are we holding on to the truth about Jehovah?
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