Some of this stuff may be repeats from my other writings, but you’ll get over it. When I write, I’m talking about the majority of F&Ws, not all. There are so many thoughts I want to write about. I think they can all be connected somehow in a single offering.
So here goes.
- BORN IN THE WAY
I remember back to when I was very young. I was so thankful to be born in ‘the way’. I was thankful I didn’t have to fight the blindness that the world has. I equated it to being born in America. What a blessing! What a blessing to be born in the truth, the right way! Now I look back and John 8:33 
comes to mind:
They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?" (John 8:33 NKJV)
Being born in the way, I was saying: “I am a descendant in the truth and have never been blind. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?
As I got older, that view changed. I saw these people (2x2’s and outsiders) that were new Christians. They seemed like they had a fire for loving God. I didn’t have this fire. I didn’t love the Lord like I should, and I didn’t know why. I stood up and “professed” because I didn’t want to go to hell, and it was expected of me at 13 years of age. I knew I didn’t have this love that they did. I envied them. I wanted it, but couldn’t figure out how to get it. I didn’t get it from meetings.
- PROFESSING
Speaking of “professing”… This word has taken on its own meaning. My wife (a lifelong Baptist) was talking with one of the “friends”, Sara. Sara was throwing around the word “profess”…This person professes, that person doesn’t profess. My wife asked her, “What does profess mean?” Sara’s answer was, “You profess to follow Jesus and give your life to him.” My wife responded, “Oh! Then I profess also!” The look on Sara’s face was priceless. She really didn’t know what to say. She had to resign to say, “Well, I mean, go to meetings.” This offended my wife that Sara would doubt her submission to Jesus. Long ago, the word “profess” may have meant to give yourself to Jesus and profess your obedience. Now that word means “participating member of the truth”.
An old friend of mine that I knew from convention had an accident and was in the hospital. I was keeping tabs on his progress. I mentioned the accident and my friend’s condition to Sara. Her only response was, “Does she profess?” I couldn’t believe it. I guess we have to figure out whether he is at risk of going to hell or not should he not make it.
- OTHER CHURCHES
Studying some of the 2x2 history, we know that the local ministers did preach with the early workers (Irvine followers). After a falling out, Irvine claimed all denomination were wrong (although he was heard the gospel and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church, and never thought he needed to be re-baptized by a worker) and were going to hell. Thus began the doctrine that “the truth” is the only way and all other churches are wrong. This has held firm throughout the last century into this one. So what do 2x2 members think? Not all, but most think all other churches are wrong. What do they know about other churches?
Zero, zilch, nada, nil, nothing. How is this so?
All other churches are wrong and evil. All other churches are led by false prophets leading their flock to hell. Period. What is there to discuss? What is there to know? Why would anyone care?
The “friends” think that it is better to not attend any church than to attend a false one. If someone goes to a different church, “it would be better for him not to have been born”.
- Why are these other religions preached against so strongly? Three reasons.
(1.) That message has been passed down from the early workers and Irvine and is still preached today.
(2.) The workers don’t want anyone getting any theological ideas from anywhere else. This may result in the friend asking questions or being caught by the enemy. Question asking can be dangerous for a worker.
And now, (with a French accent) the piece de resistance,
(3.) If you don’t know about other churches, you will always believe that they are wrong. And with that, you will believe that “the truth” is “the only way”. (Now for the big epiphany!) Once you believe that “the truth” is “the only way”, then EVERYTHING ELSE becomes acceptable. Let me repeat that. Once you believe that “the truth” is “the only way”, then EVERYTHING ELSE becomes acceptable.
What a worker says from the platform is acceptable. The theology of the workers is acceptable. The controlling actions and excommunications or the threat thereof, is acceptable. The workers decision on the emblems or taking part becomes acceptable. Preaching that “the gospel of Jesus is the two by two ministry and the meetings in the home” becomes acceptable. It all becomes acceptable because your only alternative is to be outside the fold and lost.
If you are in the only way, then everyone else is lost, blind, and will go to fiery eternity. So automatically, you have no other religious option than to stay in ‘the truth’. No matter what a worker says or does, it is acceptable because they are sent by God. If you question ‘the truth’ or the way things are done, you might have a bad spirit and hence you could lose out. If you have a scriptural question and take it to a worker, it doesn’t matter what the answer is because it will be seen as correct.
Here is the funny part of all this. The F&W believe that other religions think like they do.
Let me explain.
- The F&W believe the other religions preach their religion only – the F&W are exclusive also.
- The F&W believe other preachers are “hirelings” – the workers accept money also.
- The F&W believe outsiders meet in a church made with hands – convention buildings are made with hands also.
I have attended a Baptist church now for 8 years. I love it. There are people there who truly love Jesus and who produce true spiritual fruit. Our pastor recently said during his sermon, “Religion, including the Baptist religion, is just man’s idea of how to worship God.” Wow!
Our pastor does not preach “the Baptist gospel” nor exclusivity. Many sermons he has said, “When you go home, you make sure you read your Bible to make sure what I’m saying is true. Don’t just accept my words. You must hold me accountable to what I preach. If I’m telling you something that is wrong, you must come to me and show me where I’ve missed it.” And I can tell you, he is sincere in what he says. He is not above reproach.
There are several churches here in the small town I live in. They all would welcome me into their church and allow me to openly worship with them all the while knowing I regularly attend the Baptist church. My church family would love to have other people from other denominations in our church services. What a treat. We would feel blessed if they were to have a speaking part in the service.
Mark 9:38-41
38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is on our side.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (NKJV)
Speaking of money, our pastor was bragging about his recently purchased suit. He got it at a thrift store for $35. It was nice also. We have a small church. He “works” six days a week as much as 12 hours a day or more. No “hireling” would ever work so much for so little.
Now, considering the church buildings, if a group of people offer their time and money to have a place where they can come together to worship God, what is wrong with that? (I won’t jump on the mega-churches here.)
Well, nothing.
This description sounds an awful lot like a convention grounds.
J.M.
11-11-09
