Heed the Warning—"the Prophets Have Departed"
The final day of last month the Orlando Sentinel published a heart-wrenching tale of horror, as reported by ex-members of Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale, North Carolina. The title of the article summarizes the contents: "Ex-Congregants Reveal Ungodly Abuse" (2-28-17). The heading tells more: "Devil Beaten out of Them Year After Year, Victims Say."
Literally, the devil is in the details as it relates to members, including children, being regularly "punched, smacked, choked, slammed to the floor or thrown through walls in a violent form of deliverance meant to "purify" sinners by beating out devils" (all quotations and information are from A7). Even toddlers and crying babies were "vigorously shaken, screamed at and sometimes smacked to banish demons." Little kids were "punched in the face" and called "Satanists." Others received loud verbal screams directed at them, a practice appropriately enough called blasting.
Those who belonged to this group were "forbidden to seek outside medical attention for their injuries, which included cuts, sprains and cracked ribs." A few of the former members claimed to have been sexually abused, also. Some minors were also separated from their families for a year—some even longer. Teachers encouraged students to beat their classmates for daydreaming and smiling.
How has this group gotten away with this for years? Nobody would speak up. Law enforcement, social services, and the Associated Press have been trying since the early 1990s to take action, but nothing has materialized. Nothing this rotten should have survived this long in this nation; the operators of this "church" should have been indicted long ago. It is not to their credit that those who had knowledge did not do everything in their power to shut this "fellowship" down.
The founders of this perverted institution are a former math teacher, Jane Whaley, and her husband Sam, a former used car salesman. The group has been in existence since 1979. They have a 35-acre complex in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which she presides over—with her own set of rules. She (now 77) controls the lives of her members, "including whether they can marry or have children." The chief rule, however, is: "No one can complain about her or question her authority." She who must be obeyed might let forth a stinging rebuke from the pulpit or order physical punishment. The group once numbered 750 members but has dwindled to about 100. That there is more than one follower is sad—and needless.
Two reasons exist for people not protesting publically this group. One is that parents and children are strong-armed to lie. The second is that people fear Whaley's wrath against "traitors," warning that "God would strike them dead" if they betrayed her.
Ignorance of the Bible
What most people will marvel at is: "How did rational people with even a modicum of understanding of the Scriptures allow such a monster to gain control over their lives?" Have they never read how Christians are to treat others the way they desire to be treated? Did they never run across Matthew 7:12, which is often referred to as the Golden Rule? Is screaming at children and beating them taught by Jesus or even one of His apostles? Of course not.
Paul reminded the brethren at Thessalonica that "we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" (1 Thess. 2:7). Does that sound anything remotely like the treatment those of the Word of Faith Fellowship received? Concerning children, Paul specifically wrote, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). How could anyone fail to conclude that the methods being used by this cult were grievously wrong?
Jesus cast demons (devils) out of a number of individuals. Can anyone find even one instance where He yelled at the individual? After Jesus descended from the Mount of Transfiguration, a man told him about his son, whom the demons frequently convulsed so that he fell into fire or into water. Jesus did not yell at the demon; He rebuked him, and he came out of him (Matt. 17:14-18). Even when faced with a Legion of demons, Jesus did not lose His composure. In fact, the demons did. They said, "What have we to do with you, You Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" They recognized that One Who had authority was in their midst. They engaged in conversation.
Jesus did not say, "Hand Me a whip and I'll beat the devils out of these men," as though such a thing would have worked. When did Jesus or His apostles ever harm someone who was troubled by a demon? The Legion petitioned Jesus to enter a herd of swine, and He said, "Go" (Matt. 8:28-32). The demons did mischief to the ones they inhabited; those casting them out did not add more woes to those who were suffering. The entire premise on which this religious group operates is faulty. They beat human beings for what the demons are supposed to be guilty of.
Of course, no demons exist today to be cast out; nobody has the power to practice exorcism. And even if they did, it would not be by beating children. Most parents have had to punish their children, which can include spankings. These are authorized by the Scriptures, but no Bible verse authorizes what this group has been practicing. How could this group's adherents not tell the difference? How could they not know that the discipline practices of this "fellowship" was off-the-chart wrong? How did their compassion fail them?
