Learned Helplessness

I used to think of the “church” all the time. I dreamed of it - the building and the people. I find myself thinking of them less and less. But, they come up in my reactions. In the way I view the world and the people of the world.

I have no doubt and no hesitation in calling what went on when I was there -- and what continues to happen -- brainwashing. I know you will all deny it. You have been programmed to deny it. But, whether you are able to acknowledge it or not, it is the truth.

Is the brainwashing intentional? At this point, I don’t believe there are nefarious motives. Just tradition. And fear. The way things have been done for generations. All you know. In fact, I believe the brainwashing varies from household to household. But, it’s clearly still going on.

As the folks my age (40s) are now becoming grandparents, what is passed on in the form of religious beliefs is more and more hearsay and ingrained acceptance of the word of man than the actual words of God.

It is debilitating to be under the control of a crowd - an organization - who are ruled by a strange and unreliable game of generational gossip.

Last spring, I was interviewed about the death of another FOC baby. I said I felt sorry for the family. It’s true. That baby didn’t have a chance and neither did the baby’s parents. They were young (the baby’s grandparents are younger than me!) and they were under the control of an organization they never chose for themselves. Now, they have lost custody of their other baby and are facing criminal charges and prison time.

It is not a sin to get medical care for your babies. It really isn’t a sin. You should pray and use the resources God has provided - including medical professionals. Putting your faith in God is good, but not researching your professed faith for yourself is just helplessness. And helplessness can cost you dearly.

The Ghosts of Dead Men’s Beliefs

You may be surprised to discover that I was not raised in a religious community. Not really. I was raised under a shadow of religion. Like our religion was a persistent and very bossy ghost. I was told what “I” believed, but never asked. I did not experience God personally. I heard some things about other people who had experienced God. But mostly I just experienced judgement and condemnation and also participated in these judging and condemning rituals.

I wish I had grown up in a community that practiced grace and kindness.

That would’ve been amazing.

But, if things had been all soft bunnies, rainbows, and unicorns, I wouldn’t have such an interesting story to tell….

Are You a Christian Scientist or a Scientologist?

In the 1990s, I was a young adult, recently out of the FOC; yet, I didn't have a lot of ways of successfully relating to the world or explaining why I had some very odd attitudes, beliefs, and practices. Why hadn't I ever been to see a doctor? Was a Christian Scientist or a Scientologist? Well, neither.

I hadn't - at that time - even heard of such religions. I barely understood the difference between Judaism and Christianity. I learned not to share my differences with most people because it just led to questions I either couldn't answer, or didn't really want to talk about.

I don't really think about those other religions much - except that they share some practices with the FOC such as shunning ex-members and discouraging medical interventions. Christian Science actually has more in common with the Oregon City branch of the FOC than I would've imagined. Not only are they faith healers, who believe in the Bible - they also do not have ministers, but base their religion off the legacy of their leader's words (in the case of Christian Science, the published work of their leader). Like the FOC, many practitioners, children and adults, have died from medically-preventable ailments. Christian Scientists practice faith healing through consultations (in person or over the phone, where the practitioner / provider argues the illness out of the patient / parishioner. It is the only faith healing practice that qualifies for billing through medical insurance.

Scientology, on the other hand, is not based on the Christian religion. It was started by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, and was made famous by Tom Cruise. Scientologists believe people are immortal in that the essence of us lives on in nature. I haven't delved too much into researching their beliefs, but from skimming their website, they believe in striving to be the best they can be, spiritual enlightenment, etc. While many may believe that Scientologists practice faith healing; but, according to their website, they do take prescribed medicine and seek medical care with the exception of psychiatric medicine, which they believe to by harmful and sometimes deadly.

While I am no longer a faith healer, I do appreciate the basic belief. I believe in prayer with medicine - that God can heal and God can (and does) use medical doctors and medicine to help us heal. And, while I do not agree with most of the Scientology movement, I do appreciate the idea that psychiatric medicines are overprescribed and often not the best path.

Men First

Imagine the scene. Women and girls have worked hard to prepare their best dishes for the potluck. They’ve arranged these delicious offerings on nice serving trays and together, dozens of women have set out stacks of plates, silverware, napkins, and cups. Multi-gallon pots of coffee are brewed. Everything is set up. Time to eat.

Men and boys rush to line up and pile food onto their plates. They take their heaping plates to a table and wait for their wives to bring them coffee. Other men crowd in with plates of their own.

