Many Christians would say the LHMM is a cult primarily because they do not believe in the Trinity. So for theological reasons it could be characterized as a cult because its views differ in some major respects from mainstream Christianity. The LHMM may be more of a sect than a cult. They claim to be non-denominational and non-sectarian but in practice they are not. For example, you won't find any Catholics or Lutherans among their fellowship. They believe you must leave those other churches for the purity of doctrine within their own group.
There is a large difference between theory (teaching) and practice within the LHMM. Here are four categories of typical cult traits and explanation of how the LHMM does not conform ...
1. Taking advantage of members:
- No breaking of the law or sexual abuse
- No stockpile of weapons
- No physical violence
- No financial pledges or tithing of members required
- Church meetings are not wild, but quiet rational discussions or lectures on beliefs
2. Non-authoritarian:
- No clergy or bishops
- Democratic voting in church matters
- Shared leadership in giving talks, leading meetings
3. No overt mind control:
- No creed to subscribe for membership
- No creed to be elder or speaker for movement
- Teaches that one should prove all things and not to accept with unquestioning minds the teachings of the church
- Questions encouraged in church meetings and conventions
- Lengthy debating done at mealtimes on beliefs
4. Non-exclusive:
- Does not keep any membership rolls
- Accepts as brother any who profess Jesus as savior
- Little proselytizing
- Believes there are Christians in other churches
- Does not condemn to hell all those outside group
- Believes that heathen and unbelievers can be saved
- Teaches that God loves all mankind
- Believes that God has given certain truths to each denomination
One cult characteristic is that they have a charismatic leader. It can be argued that Paul Johnson was this leader from the respect given to him and way people that met him talk about him. He died in 1950 and so the LHMM's charismatic leader only has influence through his writings.
A cult mindset is shown through the unquestioning acceptance of authority, the dependence of a fixed pattern of thought or behavior, and a willingness to rationalize unethical behavior. Some of these characteristics are present in the LHMM. The antidote against this mindset is the willingness to question accepted ideas, a priority given to truth over personal wishes, and a refusal to justify means over ends.
Following are some good resources to look at and see if they apply:
Abusive Churches and Control Oriented Leadership
Cults and Spiritually Abusive Churches
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse
Ask yourself these questions: Can you leave the LHMM? If not, why not?
Is the idea of being associated with a group that is a known as a cult to anyone beneficial to witnessesing?
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8 comments:
"The LHMM may be more of a sect than a cult. They claim to be non-denominational and non-sectarian but in practice they are not. For example, you won't find any Catholics or Lutherans among their fellowship. They believe you must leave those other churches for the purity of doctrine within their own group."
This is a strange comment, and while it appears that you, at some time in your life were in affiliation with the LHMM, it is also apparent that you did not understand the movement that you were affiliated with.
It is a fact that many ministers of other churches over the years have used by their own choice LHMM literature in their own personal ministries. This fact is apparent by the letters sent to the LHMM and published in their magazines over the years. I have also seen some of this in my personal ministry. One minister in western New York is currently leading a Bible Study on God with his congregation, using Epiphany volume 1 as a study guide.
Incidently, I have personally had much spiritual intercourse with both Catholics and Protestants in my community, have spoken in some of there local churches as a guest and consider them or any others who profess belief in Jesus Christ as my brethren.
"In practice, disagreements with the [movement] are not tolerated and will lead to disfellowship or loss of position."
Not true... any affiliated believer has every right to believe as his/her studies lead them to believe. Each is free, and totally responsible to study to show themselves approved UNTO GOD.... difficulty will arise however, as it would in any church movement or organization, if an appointed representative of that group rises up and teaches against the stand that group takes officially from the pulpit... for why would a religious group want to commend leaders who teach things opposite of what they stand for?
"The democratic nature of the group is contradicted by the star-member teaching."
The "democratic nature of the group" lies in each ecclesia or congreagation being the mistress of her own affairs... it decides by democratic vote what it will study and when; who will be its leaders and what duties they will be responsible for. What wisdom is there in doing things any other way. Most churches have their leaders appointed for them by some board or synod... these leaders stay in position until that same board decides to move them along. We have seen terrible wrongs done to parishoners by lurid priests and twisted ministers, who at the same time are protected by those that appointed them... in the Catholic Church, the JW Society and many other groups. LHMM affiliated classes are independent congregations who make their own decisions. Most generally, there leaders are voted on once each calendar year, therefore, if one gets out of line along some line of character or teaching, they can be removed by those whom they serve, which is as it should be.
