Am I too predictable? How could I NOT post about the lack of yet another holiday celebration at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF)? Is this a surprise that there is no recognized celebration for WOFF members on Fathers’ Day? Do we forget the matriarchal structure? If mothers are out on their day, then fathers have no chance. Let me restate from a previous post… “Certainly, in this country, we are not required and should not be required to participate in any national, regional or cultural celebration regardless of the origin. Freedom to opt out or in is still a freedom.” Well, it is a freedom in the society at large. In order to continue at WOFF, you give up your ability or choice to opt in on several issues as they relate to family life. But, why is anyone surprised. Religious cults are known to do extensive damage to relationships between group members and their family members who do not believe. Pick a cult, any cult and examine this trait. You may be surprised how common it is. Well, many of the readers of this blog will not be surprised.   

    Let’s get a little background on the celebration from our trusty US Federal Government.

    Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, first proposed the idea of a father’s day in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mrs. Dodd wanted to celebrate the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

    The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910. June was chosen because it was the month of William Smart’s birth. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day. However, the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was not issued until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

Source- us.gov-  http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7115

    While we are this close to the Fourth of July- a few thoughts around the next non-celebration of WOFF. Jane Whaley, at least while I was there, became very consistent on this lack of celebration of any holiday. The choice has been  recognized and acknowledged; the effects on family relations has been downplayed and labeled as a cost of the membership into WOFF. To make the stand with WOFF in the area of holidays is seen in some respects as a rite of passage and worn as a badge of honor, for its members. The choice made to not “eat at the demon’s table” translates into an outward sign of an inward allegiance to Jane Whaley, her doctrines and declarations. I know, I wore the badge for years. It was a costly choice.

     Here is a little background on this holiday, again from us.gov answer #6990

 The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It signifies the colonies’ break from Great Britain and the rule of King George III. The Second Continental Congress formed a committee to write the Declaration, but the Committee thought it would be better for only one person to write the document. It took Thomas Jefferson 17 days to write the Declaration of Independence, and on July 2, 1776, the Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. After two days of debate and some changes to the document, on July 4th, the Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence. This is why we celebrate July 4th as Independence Day.

   The Fourth of July is also commonly called the “birthday” of this nation. However, a closer look would show that it took several months and maybe even years for the idea of FREEDOM to grow in the hearts and minds of the statesmen and patriots who would eventually risk everything. The signers of the Declaration pledged in this manner… And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. For many who lost their lives then and through the years, so Jane Whaley and WOFF members could have the privilege to not be pressured into celebrating in the manner of others; for them to not openly recognize these sacrifices seems antithetical.  If there is one day or week or month or whatever period you could accept; that all those who cherish the freedoms that this country offers its citizens should acknowledge and THANK God for- it is concerning the events remembered during this celebration.

    Jane Whaley has taught against the fireworks. Fine, don’t have fireworks. Jane Whaley has not allowed her members to attend parades. Fine, keep that community acknowledgement and those benefits away from your group. But, teach your group that the sacrifices made, along with the lost fortunes, and the honor lost and then re-gained are the foundational reasons that this country has been hailed as the greatest nation in the world. You may teach some of this on the one hand, but in practice you teach your WOFF faithful that the outside world (this nation) is evil and full of devils. Yes, there are people who do not agree with your doctrines and practices, but as a whole, does that make this nation and its rightful citizens – evil? You can’t have it both ways. This nation is the greatest nation on earth or all those outside of WOFF are evil and ready to take your precious members to hell with them? Which is it?

    Have we discovered another contradiction? Jane Whaley and her members enjoy some the freedoms of this nation. Yet, inside the group – Jane takes away certain freedoms in order to keep her kingdom going and growing and the money flowing. Jane exercises her freedoms because as she says- “That sin won’t touch me, because it is not in me..” She believes herself to be above the hand or wiles of the devil. She has the free access to the media, the boats, vacation homes, shopping trips, and resources beyond her admitted compensation.  She comes and goes as she pleases while requiring strict standards for others.

   Is this why she decided to not celebrate July 4^th and Independence Day? She can’t “celebrate” that which she does not allow others to experience. That would openly hypocritical. Why say that WOFF members live in a free country when in fact they live in the tightly controlled environment called Word of Faith Fellowship? For WOFF members to celebrate the Fourth of July would be akin to teaching a slave to read- they might get ideas and run away.

“I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.”  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

       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. 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 132.