Where are all those women who have prepared this feast? Where are their daughters, who’ve eagerly helped? They stand back until all men and boys have helped themselves and taken the best seats. Some women bring cups of coffee to the men.

After the men and boys are served, seated, and eating; the ladies begin to line up. The food is getting cold, the favorite dishes are running out, and the seats at the tables are taken. That’s okay, because they’re not expected to sit with their menfolk to eat. A woman sitting down at a men’s table would be scandalous.

I didn’t think it was odd. I certainly didn’t like it, but like so many other rituals which were set up in favor of men and boys, I had no power to change it. It just was.

Now imagine what potlucks and church events are like outside the FOC. Women and men prepare food to share – mostly women, but many men enjoy cooking and happily add their best dishes to the feast. When it is time to eat, and leader calls everyone to attention and prays for the food. Then people line up and fill their plates. People are not segregated by gender, though sometimes by age. Elderly folks are often invited to go first, or children. But I always get my food with my husband – not for him (he likes to serve himself), and certainly not after him. And we sit together. He would hate to be forced to sit at an all men’s table. How boring!

“…but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever be chief among you, let him first be your servant”

Matthew 20:26-27

The Power of Words: The Other F-Word

Many people think I’m weird about words. “It’s just a word,” a counselor friend declares – attempting to convince me that it’s fine for children to curse. I don’t agree. Even while teaching adults, I often stopped students in hallways and common areas who were dropping f-bombs to let them know that educated people should have attained the use of a broader vocabulary than f-ing this and f-ing that. It simply makes people sound ignorant, in my opinion.

When it comes to my children, I’m even more vigilant about what they can hear, because what goes in may eventually come out. With my oldest, I managed to prevent him from even hearing the f-word until he was ten. That wasn’t easy to do. It meant heavily restricting his movie-watching, friends, and most-importantly: where he went to school (private Christian school). Then one day, it happened. I left him with a trusted sitter, someone I’d known forever and trusted. She, apparently, thought nothing of saying it in front of my kid. And he came home and proudly repeated it. Theory confirmed (what goes in comes out).

But the real f-word is much more dangerous, in my opinion. The word is “fool.” I remember the first time I heard someone use the word – in seventh grade as we were heading for our after school buses, a worldly kid shouted at another boy, “You’re a fool!” A felt icy cold air around me. I felt certain that boy had just signed himself up for hell.

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
- Matthew 5:22

When I was around fifth or sixth grade, some of my peers started using the word “idiot.” When my folks heard us kids using the word, they put a stop to it, pointing out that idiot is synonymous to fool. I later came to realize that most insults are also synonyms of fool. So are there any safe insults to hurl at people? Is this the point of Matthew 5:22? Don’t insult people? Don’t call people names?

Although, I’ve overcome my past enough to realize much of what was taught and widely accepted was not biblically accurate, I’m still terrified of words like fool.

And worse than fool, is the taking of God’s name in vain – which, to my mind, I confuse with blasphemy. Maybe I’m incorrect about that, but I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry. Truthfully I’d prefer to hear the f-word a million times than to hear someone take God’s name in vain.

What do you think about the power of words? Harmless or very potent?

What Does the Tea Party (TCOT) Have in Common With the Church?

We're stronger together - but apparently humans just can't stay united behind a cause. I'm certainly not a member of the Tea Party - though I mutually follow many of these folks on twitter. Apparently they're losing influence because of factions. Sounds like the Christian church - so many pet religions: Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, et.al. And that doesn't even include those far-outside-the-norm factions: Mormons and the other door-knockers, the Jehovah's Witnesses. 

How can the Gospel be interpreted so differently by so many? Imagine how influential Christians could be if we were all united!

The Followers of Christ are similar in this regard. I'm not talking about all the in-fighting and disagreements over doctrine (such that there is - watered down and handed down and altered to fit the most influential / bullies). I'm talking about the different FOC churches. The four Idaho FOC churches, which do not get along with each other. The Oregon City FOC, which believes it is the only group of true believers and that the Idaho groups are worse than worldly people. 

As far as I know the sister religion, The Church of the Firstborn, is far more accepting of both newcomers and other COFB believers.

This week, I heard a rumor that another Oregon City FOC baby had died - last name of Eells. Turns out that baby was from one of the Idaho groups - a large portion of which have the same surnames as the Oregon City group. Relatives who haven't spoken in lifetimes.

What are the effects of the divisions and fractures in groups, faiths, even political parties? Are we stronger together? How can so many people think differently from each other and still be convinced all others are wrong?

