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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Do Christians Suffer Illnesses?

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     Do Christians suffer illnesses? Yes, Christians get sick from sometimes very hard to detect diseases. Some even die in what some may regard as “strange circumstances” or “before their time”. Recently, I purchased a book written by Renee Coates Scheidt, titled- “Songs of the Night — Singing Sorrow’s Songs Through the Darkness of Grief”. (Copyright ©1995 by Renee Coates Scheidt –ISBN 1-888237-34-1) When I picked up the book, I had no idea about the subject of the book except what could be gleaned from the title. While reading this book, I have found several things that reminded me of my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Before I share those thoughts, let’s review some of the events in the book.

   The author tells in very frank terms, her life experiences during the time she was married to her husband. She reviews meeting and beginning her relationship with him. He got “cold feet” before their wedding and would later recover from that and they would eventually marry. Recounting the beginning years, she tells of their struggles to diagnose the reason for his mood swings and sometimes very destructive behaviors. She writes, “When you are a dedicated Christian, the humiliation of being depressed can be so overwhelming! Very few people in our world understood us… Couldn’t we speak the truth in Jesus’ name command the depression to leave? No matter how many Bible verses we quoted on the victory we have in Christ or how hard Chuck (her husband) worked to apply them, the depression never left for long.” (page 28)

    Can anyone else relate? Has there ever been a mountain of circumstances or even an illness that was in your life and no matter the prescribed steps you took – the situation became no better or even got worse? Has anyone else ever been in the confess your healing mode? After all, it seems so logical on one hand. Yet, after a while, when the answers don’t come, the questions go deeper. Is this the time when real relationship with God starts? When we come to the end of our formulas?

   Continue reading Do Christians Suffer Illnesses? →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, FLDS vs WOFF, Uncategorized

What Are The Questions? (1)

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     Several times on this blog I have mentioned my “search for answers”. However, I have not shared all the questions or gathered them into one place. In this post and possibly one more, I will gather as many of the questions as I can remember and share some of the answers I have at this point. During the 16 years of being under the teachings and influence of Jane Whaley, there have been many questions. Life at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) was not centered on asking questions or getting answers; it was centered on obedience to Jane. All of this was disguised as “obedience to God” or “the call of God”. However, how did you know you were obeying God? Jane would confirm it or voice her doubt and/or disapproval.

    One reason I believe that WOFF is subject to being called a “cult” – the members show more fear of Jane than God. This I realized in May of 2008. It helped me along in my exit. ( see related post here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1396 )   Some would doubt the question and some may doubt the answer. However, if they do, you must ask – are they in WOFF or out? How long were they in (if, so) and what level of faithfulness to Jane did they “enjoy”? Certain members were VERY faithful to Jane and Sam. As with any group, you have different levels of commitment and in WOFF, different degrees of adherence to WOFF-isms.  So, for now, the first question- Why is WOFF subject to being called a “cult”?

   Other questions include- What is life like inside of WOFF? In a previous post, I answer some of that question. (see link here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2440 ) However, life for different ages or groups of folks could look different in some ways. Those who work during the week would have a different schedule than those who do not work and are involved in activities at the church every day. There were always places to “be a help” or errands to run or tasks to do for those that did not have a regular job. Life at WOFF was not sedentary. Life in WOFF is highly regulated, to say the least. Refer back to the previous paragraph/question.

    Continue reading What Are The Questions? (1) →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (2)

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Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass 1852
    In the previous post, we began the review of a speech, “The Nature of Slavery”, by Frederick Douglass. He delivered the speech December 1, 1850. The resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) We have reviewed the beginnings of the speech and made a few conclusions to help answer the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?”  After 16 years of being under the indirect and direct influence of Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF, my search for answers continues. In this post, we will continue the review of a speech by a man who escaped slavery and sought to educate others as to its evils.

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Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Frederick Douglass- The Nature of Slavery (1)

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     In the previous post, we reviewed a speech by Henry Ward Beecher. The speech was presented in 1859, titled “The Nation’s Duty to Slavery”. The resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) We reviewed the speech and made a few conclusions to help answer the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?”.  After 16 years of being under the indirect and direct influence of Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF, my search for answers continues. In this post, we will review a speech from the same resource text, by a man who escaped slavery and sought to educate others as to its evils.  

