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contained herein. I include the full text of the article as I
received it, without omission or modification save for very minor
corrections and the insertion of reference numbers in braces. The
text of the article follows this paragraph immediately. My response
to the article follows the text.
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Cult of Error
THE WAY
You are approached on the street by a young man with a Bible. A
member of the Jesus movement? He may try to give that impression. He
asks a question like, "How many thieves died on crosses near Jesus?"
When you reply with an answer from the Bible he goes, "Aha, You're
wrong." Then he gives an entirely different number or answer and asks
you, "Don't you wish you could know the Bible as well as I do?" At the
end of the conversation he may say, "I'll bet you have never heard the
Scriptures explained like this before, have you?" Who is this young
man?
Almost 2000 years ago Jesus prophesied the increase of false
prophets in the end times. The world has continued confirming His word
by adding yet another group to the expanding list of cults{1}.
"The Way International" or the "Way Bible Research Institute",
most commonly called "The Way", is a growing pseudo-Christian{2}
organization largely comprised of young adults. It is developing into
a menace to right-on body ministries and fellowships.
As most cults operate, the Way innocently infiltrates{3} a
fellowship. After the meeting they engage new Christians in Biblical
discussions and invite them to Bible studies. Left undisturbed, The
Way members will display loving dispositions and appear quite
harmless. But beware - they are dangerous and would love to steal
sheep from the flock{4} and create damaging divisions in a fellowship.
They preach another gospel and a different Jesus than the one you have
received. No matter how they may disguise their message with clever
word games, it is erroneous{5}.
VICTOR PAUL WIERWILLE
The Way's founder and teacher is Victor Paul Wierwille. He
propagates his many apostate doctrines by misusing some scriptures and
ignoring others. Wierwille has stated that he has produced the only
"pure and correct" interpretation of the Bible since the first
century{6}.
Nearly all founders of cults take this proud unscriptural view:
Herbert W. Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God, Witness Lee of
the Local Church, Joseph Smith of the Mormons, Charles Russel of the
Jehovah's Witnesses. Wierwille has also said, "I have read every
commentary in existence; I consign every one of them to Gehenna!"{7}
THE INSPIRED WORD
Wierwille teaches that, "The Bible as a whole is not relevant to
all people of all times."{8} He rejects the Old Testament and the
Gospels as unnecessary{8}. Only the rest of the New Testament is
relevant for his group which he calls the "Church of God."{8} The Way
also teaches that the Bible is not the Word of God, but only contains
the word of God{9}. The Bible teaches us an entirely different thing.
In II Timothy 3:16, the scripture clearly states that, "ALL scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The Greek
word used in this verse for inspiration is theopneutos and literally
means God-breathed. This is not the same word used for inspiring music
or books. It is a special word denoting God's penmanship. The Bible
says in II Peter 1:20, 21 that "Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not in old times by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
COURSES FOR SALE
Wierwille offers numerous courses at a high price. Each course
costs $65 or more. To take all of his courses could cost a disciple
hundreds of dollars.{15} The initial "Bible" course, "Power for
Abundant Living," promises that right "believing" will keep away
sickness, insure prosperity, and even protect soldiers from enemy
bullets{10}. Poverty is condemned as the result of imperfect faith.{8}
The "Good Life" is the proper reward for believing{11}. Wierwille
seemingly teaches for gain and is nothing more than a sophisticated
Reverend Ike. The Bible warns the Church about such false teachers
who preach for worldly gain. II Peter 2:3 says that such men are
under judgement and damnation. "And through covetousness shall they
with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now a long
time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not".{11}
THE DEITY OF CHRIST
The most dangerous of all Wierwille's teachings are concerning
the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. He teaches that Jesus is the Son
of God, but not God the Son. "You show me one place in the Bible where
it says he is God," Wierwille thunders. "I don't want you rapping your
double talk, your triple talk; all I want is Scripture!" John 1:1
and 14 says, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God
and Word was God...And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and
we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth". Col. 2:9 tells us exactly what Jesus is,
"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." The
Greek word for Godhead is Theotes meaning deity. In other words,
Jesus is the bodily manifestation of all the fullness of Deity. I
Timothy 3:16 states this spiritual truth even plainer, "God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory." Jesus is God the flesh. "For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. There is the
excellent example of Thomas' unbelief changed to belief in chapter 20
of John. Thomas was absent when Jesus revealed Himself to the
disciples after His resurrection. Thomas refused to believe unless he
saw and touched the nailprints and the scar of the spear on Jesus'
side. Later Jesus appeared to the disciples with Thomas present.
Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not
faithless, but believing", Thomas responded with, "My Lord and my
God." Jesus answered him saying, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me
thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed". {12}
THE TRINITY
Wierwille absolutely rejects the Trinity calling such a doctrine
paganism and polytheistic. In I John 5:7 the concept of the Trinity
is given. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." The
word "one" can mean one in unity as well as one in number. John
17:11 speaks of the unity of the Father and the Son. Jesus answered
Philip in John 14:9, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" Jesus says about the
Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, "and I will pray to the Father, and he
shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever:
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you." In these verses the Holy Spirit is
shown to be a member of the Godhead, yet a distinct Person from both
Jesus and the Father. Wierwille does not believe that the Holy Spirit
is a distinct personage and says, "the Holy Spirit is just a synonym
for God." The Father is called God, and the Son is called God, and
the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4). As individual persons
each can be called God and collectively they can be spoken of as one
God because of their perfect unity. Everything said collectively
about God applies equally to each member of the Godhead. There are
some things spoken of each personality of the trinity such as office,
position and work that are unique to that individual. An example is
the Father having the position as the head of Jesus. "But I would have
you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the
woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." I Corinthians 11:3.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father and the price paid for
the redemption of man. "For God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish
but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Jesus is the mediator between
us and the Father - I Timothy 2:5. The Holy Spirit is sent by the
Father in Jesus' name and will teach us and anoint us with power. "But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26. "But ye
shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in
Samaria and unto the utter most parts of the earth." Acts 1:8. The
different names of God denote plurality. The Hebrew Elohim is the
word used for God in Genesis 1:1 and in over 2700 other scriptures in
the Old Testament. It is a plural noun meaning God, and is translated
239 times as God. Usually Elohim, a plural noun, is used with a
singular verb, showing unity in plurality. Plural personal pronouns
are also used in reference to God. "And God said, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness..." Genesis 1:26. The Old and New
Testament concept of God is plural and triune.
FALSE PROPHETS
Is Victor Wierwille merely an uneducated man ignorant of the
Scriptures? Unfortunately, he is not. Formerly he was a United
Church of Christ minister. He has studied at the University of Chicago
Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. Wierwille is a
man, who being knowledgeable of the Bible, has rejected God's truth in
utter rebellion. Wierwille fulfills the Scriptures on false teachers.
"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers...; Whose
mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things
which they ought not for filthy Lucre's sake.... Wherefore rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" Titus 1:10a, 11, 13.
The followers of The Way commonly portray the fruits of false teaching
by living carnal lives{13}. Titus 1:15-16 clearly illustrates their
spiritual state, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind
and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in
works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient and unto every
good work reprobate."
The heart of Christianity is not an organization but a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord. Don't be led astray by false
doctrine. There is no other gospel, only the one you have received.
(Gal. 1:6-8)
If any of The Way come to your fellowship, coffeehouse, or
churches, please ask them to leave. The Way has just recently invaded
Chicago, trying to establish a work here. Do not help them get rooted
by ignorance or tolerance. Give them a false prophet's left foot of
fellowship{14}. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
enterest not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber...Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep." John 10:1,7. Do not be
fooled! They are not just sweet people but dangerous robbers of the
sheepfold. "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy." John 10:10a.
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PREFACE
I was introduced to Jesus Christ, My Lord and Saviour, through the Way
International. Prior to that, I was an agnostic of the worst stripe:
While denying God's existence, I cursed him for my difficulties, all
the time vaunting my own shrewdness. The Way changed that. My wife
(a long-standing Protestant) and I attended their fellowship groups
and, yes, even their "courses at a high price". In fact, we were
married by a Way minister.
Neither my wife nor I attend Way fellowship any longer, though the
reasons for this are somewhat more complex than one might assume.
However, I feel led to respond, in some small way, to the anonymous
judge who rendered the above condemnation.
My basic response is this: Followers of Jesus Christ, truly devoted
men and women of God, certainly at God's direction and through His
Grace, led me to Jesus Christ and to the service and Sonship which now
gives me such great joy. It just so happens that they were "members"
of The Way, International. When it came time for me to leave The Way
- to graduate, perhaps - they lovingly left me be. Pastors,
Ministers, Priests, I urge you: Argue with these men and women.
Debate with them. Try to correct and help them, if you feel that they
are in jeopardy or are jeopardizing others. Pray for them if you are
led. But do not condemn them. They, too, are Sons of God and
Servants of Jesus Christ: They, too, administer and witness God's
truths.
RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUAL NOTES
{1} Before we go much further here, it is best to define "cult". I
will render the American Heritage Dictionary's primary definition: "A
system or community of religious worship and ritual". Welcome to the
cult, brothers and sisters. Seriously, though, I have heard a cult
best described as any group which attempts to make individual rights
subject to the will of the group. This certainly does not describe
The Way.
