Jesus Is the Same, but 'The Truth' Has Changed

A Short History Timeline for "the Truth"

The Truth

• Why do we think the way we do? 

• Why can’t others see what you see? 

• You know “The Truth” about God and Jesus, so why can’t others see it? 

• Why can’t others see that the true Gospel began with the example of Jesus as the chief cornerstone of the homeless workers and meetings in the home? 

"The church in the home is a part of Jesus, just as the ministry is a part of Jesus, and you cannot have the blood of Jesus without accepting all of Jesus...The truth is the two-and-two ministry and the church meeting in the home."  - William Peterson.

• Why do you believe it? 

• Did you learn it from your parents? 

• Did you hear it from a worker? 

If you know “The Truth”, it had to come from a worker sent by God.  –Everyone is blind unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes.  We all need to pray for sight.

Self Preservation

However, if I were coming at you with a knife or gun saying I was going to kill you, self-preservation would kick in and change your core beliefs to allow you to preserve your own life.  Those changes would allow you to shoot me in the face.  This is a crude example of how self-preservation might work.  (I’m telling you this so you will keep an open mind and not let self-preservation take over.)  Why do you need to know this?  You will perceive that the next paragraphs threaten your spiritual life and your eternal life.  You don’t have to agree with me, just back up and view the situation as if you are a non-participant.  It took me 7 years to defeat this handicap of self-preservation.

The Way

Did you ever wonder why…....

• …women in other states were allowed to dress differently?

• …sometimes we were not allowed to do anything on Sundays when other times we were?

• …some exchange gifts at Christmas but deny participating in such a “worldly” holiday?

• …divorce and remarriage is handled differently in different states?

• …you have to wait (to prove yourself worthy) to be baptized?

• …some workers would prefer you not take notes?

• …members in Europe often drink wine openly and it is condemned in the States?

• …you always feel the need to ask the workers about a difficult subject?

• …you always feel the need to ask the workers about correct interpretation of scripture?

• …why is a television still “of the devil” but a PC with an internet connection (to all sorts of filth), is “OK”?

I’m sure you have heard your whole life, just as I did, that the true gospel is of Jesus starting the true two by two ministry and the meeting in the home.  Since, He started it, and it remains until today, then it is the One True Way.  Also, we’ve heard from Hebrews 13:8

, “Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (KJV). 

Jesus is the same but every worker is different.  And, worker instructions to the saints are different.  And, “the way” in states, regions, and countries are different.  If Jesus is the same, why is His Way different?  Televisions are still a big sin.  Before TV’s, it was radios.  When TV’s appeared, the restriction on radios eased.  Panty hose was “required” at convention.  However, now any color will do.  Prior to the ‘60s, black was the only acceptable color. 

• The Way has changed. 

• The Way is changing. 

• The Way has always been changing. 

• Why? 

It has always been a necessity.  I’ll dispense with the petty and get right to the meat. 

The Hidden Truth (Or at least a little cloudy.)

When the name William Irvine is mentioned, we are told that God can “raise up a man from stones to” continue His Way.  (Matthew 3:9 )  In other words, we are told to believe that William Irvine was given a revelation by God to “continue” His Way.  And by searching the scriptures, William Irvine understood and was able to show others The Way.  So, The Way was founded by Jesus, began with the apostles, and continued by William Irvine.  This was not always so (according to the workers).

We were told that The Way could be traced back to the 1st century.  This changed when someone goes and gives heed to fables and endless genealogies and discovers William Irvine.  Well, not really discovered, see, William Irvine has always been known, just never talked about in hopes he would be forgotten.  Why?  In addition to being inspired to “continue The Way”, in 1918, he also had a revelation that he called the Omega Gospel.  He believed he would be one of the two witnesses at Jerusalem mentioned in Revelation.  This was too “crazy” for the rest of the workers.  In 1914, he was “excommunicated” for having an “unacceptable manner of life”.  So you see, when someone would ask about the beginnings of “The Way”, workers would grimace at the fact to mention William Irvine as he was such an outcast.  So, the story was CHANGED to, “It has existed since the beginning”.