Garth Young: Are You Good Enough?

A guest blog, by Garth Young.

If you could communicate something to those you care about most before you die what would it be? Surely there must be something important you’ve learned that’s worthy of passing on to the next generation—something that’s meaningful and valuable. What would you say is most important? What would your story be about?

Having been brought up in the Oregon City Followers of Christ group, I was taught mainly with stories. These weren’t stories that would point to the gospel but mostly stories from within the group about healings, miracles, things Walter had said, things the elders had taught and how the FOC in Idaho was wrong, etc. The stories were mixed with biblical directives but always pointed to the group in Oregon City as being a special place, the place to be for a chance at salvation—if you were good enough. The following story is one of many that haven’t left my memory after all these years (probably because it seems to be at the core of FOC theology).

I must have been in my late teens when this older man lay sick on his deathbed. As far as I know this man had always been a church member, he was a father and husband, and the son of an elder. From my teenage perspective, he was the kind of man that should be able to speak of real hope and wisdom. As he lay there in a room with his brothers by his side he said this: “I’ve never been drunk, I’ve never committed adultery, I’ve never killed anyone, and I think I’ve got a real good chance of going to heaven.” The brothers all seemed to be in agreement that their brother was on good ground because of his own record. As the story was retold to me at home by one of the brothers of the sick man, he built upon the story with his own comment: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could say the same things before you die?”

Somehow this story affected me. As I recall the impact of this and other stories there is a realization that I liked stories like this because they fed my misguided notion of being spiritually advantaged because there was something good in me and something extra-special about my church. Having a head start on everyone else in the world outside of my group, now I just needed to earn salvation, so I listened for the instructions of going to heaven. When I messed up in my pursuit of being righteous, I would simply start over, and I started over a lot. Even when I could control the words and actions, there were the thoughts to deal with everyday. With this heavy task of self-achieved righteousness ahead, questions often arose in my mind about real hope, purpose and happiness. I continually wrestled with that deathbed story.

What the dying man said sounds right if you read the scriptures merely as a compendium of instructions. But if you read the story in the scriptures and see the hero of the story, it’s shocking. There is no place or people group that can save me and I can’t be good enough to make myself right with God. But there is one story that can bring light out of darkness, it’s a story of the innocent dying for the guilty, the strong standing in place of the helpless, the righteous one suffering and dying for the unrighteous -- that is the good news. If it doesn’t shock you then you haven’t really heard it. If the story of Jesus doesn’t rattle your very core and change you, it will become an offense that forces you to stand upon your own record.

And on the last day, when it matters most, your own record will be contrasted against Jesus’ perfect one and then you’ll see there has ever only been One who was good enough to earn salvation. Will He be your Hero?

The 10 Commandments of the #Kissers #Myths

When I was a senior in high school (1990-1991 school year), some worldly boys created a pamphlet titled, "The Ten Commandments of the Kissers." During lunch one day, they distributed these pamphlets around the cafeteria. I never saw the document, but I heard about its contents - including some indecent drawings. Here are a couple of the myths that circulated when I was in the group about Follower practices:

1. "You have to marry your cousin." In truth, that is not a requirement, but if the group continues, there may eventually be no other options. The group does allow second cousins to marry (this is legal in Oregon, while many states allow first cousins to marry) - and some do choose a second or third cousin.  
2. "Everyone gets a free car on their 16th birthday." I thought this was a funny one. Most of the boys worked hard and saved up to buy a nice car when they turned sixteen. Therefore, most of the teens from our group had nice cars. Someone started a rumor that there was a lot of cars in the back parking lot of the church and when a kid turned sixteen, they got to take their pick.

There were far more rumors - but many are too risque (and also untrue) to reprint.

Readers: do you have any "myths" to share? Share them in the comments and see if other readers say they're true or false.

Ten Things You’ll Never See (and/or Hear) at the FOC

Last night, I visited a local church (it was my second time visiting). As I looked around, I thought about all the ways this church (and most churches) differ from the definition of church I grew up with. Here are just ten (of numerous) things I saw/heard at last night’s church service, that I would have never seen/heard at the FOC:

1. A worship band – with electric guitars, loud drums, and women in the worship band.
2. A wooden cross hanging on the wall – topped by a crown of thorns.
3. Worshippers spontaneously standing and lifting their arms to the Lord in praise and adoration.
4. Asians, Hispanics, and African Americans.
5. Someone leading the congregation in prayer (praying aloud).
6. Congregants with their Bibles open (following along with the sermon).
7. Bibles.
8. People taking notes on the sermon.
9. A sermon.
10.  People warmly greeting strangers.