{2} I'd like a definition of 'pseudo-Christian' here. These people
are, after all, saved.
{3} The Way certainly does not exist to infiltrate other fellowships.
They maintain their own semi-weekly fellowship groups ("twigs"), and
usually gain new members from the ranks of agnostics, atheists, and
lost believers.
{4} This is the most jealous statement I have ever read. I would
urge readers to remember that all Christians belong to God, not to any
particular "flock".
{5} Whether the doctrine is erroneous or not remains to be seen.
They have some good points, worthy of debate for those sound enough in
their doctrine. I have learned, over the last few years, that
anything that gets me hot under the collar is probably worth finding a
thorough, RATIONAL argument against.
{6} In my three years affiliated with the Way, I NEVER heard this
quotation, nor has my wife (and I have heard many a quote from Dr.
Wierwille).
{7} Sorry, folks, but Wierwille's got every right to say this.
Commentaries are not Holy relics, they are just the interpretations
and reflections of men on God's own word. And, by the way, have you
read some of the commentaries that have been written since about 1960?
Anyone who believes that the bible is God's word and Truth would say
the same as Dr. Wierwille did!
{8} Once again, I must question the source of these statements. I
never heard anything like this from The Way.
{9} I have been charitable so far, but not on this one. Absolute
fabrication. In fact, Dr. Wierwille's introductory tape introduced me
to II Timothy 3:16 and II Peter 1:20 and 21. These two verses are
considered by Way Christians to be fundamental in understanding Jesus
Christ, God, and the Bible. (And, by the way, it was Dr. Wierwille,
on the same video tape, who drummed the meaning of the word
theopneustos into my head.)
{10} This is a misdirection. In fact, Dr. Wierwille teaches that GOD
can do all of these things, but that you must first believe for them
to happen.
{11} Here I would agree with the phrase "good life", but only as
Socrates would have defined it: A just, moral, and upright existence.
The Way teaches that God wants to bless Christians - see John 10:10 -
but is very concerned about any form of idolatry. Wierwille is not, I
repeat NOT, a Prosperity Theologist; he strongly emphasises a Godly
Christian walk, and teaches that blessings flow from that and only
that. Further, he cautions those he teaches that you must learn to
want only what you truly need - this is fundamental to The Way.
{12} This is true. Wierwille has, indeed, taught that Christ is not
God the Son, and also teaches that there is no Holy Trinity. To many,
this is enough to guarantee his eternal damnation (and that, also, for
any of his followers). But I must remind you that this debate is
hardly new; it was a similar disagreement between the Church in Rome
and the Church in Constantinople which lead to the great Schism in
1054. Neither case is unassailable, we simply live in a culture which
generally agrees upon the deity of Jesus Christ. Please forgive what
appears a cavalier attitude here. I know how important this issue is.
Although some of the references given in the original article are much
less definite than they appear (especially when one gets out an
Interlinear of the Nestle's Greek), I absolutely refuse to debate the
issue because of the miserable, painful discord it brings. N.B. -
This dispute is also the source of the apostate Unitarian Church.
{13} I'm sorry to say that this is true. Many Way followers
overemphasize that "all things are legal," but forget that "not all
things are expedient". This is one of the reasons that I "graduated"
from the Way. They were helpful in establishing me with Jesus Christ,
and taught me a number of powerful truths, including those of freedom
and authority, but they did not teach me all of the walk that Paul
taught. In their defense, though, they harp and harp and harp that
Christians should read the Bible for themselves, and so are obviously
not trying to hide those doctrines of Christianity which they neglect
to teach.
{14} "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Galatians 6:1. "And he began to
speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquilla and Priscilla had
heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God
more perfectly." Acts 18:26.
{15} My extremely limited Bible research materials have cost hundreds
of dollars, but I would still exhort my fellow Christians to buy them.
People in The Way love these courses, and benefit greatly from them,
becoming (I believe) better Christians through them. No Way member is
required to take these courses, but their worth is widely recognized
within the group.
MY BOTTOM LINE
I must agree that The Way has some doctrinal issues to clear up, but I
have yet to encounter a church or fellowship group which has not, at
least once, blown a tire. My concern here is not to defend The Way's
doctrinal differences, but to defend brother from brother. I
understand that we are dealing with issues far more important than
life and death, and that it is especially painful to see a person that
you love, trust, and rely on be mislead - the damage can take years to
heal. But I would council you to peace. There has been enough
sectarianism in Christianity, and though The Way are (quite
energetically) responsible for their share, this darkness will not be
dispelled by angry attacks. It is enough. Trust in God, and in the
salvation of Jesus Christ. Meekly correct where you can. Save your
brother from error; don't condemn him in it. It is our duty and our
joy to perfect the Body of Christ.
Christopher C. Shubert
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