We are continuing our series as an answer to the question from our title- “Why Should Others Outside of WOFF Care? Our direction is still with the list of unalienable rights which members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) must surrender in order to continue with the group. Our source for the list of unalienable rights is listed in the book, “The Five Thousand Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen (copyright C&J Investments, ISBN 0-9815596-6-2). There are 22 rights listed, we are only reviewing a few of them that are obvious ones which WOFF members surrender. I recommend that readers obtain a copy of the book in order to read and study the entire work of the author.
Skousen’s list on page 95 continues:
“The right to beget one’s kind” At WOFF, it would be considered being “locked under authority” to ask Jane Whaley if God was saying that it was the right choice to make to bear a child and if the timing was right. She may or may not give her approval. Does this give new meaning to family planning? The faithful WOFF member would be sure to ask before attempting to have a child, I know.
“The right to free speech” Well, at WOFF, you can say “whatever God tells you to say” as long as it is not foolish and “sanctifies God before the people”. Translated: everyone at WOFF is responsible to watch out for everyone else. If you speak “not by the Spirit of God” about ANYTHING, your fellow WOFF member will be required to get the word to Jane, relaying what you said. Then you will be given the correction to “help you find a place of repentance” and “bring you back into your place in Jesus.” If you buck the correction or are a repeat offender, you could end up in discipleship or out of the church altogether. That is the “free” part.
(A side note: Deborah Layton in “Seductive Poison” (copyright 1998, First Anchor Books Trade Paperback Edition, December 1999, ISBN 0-385-48984-6) writes the following, which was told to her when she first arrived at Jonestown. (Shanda was describing the work crews at Jonestown) ”It works like this… Everyone is told they are responsible for reporting their crewmates. So, if someone writes up an incident and no one else on the crew reports it, all of you will go on the Learning Crew. It’s a guarantee that everyone writes everything up at the end of the day,” (page 158) The same arrangement worked at WOFF, if “sin” was uncovered and you knew it or saw it and did not report it when someone else did, you would be corrected and possibly spend time in discipleship or be put out of the church. Why? Because if you see it and don’t report it, you are in agreement and the “sin” is in you! Amazing how WOFF and Jonestown had/have that in common. ) Back to our list..
“The right to a free press” Oh, where do I start? WOFF members not only don’t have right to a free press, they don’t have many other rights that would be grouped in this area… No free access newspapers, magazines, radio, television, movies, Internet and the like. Well, have you ever heard of a WOFF blogger? If there is one, I don’t know it. Please, come forward if you are out there! WOFF member’s access to the news is filtered through two designated men (father, son team) who tell Jane first and she determines if the people “need to know” a particular piece of news. (okay, she determines if God wants the members to know the news in question. ) Faithful WOFF members adhere strictly to this “free press” restraint and for sure tell Jane about violators. I witnessed one wife report her husband in front of the entire congregation that she found a newspaper in his truck. He spoke out and told Jane he was just looking at the sports page. Oh, don’t give excuses to Jane while she is correcting you! This man was given the strong “loving” loud rebuke in front of everyone. The whole episode was a warning to all who heard it. Your unalienable right to free press was unrecognizable and basically non-existent at WOFF.
“The right to enjoy the fruits of one’s labors” This was true in this respect; at WOFF, we were told that all the money you earned was God’s money. He required tithes and offerings and what is left; you ask Him how to spend it. For example, certain WOFF members were told that they did not hear God when they bought a certain item. One service, certain member’s were told they did not hear God about buying hiking boots. Jane said they wasted the money; God could have used it for something else. I still wonder what that could have been. More offerings? Your unalienable right to enjoy the fruits of your labor was subject to over-ride and redirection at WOFF.
In my opinion, many WOFF members were/are unaware of just which “unalienable rights” have been surrendered and when and how that “right” was given up. The faithful WOFF members rarely if EVER asked “why”, at least not out loud. Those that did faced ridicule and “correction” in a very humiliating manner. This was meant to clue in other would be doubters, that they would be treated the same or worse. This was just the price to pay in order to “find the next place in God” and “grow in Jesus” and “walk in holy righteous living” or “find that place of submission”. Take your pick, they all mean the same thing. Which WOFF mantra statement fits, today?
From the previous post, as part of the answer to the question posed in the title; Who, but being unduly influenced, would surrender certain unalienable rights in order to “please “the God who gave them and for which men and women have fought and died to preserve? I have considered one circumstance where a person would surrender their unalienable rights, at least for a time and for a price. When one joins the military, they sign away certain rights for the promise of certain provisions and time in the service. Everyone who signs up for the military service is supposed to make the choice of their free will and in full knowledge of the ramifications of signing the contract. After reading this far, does it seem likely that all WOFF members make a fully informed decision as to what unalienable rights will be surrendered when they join WOFF? And if life at WOFF necessitates the surrender of “unalienable rights”, then does it enhance or detract from the fabric and vitality of the community, the state and of this nation? Is this the expected results from a “Protestant, non-denominational” church holding “traditional, evangelical doctrines” as defined in “Classical Christianity”? That is how WOFF defines themselves on their website.
Let’s say I am wrong on all of the content of this series of posts. Then why would I even take the time to write them, unless I thoroughly believed these statements with all my heart? If I am wrong now and WOFF has changed, someone with inside information—please, let me know. If I was on another planet from 1992 to 2008 that just seemed like earth and it only appeared like I was living at WOFF; that could be an explanation that none of these things really happened to me or were witnessed in this universe. Right?
If I am wrong on some of this and part of it is true; then which part of the true account is acceptable and thus you would allow in your church? Do any of these statements in these posts sound so inviting and desirable enough for you to make the switch and join WOFF? Please, let me know.
If I am right on all of this, then what say ye that we do next besides- pray? Okay, you should tell everyone you know about this blog, allow them to read, ask questions and make up their own mind about what is true and what should be done. Email me with your thoughts and suggestions. author@religiouscultsinfo.com There are yet more unalienable rights denied at WOFF to mention in the next post.
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 140.