I've said before the cult shares no doctrine with orthodox Christianity. There are two doctrines that are especially dangerous. They are closely related. The first is that Jesus is God's first creation and not as much God as God the Father. The second is that his sacrifice wasn't enough to completely save those who have faith. The cult teaches born-again believers (and by born-again they mean those who have spoken in tongues) must overcome sin on this earth in order to be saved. When I was there it was called reaching perfection. I think they've dropped the word perfection in exchange for overcoming and maturity. On the surface, this appears to be a strong approach to sin. In reality, the approach takes sin very lightly. Here is some of the logic I was taught. They would ask, "Can you go one second without sinning? Then you can go one minute. Can you go for a minute? Then you can go for an hour. Can you go for an hour? Then you can make it a day...?"
The magnitude of sin is not realized. At this point in my life I am coming to realize more and more how holy God is. If sin is missing the mark of measuring up to his holiness, then I cannot go one second without sinning. By saying a person can be as holy and righteous as God by performing works, the cult is elevating man and lowering God. It is no coincidence they have such a vested interest in keeping Jesus lower than fully God.
I have seen two major consequences of this doctrinal error (which is far worse than mere legalism). The first is the hopelessness that develops over time when a person continues to realize they are falling short of God's holiness. This is the road I took when I was a member of the cult. I failed and failed and failed. I remember contemplating suicide because of not being perfect as a little boy. There was a book I used to read in elementary school about how to become perfect in three days. It consumed me because of how badly I wanted to please Jesus and be perfect. Even as a little guy, I knew I was sinful. I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to quit and leave God. I remember telling him I knew I would never be perfect, so I was just going to stop wasting his time. I remember also thinking, I would quit trying if I was never going to reach the goal. There was a mindset of, 'if I'm going to hell, I might as well go on my own terms.' I can tell you of so many people who leave the cult but never serve God. Many leave and turn their backs on God, but will fight for the cult. It is heart-breaking (And ties to another of their false teachings concerning a second chance at being perfect. They call it 'the resurrection.')
The other road, the more dangerous road, is to actually think you're perfect. I have heard people there talk about having one more sin to overcome and then they'll be perfect. I've talked to others who think they've gone days without sinning. People who think they're perfect are unbearable. I'm not talking about a superiority complex. I'm talking about people who actually think they are as holy as God for extended periods of time. Once again, for man to reach that level of holiness (other than through the gift of salvation given only through faith in Jesus Christ) God has to be lowered to an attainable level.
Again, this is not a serious view of sin or holiness. It makes a mockery of the biblical definition of both.
As I have watched the leadership belittle victims and compare covering up molestation to applying butter to a burn, I have been reminded of their doctrine of perfection. The reason they have been unable to repent, truly repent, is because they have to be perfect in order to be right with God. This type of thinking, extended over a period of years, corrupts a person's mind.
I'm thankful for being delivered from the cult for so many reasons. It would take a book to name them all. The reason I'm thankful today is for being assured of a God who loves me, not based on my performance, but on the performance of his Son. There is only one who has gone one second without sinning. There is only one who ever did anything without any type of mixed motive or agenda. He has freely exchanged that righteousness for his peoples' sin. He who knew no sin, has become sin for me. I am free to repent. I am free to admit my innumerable imperfections.