The list can go on endlessly – I didn’t even mention the presence of pastors (seven of them!). Or that one of the associate pastors, who was wearing shorts at church, had a friendly discussion with me about politics. That’s not something that would’ve ever happened at the FOC (a male leader taking the time to discuss politics with an unknown female visitor).

The point of this comparison is not to say one is better than the other – more to discuss the shock that can occur when you only know one definition for a cultural phenomenon (church) and later discover that the overwhelming majority of the Christian culture has a completely different characterization of that same term (church). This was an accepting and positive experience. I didn’t feel judged. I received hugs from a few strangers. They were eager to welcome a new friend into the fold. Imagine.

***

Dear Readers: I am busy this season with the care of my family, so I will only be able to blog weekly. Enjoy your summer and please check back every Sunday for a new post.

A Something Positive Post: She Made It!

I’ve been accused of presenting an imbalance of information when writing about the FOC. I have written several blogs about the good things Followers do for each other, and today I am presenting another positive aspect of Follower life: bridal showers.

Have you been to a bridal shower? I’ve been to hundreds, and that’s not an exaggeration. The main event, the entertainment, consists of a time of blessing the virginal young bride. The bride and most of her bridesmaids stand on the pulpit in front of a long table overflowing with beautifully wrapped gifts, large and small. A card table stands at the end of the gift table and holds a basket full of cards stuffed with well wishes and money.

A young lady, one of the bridesmaids, sits at the card table. It is her job to record the gifts on each of the cards, so the bride can later send out thank-you cards. On the other side of the scribe, another bridesmaid stands at the microphone and reads out the names on the cards as the gifts are opened. A very sweet tradition is that many ladies will make beautiful gifts for the new bride, and when one of the homemade items is held up, the caller will say, “and she made it” and the five hundred or so ladies of all ages break into an appreciative applause.

Little girls, selected by the bride, serve as package carriers. They wait in line on the steps to the pulpit to receive the gifts and carry them down the benches to the left of the stage (where young boys and bachelor men sit during church services). The gift opening can last well over an hour.

One of the most exciting gifts are the ones the bride and her friends got to shop for themselves. In the weeks before the shower, bridesmaids will take a collection from ladies who want to donate money (en lieu of bringing a gift), and then take the bride out to pick out several nice outfits to start off her married life.

After the gifts are opened, the bride gives a thank you speech and welcomes the guests to enjoy the delicious food set out on the long tables in the back room. The girls and women visit, walk the isles of gifts admiring all the nice things the bride has received (especially the handmade items), and enjoy the wonderful banquet of food. The food provided at Follower events is impressive. Dozens of women volunteer to bring dishes to contribute special recipes, sweets, various snack foods, bowls of punch,  cheese balls, and vegetable trays.

It is one of the nice traditions and passages into adulthood to honor a young woman who has saved herself for marriage.

Reblog: I'll Drink The Cool Aid!

I wrote my favorite blog entry a few weeks after I began blogging, on August 29, 2011, when I got a Facebook message in response to my previous entries about the FOC. The message read:

“Interesting.. since I don’t belong to your cult, I am going to hell? dude thats f--ed up!! will you drink the punch if asked too?”

This is my response: yes, you're going to Hell and yes, I will drink the punch.

In middle school (mid-1980s) we have the Rajneeshee cult here in Oregon. It is a big deal on the news. Many of their members wear red and we all joke that our vice-principal is a member because she has a red suit she wears once a week.

In high school I write a paper about the Jonestown cult. I know what a cult is. I have even heard it whispered that the Followers are a cult. But it doesn’t matter what we’re called. This is the only truth I know.

There are two ways to get into heaven and I would take either one without blinking an eye. The first is to be baptized by a prophet. Since the last living prophet died four years before I was born, I am stuck with door number two: martyrdom.

People want to know why the Followers allow their children to die. Why not take them to a doctor? Let me tell you why: we are told that the only option we have to absolutely ensure salvation is martyrdom.

If a woman dies in childbirth, it has been proven (I cannot give the details of this proof here because I want you to read my memoir) that she is assured salvation. If a child dies and his family has the faith and trust to allow God’s will to be done, then that child is also on his way to the streets paved in gold.

