Recently, I was reminded of Jane Whaley’s logic when it comes to tell the “truth”. After this mantra was retold to me, I felt sure I had heard it myself while I was in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). In fact, when LB came to my door last year with another person from WOFF, she quoted the beginning of this Jane-ism. (see that post here- “A Knock at the Door…” http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=572 …) At least once, and maybe several times during my WOFF days, I heard Jane say something similar to the following. This is a paraphrase since we were not allowed to take notes, but, you will be able to see the meaning.
If you witnessed an accident along with ten other people and each person was asked to tell what they saw, there would probably be ten different accounts. If you told what you saw that would be the facts as you saw them. But, if you only told what God told you to say – that would be “truth”. LB used this logic to say that I was not telling “truth” on this blog, only certain facts that really God had not told me to say. Translated: I have been telling the facts about life at WOFF but, in her mind and in the minds of others at WOFF, I have not been telling the “truth”. And for those at WOFF telling the “Truth” as they hear it from God validates their existence. Well, on the surface, this seems to have merit. But, let’s examine how this is applied and what is really at the root of this Jane-ism.
First off, to say only what God says to say implies obedience, love for God and many other things that any faithful WOFF member would want said about them. More importantly, since at WOFF, the Word of the Lord comes from Jane or is only validated through Jane, then to say what God says or do what God would do, is saying what Jane would say or do in a particular situation. Is that a valid or true test of Truth? This underlying meaning does explain the cell phone fiesta every time there is an abnormal or pressing situation! What does JANE say we should do or say? We must call Jane!!!! That would also explain the uneasiness and strained looks I get when I ask present WOFF members- “Does Jane hear God perfectly EVERY time?” They may act like it – but, who would really say it so plainly? To agree and base your life on only what Jane hears from God is a shaky foundation to say the least, but, one faithful WOFFers must stand on in order to stay in Jane’s good graces and make it to the special place in heaven reserved for WOFFers. Where is the gate to that place?
How does this Jane-ism play out in the WOFF-world which sometimes clashes with the real world? These clashes are most readily seen in situations when a WOFF member has to give Truth to a family member not in WOFF. The subject of this “Truth” could be any one of the hundreds of rules and dictates handed down from Jane over the years. Honestly, the WOFF don’t list keeps growing by leaps and bounds from what I have heard. In years past, I have been a part of and witnessed long services where situations concerning relatives not in WOFF are reviewed before the whole congregation. The members would come up front to the microphone and tell the situation either in retrospect or one to come in the future. Jane sits on the front row and listens to the facts. Somewhere in here she yawns frequently. After listening and maybe asking a few questions, she then gives the “truth” on how the situation should have been handled or should be handled in the future. The test from here for a WOFF member is how closely they can repeat what Jane says do or say. To deviate from “the wisdom God gave before the whole congregation” is “going out on your own” or “being in rebellion to the Word of the Lord- through Jane”. And some outsiders doubt if there is mind control at WOFF? I would recognize the religious focus of the efforts to control and call it religious mind control.
So, John, you are rambling… how is the related to the title? Under this system of discovering truth through Jane, a WOFF member can be excused from telling all the facts in a certain situation and only telling or saying what Jane says to say. This is especially true when it comes to WOFF members relating to relatives outside the group. The inside scoop as to what truly happens behind closed doors in WOFF households and at the church is hidden from relatives outside because God (Jane) did not say to tell them that fact- they would not understand and may bring an “attack” on the move of God. So, “What WOFF Members say is Relative”- especially to relatives. I know I spent years inside the system learning Jane-isms and also participated in not telling my family or my wife’s family what really goes on inside WOFF doors. Outsiders have VERY little understanding of the pressures put on members as they seek to learn how to “only speak and live the Truth” as Jane gives it, many times in contrast or contradiction to the facts that are staring them in the face and tugging at their heart. WOFF-life is a sham full of half-truths which are no more real than full-fledged lies. In order to move up in the WOFF pyramid structure, a faithful WOFF member needs the skill to tell “truth” despite the facts. Does this sound like “lying”? Knowing this explains why living in the WOFF-zone take such a toll on the emotions of its members.
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I sat through so meetings in which members told Jane what happened in situations and they would tell what they “saw” and “heard”. I was in many of the situations and it did not happen that way. If you tried to correct them, it was you who did not have your heart right. Many times in situations in which Jane stated something, she would say she did not say “that”, when she did say “that”. It was always you who had the devils hearing “that” and twisting “that”. So, in reality, if what is being said lines up with what Jane believes to be a truth, then it can be told as truth. This is why church members are so afraid to talk to anyone outside of the church. Because you would not tell the outsiders the “truth”. At one time, only designated people were allowed to go places and meet the “public”, so to speak. One person told me it was okay to lie, if God told you to. That comment was really too much for me. I understand exactly what you were saying in this blog, John.
Randall,
Thank you. There was a time when traveling from Greenville that one of my children witnessed LB driving 80 MPH around Spartanburg. When confronted, LB appeared a little flustered and the net reply was it was okay, “If you had a ahold of it – in God.” I remember driving from Greenville and my whole family witnessing BC doing above the speed limit and passing us in a 45 MPH zone all the while we were close enough to see BC just talking a mile a minute- literally. . There was a strange quietness that fell over us all. I suppose BC – “had ahold of it – in God”? Yet, who can forget LK,Sr. getting toasted before us all for getting a speeding ticket? Suppose he didn’t “have a ahold of it – in God”? The message was clear for those who could hear it- certain rules, laws and regulations were subject to “having ahold of it in God”. I think that list is longer than we know. Oh, no, I am not a perfect driver and have had my share of tickets. Each time I got one, I was speeding.
Does “having ahold of it in God” go for treating WOFF employees differently than those employees who are not a part of the church? When preparing an employee handbook for TMP in 2008, the subject of holidays came up. It was a tangled mess to say the least. Word got back to JF about non-church member employees wanting to get paid for holidays and most times they did not. Certain employees in the church were allowed to work and get paid on holidays and that stirred resentment among non-church employees. Here is another angle, when emplyees who were a part of the church mentioned getting paid for holidays NOT worked, I heard JF say,” I don’t take too kindly to church folks thinking they DESERVE a day off.” The insinuation was – off WITH pay. When confronted in a meeting attended by GS, RF, JF and myself: JF said he was “under attack” when he said that and was having it rough that day… That was after I was accused and defamed for telling AK about the remark… I did not back down and stood my ground until JF admitted he said it. ES and JR were in the TMP office when JF said the comment and said nothing about it as far as I know. Why? Did they assume JF “had ahold of it in God”? That thought never crossed my mind. Though I was duped in other situations.. and just by me being in the group for so many years is evidence that I did not stand up every time. Yes, deep regrets over that.
John