"At this very moment you and I are either committing [selfishness], or about to commit it, or repenting it." C.S. Lewis
Only One by Randall Goodgame
Left his seamless robe behind
Woke up in a stable crying
Lived and died and rose again
Savior for a guilty land
It’s a story like a children’s tune
And it’s grown familiar as the moon
So now I ride my camel high
And I’m aiming for the needle’s eye
I chased the wind, but I chased in vain
I chased the earth, but it would not sustain
There’s only one who never fails
To beckon the morning light
There’s only one who sets loose the gales
And ties the trees down tight
When all around my soul gives way
He is all my hope and stay
There’s only one, only one Holy One
Lord, You are my Prince of Peace
But this war brings me to my knees
See there’s a table You’ve prepared
And all my enemies are there
But where my Shepherd leads
Where else can I go
Who else fills my cup till it overflows
There’s only one who never fails
To beckon the morning light
There’s only one who sets loose the gales
And ties the trees down tight
When all around my soul gives way
He is all my hope and stay
There’s only one, only one Holy One
There’s only one who never fails
To beckon the morning light
There’s only one who sets loose the gales
And ties the trees down tight
To the Solid Rock I fly
Though He bids me come and die
There’s only one, only one Holy One
There’s only one who never fails
To beckon the morning light
There’s only one who sets loose the gales
And ties the trees down tight
When all around my soul gives way
He is all my hope and stay
And there’s only one, only one Holy One
8 comments:
To say that the church believes in perfectionism, is a lie. To say people will leave and not serve God again because they think they will have a ressurection or second chance, is a lie. Do you know each individuals beliefs? People are entitled to their own views. The head of every man is Christ, not the pastor of the church he attends. Who are you to start picking on people because they view scriptures different than you? Does not the UPC have their own doctrinal creed? What about Catholics? Or southern Baptist or Assemblies of God?
Has God callen you to pick on a little church in Cross Plains and be their judge on every viewpoint they have? Or are you simply trying to correct the wrong in christianity nowadays? The fact is you are stereotyping people that go to the curch based on your biased assumptions and hate - That's why you go from bashing the Lakers on your other blog to loving them again. Why? Cause you found something you hate more. I remember back in the day you used to hate bullies. But, you've become one yourself.
Your cousin
Brett Morrell
Very nice. Gotta love the passion those people have for protecting their church and doctrine. Attack their church, attack them.
Danny, CGT is your HISTORY. It's your testimony and it should always be used in contrast to the deliverance in Christ you know today. Brett is crying foul because you speak out against your own history. He can't take that from you no matter how hard he tries. Who is he calling a bully?
brett, if they don't teach perfection yet maintain the resurrection doctrine they have another serious problem. in that case they would be teaching there is a standard to reach, but it is lower than the commandments of god. either they have lowered the standards of god's holiness (heresy) or they maintain perfection has to be attained (which i believe they still teach based on countless examples on their website and conversations with their members - not solely memories i have from years ago) and must be attained by complete obedience. one of the errors is being made.
which is it? has the standard been lowered? it certainly hasn't been lowered by the scriptures. or, is the level that must be reached sinlessness by performance?
you are right about something. i hate false doctrine. and i hate injustice. i will continue to fight against both.
i love you, brett. i'm thankful you took the time to comment.
I'm confused. Where do the Lakers fit into this?
I love you, Brett. And I love you, Danny. I was in the grocery store today and I thought about our entire extended family and what a hard situation this is for all of us. I had an overwhelming wave of sadness and grief come over me. I told John's mom on the way home how bad it hurts and I broke down in tears. I cannot regret the stand I have taken, but the pain (for all of us) is deep.
You are avoiding or somehow just missing the point that i'm trying to make. I'm not on here to debate scriptures or make a doctrinal statement for the people in the church. I couldn't do that, and I don't really want to. And, I'm not commenting to defend or protect the church and/or the doctrine. BUT... This, that originally was a church issue, is becoming a very personal issue. My OWN blood family is partaking in this clan-like group of people, that all they do is try to hurt and defame the people associated with CGT using anything they can, whether it be truth or a lie. And this clan seems like it derives from hate toward the church, its doctrine, and now the people who you say like to cover-up child molestation. You are causing my friends and family pain and distress. And, I'm sorry but that's not cool with me. Neither doctrine, scripture, law, nor personal emotions can possibly vindicate the slander, stereotyping, and the unethical behavior that is being used to hurt my friends and family. And, I do not regret the stand i'm taking either.
Brett Morrell
i hear you, mom. i feel it, too.
this is an ugly situation. it is sad it has come to this.
brett, we are obviously on opposite sides of this. i'm sorry you don't understand my vantage point. i'm sorry you think i hate anyone in our family or in your church. i really am. i don't hate anyone there. i love them. i forgive them for the wrongs i believe they've committed. i'm not doing any of this for any type of personal vandetta. i'm doing what i believe is right. i don't expect everyone to understand that.
take your stand, brett. just make sure you're really aware of who you're standing by.
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