I don’t know if you can understand this, but fear is a powerful thing. I do not want to go to Hell. If there is a temporary suffering – even if that means two days of hard child-birthing followed by a slow and painful death with my baby still unborn – I choose to take that route over an eternity of Hell Fire and Damnation where there will be weeping an gnashing of teeth. If watching my two year old child die because she needs an insulin shot will mean she gets a free ticket in, well, thank God I am not faced with that choice. We all know that God sent His son to die a horrible death. God even asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Why should our children be spared?

I think about Hell all the time. I obsess about it. I imagine the day I am thrown in. I picture the weeping and gnashing of teeth. I’m not sure what gnashing is, but I think it involves a demon bashing my teeth in with a sledgehammer; new teeth replace the old and the process repeats for all of eternity. I suppose this teeth bashing happens inside a pool of boiling lava. My skin melts off and regenerates in endless torture.

            So, yes, if drinking the punch keeps me out of Hell, then bottoms up, baby!

X: Xenophobe

Preachers and pastors who make their paying career in ministry are false prophets, we were taught. Those hundreds of thousands of men who have gone through college and graduate school to study the bible and the original languages and contexts of the scriptures, biblical scholars, are fakes. They are not hand-picked men of God.

In college, I made friends with a young woman who was the daughter of a pastor. She was the first person to tell me about the trinity – she even drew a picture to explain it. At that point I was already out of the FOC, but still very much afraid of other belief systems and worldly churches. I told my mom about my new friend and what I was learning. Mom’s response was to sternly rebuke me for casting my pearls among the swine. Because the woman had a father who was a worldly pastor, because she was not “born holy” in the FOC, she was swine.

Xenophobe: a person who fears or hates foreigners, strange customs, etc.

Dictionary.com

How can the FOC receive help if not from a stranger or outsider? I’ve been thinking about this. From my own experience in public speaking, it’s not something that comes easily or naturally. Just imagine, being very sheltered in who and what you were exposed to and then suddenly being called to become a preacher! I have to believe that these men (Walter White and other FOC preachers) really were lead and inspired by God, through the Holy Spirit to preach the word. How else could they have captivated such a loyal following? But, I have also come to accept that the FOC did not alone hold God’s heart. God didn’t send Jesus to die on the cross just for that little town in Oregon. God cares about the souls of the whole world.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

Last Sunday, I printed a message from a stranger to the OC FOC. I don’t know what his message is, or what God is calling his friend to do. But, I do believe that if the group is to be helped, it is very likely that the help will come from the outside.

U: Unbelievable

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

1 Peter 2:9

“That’s unbelievable!”

Talking to outsiders about the way I was raised in the FOC, with all its accompanying restrictions, rituals, and atypical beliefs, can be awkward. It can lead people to think of me as some kind of sheltered oddball who had that “weird” upbringing. When I have confessed to having been born at home, never having been inoculated, kissing people on the lips at church, being forbidden from making friends outside a closed group of people, and that all of my childhood friends have shunned me, I get these types of responses:

“I can’t believe that!”

“Did you grow up in the United States?”

“Did you live on a commune?”

          “Are your parents cousins?”

          “Yeah, right.”

          As a mother, I now experience a lot of firsts through my children: well child visits, shots (ouch, the kids say they hurt – and I’ll take their word for it), vacation bible school, AWANA, summer sleep away camp, soccer practice, cub scouts, ballet. My son will go to Outdoor School next year, an event I desperately wanted to participate in when I was in sixth grade. And, he’ll go to school dances. These are things I couldn’t do. These are common things that most people experience. My life was not common.

          I’m not complaining about my unbelievable upbringing. It is what it is (or, it was what it was). It’s part of what makes me who I am today. And I don’t mind being unusual.

A Letter to the OC FOC

Today, instead of writing a blog, I have offered to publish a letter to the Oregon City FOC. The contact information for the author can be found at the bottom of his letter, for any who are interested.

* * * *

Recently, I received a report from another saint of a vision he had concerning FOC. Addressing this vision with the LORD, HE gave me a vision of FOC. The vision is a budded flower like a rose that has been closed for too long waiting to be nourished and drenched in the sun light but with care from the LORD, this bud will begin to open and bloom into a beautiful flower with its peddles extending to great reaches.

Because of his vision, my fellow brother attended the FOC praise meeting a week ago this last Thursday. He indicated that he was definitely considered an outsider but we have attended many a gathering of "saints", so we do not offend easily.

