In Reply to: i'm wondering... posted by ray on June 30, 2003 at 15:13:26:
Ray: Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. I welcome others to speak up also.
First, to answer your question about where I stand on the issue of whether or not we were led by God into the Family as an answer to our prayers: I do understand that practically every one of us is coming from a different place because of our different experiences in life. So I don't expect everyone to agree with me on the point I'm going to make now. But you asked me, "Would you mind trying to clarify your thoughts on these issues?" and I'm going to tell you where I stand. I stand for the fact that the Children of God was and is evil. I think it attracted some wonderful, unselfish, caring, sacrificial people who genuinely wanted to "win the world for Jesus." But any movement with a sadistic, alcoholic, perverted, self-absorbed, demented sex fiend like Moses David for a leader was sick to the core even if it did have good people in it. Any movement that systematically, year after year, stripped people of their individuality and subordinated their every wish and desire and longing to the greater good of "the group" is just evil, plain and simple. I don't think God was behind the creation of the family and I certainly don't think he was behind a single one of us joining the cult. That's where I stand. I absolutely acknowledge your right to believe otherwise, though.
Next, you asked about whether I have found fellowship. The answer is yes.
After moving around so much in the family, I wanted to establish roots somewhere. Fortunately, I was able to find a good church 15 years ago, and I have stayed there. Like every church, it is not error-free but it truly exemplifies the first two commandments, which are to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. I’ll never forget Christmas of 1995, when not only did I have my four youngest children, but the family excommunicated my 14 year old son who came directly to me from Hungary, with his 18 year old sister coming very soon behind him from Switzerland. Many people in the church knew that this caused a severe financial struggle for us and two weeks before Christmas, before I had walked 30 yards down the hall, I had $2,000 worth of checks in my hands as people I hardly knew said, "The Lord has really laid you on my heart this Christmas and here’s something to help you." The Lord also raised up a very godly woman in this church who took me under her wing and loved me. The pastor is very sound spiritually and I trust him. The one thing I have experienced is that if you have cultish beliefs and you voice them in a church, people will sense immediately that there is something strange about you and if you are not honest about your past, they will distance themselves from you. But as long as you are honest about where you are coming from, loving people will accept you. If they don’t, keep looking.
Third Question: If results don't occur after your prayers, then does the fault lie with you?
Ray, here are my feelings on this. Jesus said in Mark 16:17 and 18, And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Seven "wills" in one verse! And John 14:12 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. The reality is that Andrew Wommack believed these verses and his faith caused his son to rise from the dead. I ask you, Where can a result like this come from? It comes from God. However, although he has seen thousands of healings and miracles, this same pastor has even said that he has had people who were sick not recover after months of sincere prayer. He has also not had people come back from the dead after he intervened with prayer. Both he and I describe these seemingly unanswered prayers as mysteries. But his prayers were offered by faith in a God who has said that we can have the power to raise the dead. The lack of "success" did not shake his faith. It is this point that I want to stress to the readers. My faith is still strong in an omnipotent God who loves us and wants us to prosper and be in good health. What I am trying to live is a life focused on "the prize," not just the race. My faith is based on God, not on my performance. I'm going to focus and expect! How can any of us measure up? We're only human. I think we would all like to hear of your experiences because I agree, the walk of faith is not a simple matter. But to focus on my weakness is to give in to the devil who, the Bible says, is out to deceive and destroy me. Part of that deception would be to get me to believe that I am in complete control and can always operate on a spiritual plane perfectly. Why would I then need a savior? Please write with some of your experiences, rewarding and disappointing.