If You're Looking for Something to Pray About...

I have recently found out the cult I was raised in is being sued because of covering up known child molestation. The news about the cover-ups was starting to swirl around the time I was leaving the group. I have mostly stayed away from writing about their immorality and injustices on this website. I usually talk about the doctrinal deficiencies of the group when it comes up. But the news of the lawsuits is weighing heavy on my mind.

My first thoughts are for the victims. There are many that have come forward over the past few years. A couple summers ago I was asked to attend a custody hearing to speak against the cult. The group that assembled that day to discuss the cult's abuses counted as many as thirty cases of sexual abuse. My gut is that is just the tip of the iceberg. If there are thirty known cases, there's a good chance there are several more. As victims come out and tell their stories, more will be encouraged to come out and begin the healing process. I'm thankful for the courage of the ones who have shared their story. I would ask you to pray for their healing.

Secondly my thoughts go to the leaders of the cult. A few months ago I watched a video of one of their services. In the video one of their elders (I think they call them board members or trustees) compared their situation to Moses' situation in Numbers 16. In that story, some men tell Moses and Aaron they are sick of them and say they have no more authority than anyone else in the Israelite camp. Moses responds by lying on his face before God and saying God will judge the situation. The guy in the video was actually comparing the situation of his cult to men rebelling against Moses. If I was an elder in a group that had covered up molestation without repentance, I would be lying on my face begging for mercy, not comparing myself to Moses. As I watched the false humility, I wanted to vomit.

There are numerous other occasions of leaders in the group making similar attempts to present a humble outward appearance. Several summers ago I attented a meeting of the group because I had heard there was going to be a night of repentance. Instead of owning up to what had been done, the cult's leader addressed the crowd by saying covering up child molestation in previous generations was similar to putting butter on a burn. The people who put butter on burns thought they were helping wounds heal. He suggested you wouldn't get mad at someone who put butter on a burn, so you shouldn't be upset about a man covering up molestation. He then proceeded to put the victim on public trial. It was one of the most twisted and sick things I have ever witnessed.

All that to say, please pray for the situation. Pray for justice for the victims. Please pray for the victims who have remined silent. Pray they have the strength to come out of hiding and begin to heal. Pray for the hearts of the leaders to turn toward Jesus and repent for the injustices of their group. And lastly, pray for the hearts of people like me who have left. We don't want to be bitter. There is such a fine line between praying for justice and mercy. I know God is angry about the injustice, false-humility, and immorality of the group. I know as his follower, I should be as well. I also know he is infinitely merciful and wants the leaders of the cult to repent. I should be merciful and want the best for them as well.

I am a weak man who tends to get fired up pretty quickly when justice is being violated. I want to be like Jesus. I want to handle this situation the way he wants me to handle it. I need prayer.

Thank you.