I have no direct confirmation from the LORD, that I am to be a tool in seeing this vision come to fruition, but I am open to be used however the LORD sees fit.

Much has been said and written concerning the FOC congregation, but I come from a satellite extension of Faith Assembly under Theologian Hobart Freeman. So, I hold many of the same doctrines of Faith as FOC, however, may differ on the application of the doctrines.

As redeemed saints, we all have a ministry and a mission of Reconciliation, directed by Jesus, THE CHRIST, to extend to the world just as HE extended to us. The ONLY way to accomplish this is through the Love of GOD to us.

As a servant of GOD, I am vigilant concerning the people of the LORD.

I appreciate any insights you could give me as to the best or proper approach to introduce myself and others to the elder(s) and congregation of FOC. 

Sincerely,
BBB or Triple B (Blessed Brother Bob)

Brother Bob can be reached at oracleel@hotmail.com

L: Leadership

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

There are people in the FOC who think they can logically disprove anything I write about my experience in the group by saying, “Nope, that’s not us. Your family was just weird.” Or, “How would you know what we were taught…”. You get the picture. They don’t want me talking about the group, so they try to claim that I don’t know anything. And even if their claims were accurate, they bring up a really serious issue: leaderlessness.

What happens when you get a group of twelve hundred to two thousand people and nobody’s in charge? According to the scriptures, the people fall. After more than forty years, what has happened to this group? The people have their “pet doctrines” -  a fact that was prophesied by the late Walter White. The members argue, bicker, and disown each other. Young people suffer and die. And can you get a straight answer on why these dearly held practices and beliefs continue? No. Every group, church, organization, and family needs leadership.

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Proverbs 29:18

Garth Young: The Things You Have Been Taught

Today's guest blogger, Garth Young, addresses the lack of religious instruction at the Oregon City F.O.C. To read previous guest blogs by Garth, enter his name in the search box.

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At the F.O.C. in Oregon City after the last elder died, the closest thing we had to a pulpit preaching ministry was a wedding ceremony. At a wedding there was a certain predetermined line spoken by the F.O.C. man performing the ceremony: “It’s been proven, if you do the things you have been taught you will have a long and happy marriage.” On its face this sentence has all the makings of a great message: (1) Desire for life and happiness. (2) The necessary teaching to satisfy that desire. (3) The proof that life and happiness has been achieved.

Sadly, all we received from the pulpit was that hollow sentence; there was no explanation, exhortation or application.  It was just one sentence meant to fulfill the duty of the man overseeing the marriage, and equip the man and woman for entering into a lifelong relationship. Like many things at the F.O.C. this vague sentence seems to imply an answer while the actual answer to life and happiness isn’t given. Such statements are confusing and misleading unless the teaching and proof is specifically addressed. The proven and sure hope of eternal life and happiness is what I’m interested in addressing here. 

It was a tremendous breakthrough for me personally to discover there is such a thing as certain hope. Before this I had always put hope in what others said that made me feel confident in my own position and ability, I then used that teaching of man to interpret the bible and make it fit my own self-centered understanding-- trusting in the words of man is anything but certain. That all changed when grace became a reality, my life was no longer about justifying my position because I knew my position was indefensible. The scriptures have shown me what is true; trusting in what God has said is the only way for hope to be certain. It is with that certainty that our existence and purpose ought to be interpreted, anything else is folly. The following three points and conclusion is my outline of the certainty of God as seen in the resurrection.     

(1) Desire for Life and Happiness

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:17–19

It may seem selfish for me to start with the question of man’s personal happiness but it’s not a selfish pursuit if we understand that God is glorified when we are satisfied in him. Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” John 15:11

It would indeed be “most miserable” if Jesus hadn’t been resurrected, but Paul gives great hope to believers by assuring them that the death of Jesus was the effective substitutionary sacrifice for their sins. The believer’s pursuit for joy can be satisfied now and in the life to come because God’s righteousness was satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus.

(2) The Necessary Teaching That Satisfies the Desire for Life and Happiness   

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1 Corinthians 15:1–5

There is only one source of information that can save a soul and give ultimate joy, it is the gospel. The only means by which anyone can be saved is faith in Jesus. This Gospel information that Paul received and delivered to them personally contains life altering good news… that Jesus died and paid the debt of those who believe in him, that he was buried and rose again from the grave, all according to the scriptures.