“The Way” is the only way to salvation.  All other religions are false.  If you do not hear the gospel from a worker, profess, and attend every meeting you can, you can not have the redemption of Christ.  We’ve always heard Romans 10:14 quoted to prove this.  Since 1907, it has been a part of “The Way”.  In 1907, William Irvine made it mandatory that all workers preach this concept.  William Irvine got the final concept of this from a book called “Natural Law in the Spiritual World”.  A statement in that book reads, “Life can only come from the touch of life.”  “Life begets life.”  From this, William Irvine theorized the same with the spirit.  He quipped, “One cannot be born again through reading the Bible, you must hear the gospel from a Living Witness.”  If not, this is almost blasphemy, as claiming the Holy Spirit has no power in a man unless that power is given to the Spirit by a worker.  (Think about this one.)  I’ll repeat this.  William Irvine believed and taught that the Holy Spirit has no power in a man unless that power is given to the Spirit by a worker.  It wasn’t always so.  Now, why was this change necessary. 

In 1905, Joseph Kerr, an early worker, attended (as usual at the time) a conference of clergymen in the Bridge of Allan, in Scotland.  Joseph Kerr was so disgusted with the way the clergy preached that he came to the conclusion that are no clergymen saved.  William Irvine took the idea and ran with it.  Joseph Kerr was never totally comfortable in the view that William Irvine took and was later excommunicated for calling it heresy.  So, although William Irvine was saved through a Presbyterian Minister, he CHANGED “The Way” to “Only a worker can save.”

We are told that the church in the home is a part of the way and that is in the Bible.  Workers baptized the friends a year or so after they profess.  This was not always so.  As stated in the above quote by William Peterson, “The church in the home is a part of Jesus…”  This was not always so.  Prior to around 1902, meetings in the homes of the friends did not exist.  Prior to this time, people who heard the workers preach and came to know Jesus would attend there local church and be baptized there.  In other words, there was not a “church body” of “The Way”.  Other denominational preachers would preach with the workers.  They were all brothers in Christ.  It seems that the early converts gave their money to the poor.  The workers got monetary help from local churches.  Friction began between the workers and churches.  When the money started drying up, the need to segregate the converts began.  Thus, “The Way” CHANGED to the church in the home and workers (after three years of preaching) STARTED to baptize.

The workers have preached over the years about the convention in Acts.  We are told that they had conventions in the Bible days.  Well, the exact story is the first convention occurred in 1899-1900 (Well, sort of. I’ll explain this later.)  The workers had their first convention in Rathmolyon, Ireland.  You may say, “So, what are you saying?”  Well, we were all told that the “Convention” is in the Bible.  So, William Irvine must have started the convention based on his revelation from God about “The Way”.  Right?  Hold this thought.

We are told that the workers are part of God’s True Way cause they go out Two by Two like they did in Matthew 10

.  And, if you don’t do like they did in Matthew 10

, then you preach a false gospel.  The quick and dirty on this one is that in Matthew 10

, Jesus instructed them to only preach to the children of Israel, not to the gentiles.  But, let’s not split hairs.  In 1899, William Irvine and others wanted to start preaching according to Matthew 10, on “Faith Lines” which meant, they would not have a salary, but would rely on their faith in God for provisions.  So, William Irvine must have started the Two by Two preaching based on his revelation from God about “The Way”.  Right?  Hold this second thought.

In 1895, William Irvine joined the Faith Mission with the purpose of spreading the gospel.  In 1901, William Irvine cut his ties with the Faith Mission.  Faith Mission is a Protestant evangelical movement founded in 1886 by John George Govan in Scotland.  The Faith Mission is still in existence today.  It is still in operation spreading the gospel message.  (Faith Mission

- please visit their website) 

What does this have to do with “The Way”? 

Well, let's try to tie it all together.  Pay close attention now. 

The Faith Mission has something called “The Work”.  It is where people are sent to local missions with a companion, or two by two.  They are called “workers”.  The Faith Mission also holds yearly “conventions”.  These began prior to the first one of the workers in 1899.  There were conventions before “The Way”.  There will be at least four in 2009, Bangor, Edinburgh, Bandon, and Stradbally, Scotland.  The Faith Mission has district “Overseers”.  Their converts “profess”.  They hold “Special Meetings” and “Union Meetings.” 

What am I saying? 