Hiding Behind the Law
This church's learned legal counsel contends that any discipline practices "would be protected by the First Amendment's freedom of religion tenets." Hogwash! The first amendment declares:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
No one can prohibit the free exercise of religion. Good! We need that! But where does that statement allow for the abuse of children? All citizens have the right to participate in whatever religion they desire and not be prevented from doing so. But can people in the United States offer their children as sacrifices to Molech as those in Moab did and then claim the First Amendment guarantees that "right"? The same principle that prevents parents from killing their children must, of necessity, prevent them from abusing them, also. If that is not the case, why was the Branch Davidian Compound assaulted in Waco, Texas?
Civil liberties do not permit homicide because one person's liberty does not grant him the right to infringe upon another citizen's. Likewise, one cannot claim that religious liberty allows for the torturing of children. Christians and churches are very zealous that none of their rights be taken away, but no one can justify the actions of the Word of Faith Fellowship as religious liberty. These are inhuman practices, and the civil government must intervene and file charges in such a grotesque matter.
Government cannot and should not intervene in any religious matter—unless the safety of its citizens is at stake, which in this instance it clearly is. If adults allow themselves to be cowed by a cult leader, that's their prerogative (unless they are imprisoned), but children do not have adult minds and abilities; they need protection (hopefully better than they get from Roe v. Wade). No religious group should be allowed to mishandle children and infants in this way and be able to claim First Amendment privileges.
"Now Hear This!"
If one message could be communicated to all people on earth, it would be: "God ceased sending prophets in the first century; please don't listen to those who claim God is speaking through them." Consider Zechariah 13:1-2:
"In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness….
I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land."
Verse one tells us when the actions of verse 2 will occur. The fountain was opened for the house of David to be cleansed when Jesus died on the cross. As we still sing, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains." Since the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection, the idols were cut off from the land, and nobody practices idolatry among Jews or Christians (at least as it pertains to worshiping objects made of wood, stone, or metal, which were fashioned by men). By the end of the first century, there were no more demons and no more prophets. When someone begins assigning bad behavior to demons today, they should be reminded of this passage, plus the fact that God gave no instructions in the entire New Testament as to how to cast out evil spirits. Jesus and the apostles could do so, but that ability died with them. How do we know that prophecy has ceased?
Well, first of all, Paul said it would in 1 Corinthians 13:8: "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail...." The word fail means that the ability would be done away. Someone might protest and say, "But God has used prophets since the beginning of time; why would He stop communicating with man in that manner?" The answer is not difficult—He has said everything that He wanted to communicate.
In the Old Testament, God's plan for salvation was future; so He gave prophecies concerning the Christ; He gave prophecies concerning the kingdom. But Jesus fulfilled those prophecies, and the kingdom was established. Jesus received His kingdom when He ascended into Heaven (Dan. 7:13-14; Acts 2:33). But not everything had been revealed at that time. Jesus promised His apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them after His departure (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:12-13; Acts 1:8). The Comforter (Helper, Advocate) would bring to remembrance all that Jesus taught them, guide them into all truth, and show them things to come.
Peter confirmed this promise was fulfilled—that God had given them "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). The way Jude put it was to exhort brethren "to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (v. 3). The faith (New Testament teaching) had already been entirely revealed by the end of the first century. Thus the need for prophets has ceased. No new revelation exists; all that we need has been supplied. The New Testament points to the end of time. No additional Savior is coming; Christ is sufficient. No new message lies on the horizon; what we have will preserve us until Jesus returns.
"Now hear this!" is a phrase used by our Navy to call attention to an important order that follows. Now hear this—everyone! Zachariah said the prophets would cease. So did Paul. Jesus, the Captain of your salvation likewise claimed that His apostles would receive all truth. Peter said they got it. Whenever someone like Jane Whaley comes along, say to yourself, "She is not a prophet. No more prophets exist!" You and your family will be happier.