Often I will have a thought or an idea for a post and write it down on the nearest piece of paper whether envelope or receipt or whatever. This has been done at the oddest moments, such as just when I am trying to start sleeping or even riding down the road. This past weekend I was out of town and wrote several notes on envelopes or whatever was handy. This week, I hope to use these notes to write a few posts.

   In the previous post, I mentioned the work of Andrew Murray. He lived from May 9, 1828 until January 18, 1917. Most of his years were spent in South Africa. Here is a resource link for more about his life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Murray_(minister) . During his life, he is credited with writing over 240 books. Many of these works are still widely read today. One such book is “God’s Best Secrets – Daily Devotional Meditations” (reprinted by Zondervan by special arrangement with Biola Book Room, Los Angeles, CA, this version is from 1967) Recently, I was rereading the Introduction and learned something that helped me greatly. Here is a short quote:

   “The more I think and pray about the state of religion in this country, and all over the world, the deeper my conviction comes that the low state of spiritual life of Christians is due to the fact that they do not realize that the aim and object of conversion is to bring the soul even here on earth, to daily fellowship with the Father in heaven. When once this truth has been accepted, the believer will perceive how indispensable it is to the spiritual life of a Christian, to take time each day with God’s Word and in prayer, to wait upon God for His presence and His love to be revealed….The first thing is that they (Christians) must be convinced of the great need for daily fellowship with God.”

 Murray goes on to develop from this opening a case for daily life in fellowship with God and how critical that is to living the successful Christian life. As I read this, I remembered that before my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), I had believed this message. While I reread this Introduction, it became clear that this was one of the answers to the ongoing quest to answer the question of how I became involved in WOFF. How could I get involved in a controlling religious cult? The question has been before me and it has been answered in part in previous posts. This Introduction gave me another piece of the answer. We move on.

   Jane Whaley teaches a very similar message to the one in the Introduction for Murray’s book. She does not teach the standard “once saved always saved” doctrine which she obviously learned in her younger years. She teaches, in so many words that a person needs to be choosing Jesus every day. It is not enough to be born again; you must press on to know the Lord. As best I can remember, this part of her message became more prevalent in the 1990’s. So, once I started hearing her teach this, it “clicked” with me and I began to want to know more. I look back and believe that it was the identification with this message that caused me to lose sight of other things going on and the MEANS which Jane used to fulfill her message. Let me explain.

   From my understanding and knowledge of Andrew Murray and his life, he was never accused of being a religious cult leader. From reading his works and a few writings about his life, he preached a message of daily abiding fellowship with and in God and then charged the individual believer with practicing the means of daily submission on their own in order to reap the benefits. In contrast, Jane preaches a similar message of the need to daily chose Jesus and daily read your Bible and daily open your heart to God and His ministers, but the means for accomplishing this similarly stated goal are VERY DIFFERENT. Whereas Murray depended on the grace of God through the gospel to draw others to Christian maturity; Jane depends on extensive rules and outward regulation to forcibly require her members to comply with her message. Murray preached the grace; Jane preaches and executes the Law in order to bring about her results. In my opinion, I saw the similarities of the message and over looked or excused the means used to fulfill the message at WOFF.

   In looking back, this is not the only answer to the question of how I got involved in WOFF, but it does help me see part of the answer. This observation also helps answer the question how others on the outside can be confused and not see the dangers of life at WOFF under Jane Whaley. They hear a similar message of Christian teachings on salvation from Jane that has been also taught in their own church. Therefore, they may assume that the goal of the message is being pursued with the same means at WOFF as in their own church. It is not until a person is ON THE INSIDE of WOFF that they see the means or practices to bring about “daily fellowship with God” are very different. Let’s put it another way. It Jane’s methods of forced confessions, extensive rules and harsh punishments and controls were acceptable, expected and normal, then why are WOFF members constantly depending on her to make decisions and “hear God” for them? Have they progressed to know the Lord or to know Jane and her words? Can they function apart from Jane? Yes, the messages may be “similar” between Murray and Jane, but, don’t think the methods or means to fulfill the message are the same. Don’t make the mistake that I made.   

   Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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       (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 320.