Paul doesn’t say here or anywhere else that having faith in your church, yourself, your lineage, your works, or anything else will save you, anything else would be a different gospel and a different Jesus. Paul isn’t saying we should seek after signs, he’s saying this is it. Everything Jesus said would happen has happened and the scriptures have been fulfilled. The only thing that can save is belief in the gospel of Jesus, the same gospel Paul delivered.

                       

(3) The Proof That Life and Happiness Has Been Achieved

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22

His resurrection is the biggest and most important event in human history; it is the central event of the gospel. Because of the inherited death from Adam all of mankind is under the penalty of sin but Christ’s resurrection grounded in eyewitness testimony changes everything. There is now a sure hope of being made alive and has been evidenced beyond any doubt. Paul says Jesus is the “firstfruits”, His resurrection and life indicates what the rest of the crop will look like, He has obtained victory over death for all who believe.  And we can know for sure that God was satisfied by Jesus work on the cross because he furnished proof by raising him from the dead.

Conclusion:  “If you do the things you’ve been taught…” I have a pretty good idea what you were taught at the F.O.C. in Oregon City, I know the doctrine that was passed down from generations before and I understand it to be lacking the essential gospel message that Paul taught above. Am I wrong? You tell me, how is it that a group of people who call themselves ‘Followers of Christ’ can be so separate and exclusive and don’t associate with anyone outside of their group, or try to convince others of the hope they have? And what’s worse is you don’t even know why. How is it that you have no elders, no teaching, and no open reading of the scriptures?  Why is it that so many anonymous OCFOC members who comment here spew poison, hatred, or insult? These are the fruits of unregenerate people under the curse of Adam. Until you come to grips with your own sinful estate and embrace the gospel of Jesus you will remain on the other side of the curse.

I have been praying for Oregon City for many years and I don’t write here to make enemies or beat you down, I care a great deal about you. I write because I have a message and I know that some will read it. If you want to escape the condemnation upon yourself because of sin you must heed the biblical warnings, you can’t be good enough! You can’t pay the debt! I’m pleading with you to consider the seriousness of your situation because you can’t escape the holiness of God, His eyes can pierce to the very center of your heart and He knows everything about you. You’re not good enough and you know it, you can’t flee from his presence and you know it, what will you do?

The angel was very intentional in pointing out the empty place where Jesus was laid in the tomb, saying: “he is risen, he is not here” if we miss the significance of this event we miss everything. The resurrection was powerful and amazing not just because it happened but because it’s a fulfillment of everything Jesus said would happen. It actually happened; Jesus truly is the son of God who came to die for us as the propitiation for our sins. And with the resurrection God sent a message that is certain and proven: The debt is paid in full. Those who hope in this message are free because they trust in what the Savior has done.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11:25–26

I Should Leave Them Alone, Right?

I've recently seen dozens of pictures of FOC members. It is amazing to see how things have stayed the same – the inside of the church building, the full-coverage homemade formal dresses, the perfectly coiffed young ladies. I saw some pictures of people I knew twenty years ago – hey, you have aged pretty well (clean living)! It made me feel bad and sad. I’ve spent a lot of time writing about this group of people who really just want to be left alone. I should leave them alone, right?

I was thinking they look happy – man, some of them look so much like their parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins whom I grew up with! But, are you happy? It’s none of my business if you’re fine with what you’re settling for.

But, you are settling. You are settling for an unbiblical life. You are settling for legalism. And do you know who the legalists of the Bible were? The Pharisees – those guys were always trying to trap Jesus with their laws. And, Jesus didn’t like them.

I was told by my parents and other adults in the group that we were the only people who followed everything in the Bible. We did everything the New Testament said to do: greeting with a holy kiss, laying on hands, praying for the sick, faith healing, preachers who are called by God. But wait – hold the music. What preachers? None.

What teaching? None. You are paralyzed.

Do you know the great commission? Go and spread the good news among the Earth! How can you do that if you’ve already decided the entire world outside your closed off little sect is damned? You can’t. It’s not right; it’s not a biblical life.

I don’t want to hurt anyone or invade anyone’s privacy (I'm not mentioning any names or showing anyone's pictures or personal information). But, I do want to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with you.

Please make a decision, take action, before it’s too late.

Sex Swapping Scandals

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Luke 6:41

The mid-1980’s were a tumultuous time for the FOC, and for my family. In 1986, our final leader/elder, Glenford Lee, died. In the first weeks of 1987, my sister left church and went into hiding with my toddler niece. The story of my sister’s life and the impact it had on me and my family is the subject of my second memoir.