"In practice, you must believe in the writings of Russell, Johnson, Jolly, etc. as the final authority. Those that were "star members" have more authority as do those that are of higher classes."
Nowhere in LHMM teaching has it ever been stated that one must BELIEVE IN THE WRITINGS OF RUSSELL, JOHNSON, JOLLY, ETC. No one that I know of in this group believes any of these brothers were infallible, and none of these brothers made such a claim, but always insisted that the final word and authority comes from the WORD.... and requires a Thus saith the LORD in order for it to be true.
While Star Members carry as much authority as the LORD Himself gave to them, lets make it clear that we are not talking about preferred members of the LHMM... for the LHMM really has no membership... it is a fund and a public work. The associated brethren are just that - associated with this work. The Star Members referred to are those folks down through the entire Gospel Age that God used and raised up as leaders of His people, and through whom He gave the Bible understanding that was then due to be understood. It is a fact that the majority of these brothers were trinitarians down through the age, so according to your theory the LHMM recognizes important leaders to be men who taught the opposite of that movement. However, the truth of the matter is that during the darker part of the Gospel Age, few understood the truth on this matter, and those that got anywhere close to its truth (Arius and Servetus) were singled out as enemies of the Gospel. None of the Star Members (which include Luther and Wesley) were infallible men, but each contributed to the purifying of the Gospel in the time in which he served.
"The the freedom of thought is contradicted by the star-member teaching and the repeated study of the same volumes."
No one I know believes every thing verbatim that any star member taught, except for those who were inspired Apostles appointed by Jesus Christ Himself.
The repeated study of the same works would be justified if those works contained provable truths... which they do.
"In practice, people in other churches are looked at as in error and with a somewhat prideful attitude."
This is a presumptious comment - While I have known a person or two who has displayed this unhealthy view, it is not a characteristic of those affiliated with the LHMM. No religious group has the corner on the market for possession of pride. You appear to manifest this trait in your own attitude... and you are making comparison between LHMM affiliated brethren everywhere and that LHMM person in your mind.
"The thought is that if those people were truly serious about studying the Bible, then God would lead them into the truth as the LHMM understands it."
This is a ludicrous thought. I would say the average person therein believes that most people are where they are able to be as to their beliefs... you cannot see what you cannot see, and it is clear that Christians persay are in various stages of belief and that personal belief can be broken down into many catagories.... one brother might be further developed along certain lines of faith and practice and yet may lag behind in others. We are not better than other people, but we do carry a certain line of teaching and belief that naturally causes us to flock together.
"The non-exclusive nature of the LHMM is contradicted by their teaching that God has cast off the churches, they are Babylon (and will be destroyed soon), the Great Company, revolutionism, and sifters."
You have not expressed this thought so clearly... for Babylon relates to organizations or manmade systems... not to individual people... if we condemn a particular organization (viz. the Papacy), we are condeming the organization, not the individual within. Jesus died for all. There are thousands of Christian Churches and denominations... they can't all be right, for they all contradict one another. We seek to understand the places they contradict and the "why so's"
"One cult characteristic is that they have a charismatic leader. It can be argued that Paul Johnson was this leader from the respect given to him and way people that met him talk about him. He died in 1950 and so the LHMM's charismatic leader only has influence through his writings."
I could be argued that the LHMM was started by three drunk frogs... but like your argument, it too would be wrong. Paul Johnson was not a man who sought to be followed as you suggest, not one that is blindly followed by any. He was a man of reason.... and he would ask, as any sane person should, that if you follow something that he taught, that you should be able to give reasonable proof as to why you would do so.
"A cult mindset is shown through the unquestioning acceptance of authority, the dependence of a fixed pattern of thought or behavior, and a willingness to rationalize unethical behavior. Some of these characteristics are present in the LHMM. The antidote against this mindset is the willingness to question accepted ideas, a priority given to truth over personal wishes, and a refusal to justify means over ends."
Any person who has come into the midst of a LHMM ecclesia, must as a fact "question accepted ideas" of this congregation in order to fall in line with it... for who could find comfort in a belief system that they have not truly tested. With a motto of studying to show oneself approved, and to the proving of all things and retaining that which is good, what better way to learn and grow in the Lord. We rather encourage folks to question authority; i.e., anything they see or hear that does not seem to jive with reality and justice.