Well, most likely any term or idea that is used in “The Way” has roots in the Faith Mission. 

God knows what He wants.  God did not wait around for 13 years for Moses and Noah to stumble onto the “right way” to build something.  He most likely didn’t wait for William Irvine either.

Rebuttal

“But, God must have used the Faith Mission to properly influence William Irvine.” 

Then why didn’t he just use the Faith Mission.  It was right there and 90% of what God required, right? 

“But, God still used William Irvine to create this way.” 

The problem with that is most things in “The Way” are NOT BIBLICAL, despite what we’ve been taught by the workers. 

Let me say that again. 

Most things in “The Way” are NOT BIBLICAL. 

Now, when I say “not biblical”, I’m not saying it’s wrong…I’m saying there is no biblical foundation to support it.  You are taught and preached to with half verses, partial chapters, and not from all the books.  Literal things are conveniently taken to be spiritual, and spiritual things are burdensomely taken literal.

They have taught you what you need to believe the way you do and nothing more.  Why do you feel the need to ask them about most issues?  That’s what they want you to do or not ask at all.  Why is there no theological study among “the friends”?  Let me ask that again.  Why don’t any of the friends sit around and openly discuss theological issues or doctrine?  For that matter, why don’t they sit around and talk about Jesus or God or mention how wonderful God blessed them today (other than in meeting)?  There are a thousand other “how comes”, but I’ll stop here.

“These ideas are from the devil and you are trying to make me ‘lose out’”. 

No, I just want you to think for yourself.  The Spirit will have to open your eyes, for I can do nothing for you or to you.

Biblical

The only thing William Irvine did based on the Bible was to go out preaching on faith, based on Matthew 10 ,.  The part he missed was the disciples were instructed to preach to the Children of Israel only.  But, the part where they relied on faith for their needs, William Irvine understood that, only to abandon it 3 years later, by separating believers unto himself because cash from those “worldly” denominations was drying up.

• So why do the workers differ with each other? 

• Why are their instructions to the friends different? 

• Why do traditions and customs vary by region, state, and country? 

• Why are some things acceptable in some parts of the country and not others? 

Because.  Because, these are all decisions of men, coming from men, in “a way” started by men.  It is all based upon the current workers whim or inclination, just like the entire way was changed over the years based on one mans (William Irvine) whims and inclinations.

Self Preservation (Reprise)

Right now your “self-preservation” has already kicked in.  You know if your mind believes what you just read, that you could be lost and sent to hell for eternity.  You are saying things like, “Oh, I don’t believe these lies.”  Or, “I know I’m in the right way, so none of this means a thing.” Or, “But the workers say that…..”  Or, “Some people (not me) are so blind and lost.” 

Remember, salvation is by Jesus, not “The Way”. 

Do you know Jesus?

Like I said, try to shed these self preservation thoughts and take an objective approach.  If you can, you will be able to rightly divide the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 )  I really don’t care if you believe me or not.  I just want you to begin to think for yourself.

Summary

If you doubt any of stated facts, please visit the following:  Veterans of Truth or Telling the Truth

.  You may have heard of these.  Don’t’ be afraid to question and search the scriptures (Acts 17:11 ).  A worker will not be with you on judgment day.  You will be alone.  You are responsible for yourself.  Don’t be afraid to study and understand.  If you truly know God, then you have nothing to fear because nothing will be able to separate you from Him. 

Romans 8:38-39 .  Visit the Faith Mission website: Faith Mission

It was as if “The Way” came right out of there. 

Oh wait, it did. 

Listen to the sermons and prayers from their conventions.  Their language usage “profess” “worker” etc. will sound familiar even today.

You may not believe any of this.  This is 20,000 pages or more of information squeezed into three pages.  If anything here peaks your interest, most likely it can be found in detail on one or any of the websites.  If you want to discuss these things anonymously, visit Truth Meetings Board (The Truth) .

If you come to understand what I’m saying in this letter, it will hit you like a ton of bricks.  You won’t know what to do.  Seriously, you might have something similar to an anxiety attack.  Calm down.  There are names of people on those first two websites who can help you.  Maybe you know someone who understands all of this already, they would be glad to help you, too. 

Understanding for me took seconds; dealing with the aftermath takes years.

Written by J.M. June 6, 2009