When Glenford passed away, nobody knew what would become of the group. But our immediate response was to pay our respects. The way I remember it is that everyone in church went to Glenford’s home and parked along the streets and in the yard and stood in line waiting to walk through the house and view his body. I stood in line with my folks and my sister, while my brothers stood apart from us with the teenage boys.

But there were several families who were noticeably missing from the grieving throng that day. A dozen or more respectable married couples had been involved in an expansive sex swapping scandal. I believe they all stayed away. 

The couples got together with various others and had sex in the same room and swapped partners. Sometimes married couples engaged in these activities with the knowledge and consent of their partners and sometimes not. Some people were far more involved than their spouses. Sometimes they brought their children along and ordered them to stay in another room. Video cameras were involved.

I don’t bring this up to cast blame or judgment on anyone. I’m certain that’s not my place. But what hurt me at the time was that some of these sex swappers were the parents of my friends. And these “upstanding” folks were so unkind to me! They told their daughters to stay away from me because they disapproved of my sister. I was thirteen years old and these self-righteous hypocrites were absolutely horrible to me because my sister was no longer living in Oregon City and a member of the group. Their behavior was irrelevant as long as they showed up twice a week and sat on the benches.

Later, when I married outside the group, it was some of those same folks who were the loudest complainers of my continued presence. Nearly everyone shunned me, but these people went further than most in their dirty looks and the statements they made about me to my family members.

A lot of folks were hurt during those times. Not just the families and children of the swingers, but also people who had looked up to those people. Some said that it was a turning point in how they felt about the church.

This wasn't the first time a sex scandal would blow up in the group - and it certainly wouldn't be the last. 

People make mistakes, but how they deal with those mistakes can make all the difference.

The W-B Food Mart

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:17

            There is this little grocery store on Molalla Avenue in Oregon City called the W-B Food Mart. It is (or was – I’ve heard that it is now owned by worldly people – not sure if that’s true) owned by the White family (descendants of Walter White) and the Baker family. There was a small apartment that was rented out cheap to down-on-their-luck Followers above the store. A one-bedroom unit that was often occupied by some aging bachelor. The parking lot of the W-B was a source of church gossip.

We were expected to buy our groceries from the W-B because it was owned by Followers and only employed Followers. The prices and selection were not great and it was not always fun to have some guy from church commenting on what you were purchasing as he rang you up. But the store extended credit to all Follower families, so if we didn’t have enough money to buy groceries, we could put it on our tab.

            There were several other big grocery stores in town, but it was shameful to be seen going into one of those stores. Dad finally told Mom she didn’t have to shop there any more after one too many disparaging remarks made by a W-B employee. We started driving up to Clackamas to buy our groceries at WinCo every other week and the food was so much cheaper, the store larger, the shopping anonymous. 

How a Preacher is "Called"

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:15

I recently had a conversation with another former FOC member, wherein the person claimed that Walter White was “pure evil.”

I never met Walter, but I immediately jumped to his defense. “No he wasn’t,” I said, “people were just so attached to him that they couldn’t let go.”

“Walter allowed himself to made into a god,” the person replied.

I don’t think it was Walter’s fault. But, then again, how would I know? I was born after his death. And I lived in a world of limbo.

If this happens (a preacher is called), then you can be saved. If it doesn’t happen, well…we don’t actually know what will become of you. But, if you don’t toe the line, you will go directly to Hell. So our options were stay and be uncertain of our eternal destiny or leave and be certainly damned. This is where the saying, “damned if I do; damned if I don’t,” really rings true.

It is because of this legacy of waiting in limbo for the miraculous calling of God to save our church that I have become so interested in how preachers are called.

* * * *

It was 2003 (or thereabouts) during church service at the Marsing, Idaho Followers of Christ when the most recent preacher was called.

It was a non-preaching service (the regular preacher was preaching at another FOC location) and members of the church were taking it in turn to stand and testify. Most of the testimonies consisted of the brethren standing and saying some version of, “I’m not worthy,” and “I need to become a better person” and, “I need to become a better servant to God.”

Just as someone sat down, Junior Porter rose out of his wheelchair and was shaking as he began speaking in prophesy. Nearly everyone was crying at the wonder of this. One of the messages Junior had was that Brother R—was called to do God’s work. R—had been having dreams/visions for several years that he would be called to preach. At the next service, Brother R—preached his first sermon. Shortly thereafter, Junior Porter died.

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2 Corinthians 12:12