I totally disagree. The LHMM used to be a place where there was democracy, classes as "mistresses of their own affairs," justice, fairness, the ability to discuss, ask questions, and use the "spirit of a sound mind." That is no longer the case. Having been associated with this group for much of my life, and being a pretty neutral person at heart, it says a lot that I would feel this way. Recently it has become more controlling, less fair, and less based on Christian principles. Such beautiful doctrines are now corrupted by lack of fairness and sound judgement within the movement itself. Sorry...can't agree.
meg
you said: "The LHMM used to be a place where there was democracy, classes as "mistresses of their own affairs," justice, fairness, the ability to discuss, ask questions, and use the "spirit of a sound mind." That is no longer the case."
That is interesting... but I'm not sure what you mean. Just how is it that the "LHMM" has any effect on your home ecclesia? There has always been a wide separation betweent he work of this movement and the local classes. In fact, what goes on in any of these ecclesia's is NOT THE BUSINESS OF THE LHMM. One occasion comes to mind back a few years when a member of our ecclesia went to the leader of the LHMM with a complaint about some things going on in the class. He called a meeting with all of our elders, and the first thing he said was, "I probably should not be in this meeting, as it does not concern the LHMM's work, but since your class has elected me as a general pastor, I will try to mediate your situation." The situation was resolved with his help, but I was even more impressed that he felt he was treading on eggs in this mediation, because the affairs of a class are private.
At no time in the last 30 years has the LHMM ever invaded our space. We do not send the results of our class elections to them... in fact it could better be stated that the movement belongs to such brethren, not that they and their classes belong to the movement, for it is THEIR WORK by choice.
Having been associated with this group for much of my life, and being a pretty neutral person at heart, it says a lot that I would feel this way. Recently it has become more controlling, less fair, and less based on Christian principles. Such beautiful doctrines are now corrupted by lack of fairness and sound judgement within the movement itself. Sorry...can't agree.
"One occasion comes to mind back a few years when a member of our ecclesia went to the leader of the LHMM with a complaint about some things going on in the class. He called a meeting with all of our elders, and the first thing he said was, "I probably should not be in this meeting, as it does not concern the LHMM's work"
His first thought was right. He should not have been involved.
LHMM is now saying you have to serve the LHMM. Completely inappropriate.
"LHMM is now saying you have to serve the LHMM. Completely inappropriate."
Interesting thought.. but if you are quoting a discouse you are taking the thought out of context.
If an appointee of said movement teaches contrary to the stand of the movement "from the lectern" then he would be in jeopardy of losing his office. This is how the previous leader explained it and it is still as such. There is a bit of an agreement made between the leader of any group and the associated appointed ones that he would appoint. There are points of agreement. Any leader who goes about stirring discontent and doubt amongst the brethren in general and claims to have a right to do so is off the track.
I've been speaking for the LHMM for years and have never once been told what I could or could not say...
The comment was made at the Minneapolis convention by a Pilgrim Bro. from MI.
“Bro. Ralph has asked a couple of times while I’ve been in his presence, Who Do You Serve? You Better Say The LHMM… Because that’s who you really serve…”
Candy coat it anyway you want… This guy represents your movement. As a Pilgrim, his comments are inappropriate and immature… In the position he holds, he should have a deeper understanding of the Parousia and Epiphany truth…
Do all the LHMMer’s just sit at these meetings and think these thoughts are OK?
Exactly. The comment was made for the entire audience at the Mpls. convention. Many ecclesias have been affected by inappropriate control that goes against the arrangements. Classes have been told they must choose or pick a side by a visiting appointee. I have personally been affected by what is going on. I expected so much more of the people who say they "love the brethren." Brethren talking about references that are all over the place and would have to be lined out in book after book, and saying - hang on, this is a serious doctrincal matter, being treated like lepers, is not using the spirit of a sound mind or a Christian spirit. Loving includes benefit of the doubt, trust and respect. Quite lacking currently in the LHMM and far from the Christian ideal.
When I read your posts it seems that you have well defined oppinion that LHMM is cult, so what is the point in pretending, that you make such cult examination? Your have really strange experience in your contacts with LHMM (if you do not exagerrate of course). Find your way and do not the same what you write about others.
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