Winthop S. Hudson in “The Story of the Christian Church” (copyright 1958) outlines much of the history of the Christian church. His book spans the early church on through the Reformation and onto the denominations that were present in his day. The writings about the Reformation were a particular interest. Many of the issues dealt with then are still being debated, today.

     Martin Luther posted the “Ninety-Five Thesis” on October 31, 1517, to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. Luther protested against what he considered clerical abuses, especially in regard to indulgences. Church doors served at that time as bulletin boards. In a way, Martin Luther was a pioneer “blog poster”!  The indulgence in Catholic theology, is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment  due for sins which have already been forgiven. (see more here..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgence) Martin Luther’s work called into question the whole structure of the church as understood and defended by the papacy. “The Story… ” (page 52)

    “The church had become an institution which could be utilized by men for purposes quite foreign to the spirit of Christ… Outside the rites of the church- controlled and adminstered by the clergy- there was thought to be no salvation.The clergy could either grant or withhold divine grace. Thus the concept of the church as the people of God had been displaced by what has not unjustly been described as a “clerical closed shop” which could pressure both the humble and the mighty to do its bidding with the threat of eternal damnation. “The Story…” (page 53-54)

     Upon first reading this passage, I was shocked to see the similarities between the Catholic church of Martin Luther’s day and the experiences I endured at WOFF! The clergy of Martin Luther’s day is equated with Jane Whaley and many of her lieutenants serving as priests. The constant threats spouted by Jane Whaley telling folks that they would   – “not make it with God”, “lose the Call of God”, “be taken over by devils”, “not make it to heaven” sounded just like the threats used by Catholic priests! If members of WOFF didn’t seek or follow Jane’s counsel – then threats would rain down on them. It seemed to work – most times. The pressures from leadership and Jane to shun members with independent thinking and decision making were heavy and numerous. As mentioned before, groups like WOFF depend on total control of their members. For sure, “the threat of eternal damnation”  from priest or those in religious authority is one of the oldest control methods documented in the “Christian” church, as well as other religious groups.

      The Reformers had three major convictions that inspired them to “protest” the established order of the church at the time. Thus, the “Protestant Reformation” was born. “First of all, the true Church – the company of all the faithful – must never be confused or equated with a particular historical ecclesiastical institution. The true Church is not an institution and it is circumscribed by no institutional boundaries“. Before this time period, many folks had their faith in the priests of the Catholic church. But, “Wherever the Bible and its witness to Christ has been preserved, faith may be awakened, there Christ is to be found; and wherever Christ is to be found, there is the Church.” The Story.. (page 56) The true church is not contained in a building or a particular group calling themselves “the church”..

     I have heard it said at WOFF, ” We know there are others out there who have truth, we just haven’t found them yet.”  The general attitude from Jane and leadership was that “no one else was walking in a place like WOFF”. In referring to Jane’s watching of preachers on Christian television and then coming to tell the members what she saw…, “only one preacher had some truth.” The only outside preacher to preach from Jane’s pulpit in the 16 years that I was attending meetings was Dr. “Z”. When he left, his message was qualified and dismissed. “He is not walking where we are walking.. ” The impression we were given was that WOFF was special or above others. Does that impression come through to others in the community, or does WOFF hide their perceived “specialness” pretty well?

     The second conviction of the Reformers was “… this understanding of the nature of the Church meant that men could not place their reliance upon any external relationship to an institution. One does not become a Christian by joining a church, partaking of its sacraments, performing it rites, or submitting to its authority.  Faith to be valid must be personal. The decisive event occurs within the secrecy of one’s own soul…. Your faith must not be grounded upon any other man’s faith”. The Story… (page 56)  How much more plain can it be stated? Members of any Christian church cannot base their salvation on membership in a particular church or trust in a particular church leader! Did Martin Luther face the same control methods as those felt by members of religious cults?? Seems to me that the control exercised by the early Catholic church has survived the years and just taken a different name! Basing one’s salvation on the faith of another does not make good spiritual sense.

      “Lastly, this conception of the Church as a people meant that the vocation of the priesthood, far from being the monopoly of a special caste within the church, was the common possession of all Christians. .. Every Christian is called to be a priest, a mediator of Christ, an intercessor for his neighbor, a witness to the gospel, a Christ to his fellows… All Christians, declared Luther, “are worthy to appear before God, to pray for others, to teach others mutually the things that are of God… Those who would take part in public ministry are described as follows- The minister acted for the people only in a representative capacity. .. this would “deny them any monopoly of (over) the means of grace..” The Story..”. (page 56-57) Simply put, Martin Luther taught every believer could hear God in his heart and share with others. No minister was of a “special caste” or grouping that could lord over or control others! Certainly, Luther would not advocate keeping a sin list and using the list for manipulation of other believers! He simply was against the papacy running the church and doling out salvation to others as it best benefited the position of the Catholic church. What he was fighting years ago still lives on in religious mind control groups! The catch phrases and titles may be different, but the control techniques are the same!

     “The simple affirmation of “trust in Christ alone” touched the very heart of the church’s life and as its implications were pursued, the church began to recover its true life as a people-“ … “The Story”  (page 57)    Trust in Christ Alone– not trust in a man or woman who seeks to control every aspect of your life. Trust in Christ Alone– not membership in a particular church. Trust in Christ Alone– not in a particular form of worship, “prayer” or music.

    Reading this book helped me understand that the struggles resulting from one person or group of people calling themselves priests or prophets or apostles and lording over the lives of other believers, has been going on for hundreds of years. The control I felt at WOFF had been felt by others in other groups through out many years of the history of the church. The devil and his workers have no new tricks.

     Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. It could very well save their life. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members.

      (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. )