In previous post titled, “Rules, Rules, Rules – The Results?” found here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3649 , we included quotes from “Breaking the Chains” Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0). The author, Shari Howerton laments about living under so many rules in the church her family was a part of during her years as a child and teenager. The church she was in taught perfection. She writes, “We believed that God revealed His “truths” to us as a group; “truths” He had not revealed to Christianity as a whole. As God’s special, we were called to restore the church to its former purity and ultimate latter day glory; we were not called to evangelize”. (page 20)
While reading the book, I have been captivated at the many similarities that her church (Christian Gospel Temple-CGT) had/has with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I spent 16 years either indirectly or directly under the teachings of WOFF and more specifically –Jane Whaley. Jane considered herself as the one who heard the “Truth” in many areas. For example, Jane taught/teaches about loud prayer, deliverance from demons for Christians, certain customs for marriage ceremonies, burial customs, strict lifestyle customs and many other “truths”. Certainly, while I was there we felt these were “truths” which –“We believed that God revealed His “truths” to us as a group; “truths” He had not revealed to Christianity as a whole.” After all, it was said several times, “we know there are other people out there with “truth”; we just have not found them yet…” So, did we ever expect to find them? These unique “truths” certainly served to make us (WOFF members) feel special and “set-apart” from others who did not or would not listen or accept what God was saying to us…. After all my time in that group I can say the efforts to “evangelize” were slim to none. Can you see a pattern here?
Howerton writes, “One “truth” in particular affected me… the teaching on perfection. This belief set us apart from most, if not all, other Christians.” (page 20) Let me stop here and just point out that the doctrine of perfection quite naturally coincides with a belief that no other group can be perfect. For if perfection was able to be had by other Christian groups, it would not be perfection, it would be normal. How do I know? WOFF taught “perfection” in these words frequently repeated by Jane Whaley, “Jesus came to set us free from sin and teach us how to walk perfectly in Him”. The exact words may vary slightly- but the mantra was clear. Jane was the only one who heard how we were to “walk perfectly in Him.” That was then followed by the rules to bring one to that perfect walk in Him. In respect to WOFF-life, being in WOFF and listening to Jane was the only way to ever hope to learn how to walk perfectly in Him. If you doubt me, ask a faithful WOFF member if they could ever hope to know Jesus outside of WOFF and more specifically- away from Jane? That does pose some problems, wouldn’t you say? We move on…
The author continues, “We were taught that no believer had eternal life based on faith alone in Christ. Initial salvation had to result in the same sinless, perfect life that Jesus lived in order to qualify for heaven. Only souls that attained sinless perfection in this life would go to be with the Lord immediately following death.”(page 20) Howerton makes another connection about the doctrine of perfection as taught in her church, “The perfection message and pervasive legalism went hand in hand. Grace was little more than a word. It has no meaning for me. The list of rules we were expected to follow and enforce upon on children was long.” (page 22) Okay, she wrote this without knowing about WOFF and the long list of rules that we were expected to follow and enforce on our children! Did you realize that WOFF members never considered these rules as rules? The rules or “don’ts”, as they have been referred to before on this blog were referred to as “the ways of God”, the way of holy righteous living”, the way God’s people live” or “God’s protection for His people.” As far I can remember I never saw a written list of rules. Why? Because, if you write them down, they are harder to change or even deny that they ever existed! Jane Whaley took the liberty to change rules when they no longer seemed to fit the need(s). Does that happen for a reason? If Jane was/is the final say on the rules and if/when they change, what did/does that make her? Can you understand why I have been very interested in this book by Howerton?
Ms. Howerton goes on to explain her dilemma. “Legalism and abuses of power are problems in many churches. (Yes!) However, legalism combines with the requirement of perfection caused me to focus entirely on my own shortcomings, placing the weight of all my failures and inadequacies upon my own shoulders.” (page 23) She then goes into further explanation how this affected her as child and young person. The honesty in telling her confusion is very sad on the one hand and very believable on the other. For this next quote explains the double edged sword of the doctrine of perfection. “I tried to believe I could be perfect. Occasionally, in spiritually high moments of intense emotion, I felt a ray of hope. I told myself I could do it. However, deep down, I was always profoundly aware of my inadequacy.” (page 24)
The doctrine of perfection has a double bite or in other words can cut you coming and going. Let me explain. Shari Howerton felt she never could actually reach perfection much like Kristy Sullivan expressed from the film “Join Us” in the post referenced above on “Rules..” – “I always felt like I couldn’t do anything right. I couldn’t be good enough in the church and I couldn’t be a wife and I couldn’t be a mother.” Teaching perfection and requiring it often leaves members feeling inadequate. This causes many pressures for which the member finds no relief within the parameters of the perfection teaching. No teaching on Grace was in either Shari’s or Kristy’s groups. At WOFF, it was “taught” in some form but, it was not applied in life practice- Grace did not/does not fit into the WOFF-life outline or program. How could it? Grace is from God, not Jane Whaley. True Grace from God does not fit within man’s own teaching on perfection or desire to obtain approval from man. Jane Whaley nor Raimund Melz nor William Sowders nor Cornelius Mears could ever be the author of Grace given from God. Does that make sense?
There is another way that the teaching on perfection can cut and jade those who live by it. There is the danger of living in a group that teaches perfection and thinking you HAVE obtained perfection. The confusion could come in many ways. You could ignore your own faults; judge others by their actions and yourself by your intentions. You could take your worth by being a part of a group that teaches perfection and assume that since you are a part of the group, you are then perfected. How would this work? At WOFF, it may be reflected in thoughts or statements such as– I am letting God deal with my heart and I am walking with God. I am submitting to the WORD from Jane and God is changing me… We have truth that others don’t; we must be special in God’s eyes. He has a work for us to do. We must take His message of deliverance to the world or at least to other churches that Jane has approved of… God is blessing us! Look at these cars and houses and nice clothes! We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and we are going to make it!
Honestly, during my time at WOFF, I heard more teaching on the sin in God’s people than any other place or church I have attended. There was always a warning from God or a new sin discovered in WOFF members or some new revelation on what God hates… But, through it all, because we were taught the special truths from one such as Jane Whaley– the attitude was evident that we (WOFF members) were a cut above the other churches. If we were not perfect, we acted like we were as close to perfection as anyone person or group could get this side of eternity. Why? Because we felt like Jane Whaley was as close to God as any person could be… If you did not act that way and talk that way by showing reverence for her gift and her authority, you did not stay long in the group. Besides, she was always giving us new ways to walk with God (rules) that would prove to others and ourselves how holy and righteous and perfect we were! Is it fair to say that those who have been in WOFF the longest are the most convinced of Jane’s perfection and subsequently – their own? You who live or work around long-time WOFF members and/or those in leadership in that church- tell me. What have you noticed?
We will take up this subject again in another post. There are more insights from Howerton’s book (link here to her website where you can buy the book… http://www.sharihowerton.com/ ). We also have some other recently discovered resources!
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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 247.