    “Fredrick Douglass was born a slave in Tuckahoe, Maryland in 1817, presumably in February, and died, a figure of national importance, at Anacostia, D.C., on February 20, 1895… He was self-educated…. His intelligence, his greatness of spirit, and his determination to become free—a determination conceived when he was nine years old—made him a difficult slave and he was sent for a time to a notorious slave-breaker. .. but he would not be broken.” (page 181) Later, Douglass would escape slavery in a sailor’s suit. He began to tell his story and even lectured abroad in England and Ireland. “From 1871 to 1891, Douglass held various appointive offices, among them the post of counsel-general to Haiti.” (page 181) 

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Henry Ward Beecher- “… Who Shall Forbid Him?”

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     On October 30, 1859, Henry Ward Beecher preached a message at Plymouth Church titled, “The Nation’s Duty to Slavery”.  I will review this speech and attempt to draw some conclusions in reference to the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?” My resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) “Henry Ward Beecher was born in 1813…the son of the famous Calvinistic minister, Lyman Beecher. His sisters, Catherine and Harriet, were successful writers, the latter the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” (page 2) He attended seminary and was the pastor for a time of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. “John Hay called him “the greatest preacher the world has seen since Saint Paul preached on Mars Hill.” (page 2)

     Without surprise, there will be those who are upset with even posing the question about membership at WOFF. However, I will attempt to make a case for the question. First, let us recognize some obvious differences between the slavery of years past the WOFF-life. Slavery in this country during the time of Mr. Beecher was not optional for the slaves involved, practically speaking. There were options to end one’s involvement in slavery but, to take them could cost your life. Some took those options and made the flight to freedom. Those who escaped left familiar surroundings and some even left their families behind to take the chance at freedom. The torment of not knowing if you would make it to freedom must have been small compared to the hope of a better life.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Adolph Hitler – “I am also religious, deeply and intrinsically religious.”

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    On November 8, 1943; Adolph Hitler gave a speech which was broadcast over The Greater German Radio. My resource text for this speech is “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) Hitler’s speech would not warrant mentioning except that the text reveals what I consider some large presumptions. Before we discuss those, let’s review some background to the setting. “Adolph Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria.” (page 237)  Many know some of what happened in World War II. The most recognized tragic event accredited to Hitler would be the extermination of six million Jews. However, this resource puts Hitler’s career in a more defined perspective. “Hitler’s historic achievements, as head of the Nazi Party, chancellor of the Third Reich and commander of the German armed forces, can best be measured in the terms of rape of independent nations, the destruction of cities through aerial bombardment, the suppression of German domestic liberties, the seas of bloodshed in battle, the enslavement of the women and children of conquered territories and their removal to German labor camps, the extermination of six million Jews, etc. Measured in such terms his achievements were unparalleled. (page 237) From this list, I can admit that the “suppression of German domestic liberties” caught my eye. This could be one of the parts of the tragedy that gets overlooked in comparison to the horror and death he inflicted on those in other nations. As Hitler came to power, he had to first gain control of the German people by denying “domestic liberties”. What did that include? Read more about the process here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler#Appointment_as_Chancellor 

   In 1923, Hitler was a part of a failed coup and was imprisoned for his part. Others in the failed move were not so fortunate. During his prison stay, he wrote “Mein Kampf” – My Struggle. This work included his political ideology. Eventually, Hitler would ascend to power ten years later in 1933 as Chancellor of the Germany. The events following his move into power are well documented and make for a fascinating study.

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Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

By The Consent of the Governed

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   During the last few days, this phrase has been uttered within certain political commentaries. It has been in reference to the idea that our governmental leaders are given their power to lead and govern “by the consent of the governed..”. This is a basic premise of our system of government found here in the Declaration of Independence. ( http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ )

    This phrase has led me down a trail of ideas and thoughts that reflect on my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. This group is led by Jane Whaley. From the beginning, there will be those who would argue that we cannot compare political and social government directly to the organization of a church. And previously, for a time, I would agree. Just why I would agree, I do not know. Does the question focus on the organization of a church or the governing of that group of people or local church?

    On the one hand, there are churches that have an autonomous leader. He or she answers to no one in any capacity and totally rules on every level. This is evidently the structure at WOFF. There are other churches which operate within an organizational structure and their leader is afforded very little “decision” power. They may only provide counseling, preaching, teaching and spiritual guidance; while also performing the weddings, funerals and baptisms as needed. Also, I feel sure in America, we have the full spectrum between each of the examples with some church leaders having limited autonomy that would have elders or a board of directors and others having much decision power even within a denominational setting.

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