SIDE by SIDE - Worker Contradictions

(Please note "NUMBERED" comments by J.M. after each set of worker quotes.)

(Also, please see Gray's article, "The Basics of Error" below "worker contradiction quotes)."

By J.M. - 11-09

The “Way” does not have a written doctrine.

Does it need one?  Not necessarily. 

But, why not? 

Why do some workers discourage taking notes? 

Often it is stated, “They might fall into the wrong hands.”  The workers do not know what their own doctrine is.  The truth is that if the worker’s gospel was written down as preached, it would not fit what the Bible says.  Thus, we have the following sermon statements. 

Can you imagine someone hearing these messages trying to figure out what the workers actually believe?  

No commentary is needed for these as the contradictory statements alone show the inconsistencies and contrary views held by the workers.  However, I have added some commentary to further demonstrate how contrary to scriptures some of these statements are.

Jeff Reid ~ ~ "People say if you don't say Jesus is God you are a cult. Jesus is deity in that He was Godlike. He is the Son of God and has the character of His Father." [1984] REF #383

Ann Bailor ~ ~ "Paul said there is one God and one mediator, the man Christ Jesus; Not the Son of God, but the MAN Christ Jesus. Jesus was a man." [Post Falls ID Conv 1989] REF #198

[1.] Notice the obvious contradiction here.  One worker points out that Jesus is the Son of God and the other worker says He is NOT the Son of God.  Many scriptures state that Jesus is the Son of God.  Acts 8:37 (NKJV), “Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

Warren Wainwright ~ ~ "We do believe in the blood of Christ. It has not been talked about enough in the past. The blood is part of the gospel but reconciliation is through this ministry. The workers are the mediators." [Boring OR 1988] REF #110

Ann Bailor ~ ~ "Paul said there is one God and one mediator, the man Christ Jesus; Not the Son of God, but the MAN Christ Jesus. Jesus was a man." [Post Falls ID Conv 1989] REF #198

[2.] Ann Bailor seems to directly contradict Warren Wainwright here by quoting Paul.  I’m sure she didn’t mean to.  Also, Warren’s statement is a typical of the gospel that is preached by the workers.  Warren's statement says “The blood is PART of the gospel…and the other PART is the ministry.” 

This is not what Paul states is the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 .  In fact, Warren’s statement that the workers are mediators is downright false according to 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”. This is the same verse being referenced by Ann.

Sydney Holt ~  ~ "No matter how hard we work, we will never reach perfection. We trust the blood to cover the rest."

Walter Pollock ~ ~ "Trusting in the Blood is the wrong thing. It will only bring disillusionment." [Spokane WA 1983] REF #247

[3.] These comments have a double error.  Not only do they contradict on another, they both are in direct contradiction of scripture.  1 John 1:7 (NKJV) says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  The blood covers ALL sin not THE REST as Sydney states. 

The blood is the only thing that cleanses us.  Trusting in anything else will not bring forgiveness.  If forgiveness or righteousness can come by any means (works or law) other than the blood, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:21 .

Howard Mooney ~ ~ "It is the life, not the blood that, saves you." [Salmon Arm, BC, Canada 1966] REF #225

Howard Mooney ~ ~ "The separation comes first, then the washing of the blood of the Lord. You could not have access to the efficiency of that blood without first of all being willing for the separation." [Funeral of Annie Lyness, Bozeman, Montana 6/3/70] REF #339

[4.] I guess Howard Mooney changed his entire doctrine and theology in only four years.

Archie Turner ~ ~ "Then there is the best cleansing of all. The provision made in the precious blood of Christ. This is the heavenly provision made that we might be cleansed from what we ourselves could never cleanse ourselves from, so that we might be able to stand spotless before the Lord. His blood will cleanse us from all sin." [Chelan, Washington Convention - 1961] REF #118

Harry Brownlee ~ ~ "I don't question that the blood covers the guilt and shame of those that are in the house of faith." [Hunter ND Conv. 10/29/95] REF #151

[5.] Archie seems to get it right.  He correctly states that the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin.  However, he is contradicted by Harry, who says that the blood is to cover the guilt and shame.  The Bible says NOTHING of the need to cover guilt or shame.  Sorry Harry, you missed this one.

Jack Carroll ~ ~ "The Pharisees were pledged to know the law and to live the law and to preach the law. They attempted to work out their own salvation. It's not what we do for God that makes us His children, it's what we allow God to do for us."  [Special Meetings 12 /05/ 51] Quotations By Workers P.21

Neils Jorgensen ~ ~ "It is done one stitch at a time and as you work on it the pattern takes shape. We have to work on our salvation daily and one bit at a time. Unless we work on it, it won't get done." [Walla Walla WA 1970] Quotations By Workers P.14

[6.] Jack is talking about how the Pharisees were wrong by attempting to work out their own salvation and Neils states that we must do that very thing. 

Well, do we or don’t we?

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) “But we are all like an unclean [thing], And all our righteousnesses [are] like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” 

No matter how good we are or how much we pray or how many workers we please, all our righteousness are like filthy rags to God.  Our salvation is by grace through faith.  Like it says in Ephesians 2:8 , (NKJV) it has nothing to do with us.  I’m not saying that you just have to believe and that’s that.  True belief will produce fruit in your life. 

John 15:16 (NKJV) “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Wilson McClung ~ ~  "Our mission was started by William Irvine, a Scotchman, seven or eight years ago. Others followed him. The mission has grown gradually. Fifty men and women are now carrying the word to the unenlightened in eight countries in England, etc." [Impartial reporter, North Ireland June 21, 1906] Quotations By Workers P.42

Everett Swanson ~ ~ "This Way did not start with William Irvine. It was started by a group of men who received a revelation from God." [1988] Quotations By Workers P.31

[7.] Only one of these statements can be true.  The FACTS support Wilson’s quote.

Jack Carroll ~ ~ "Their salvation does not consist of walking in the way, of having fellowship with us, but of having Christ governing and ruling their lives from day to day." Self Written NOTES FOR WORKERS

Jack Carroll ~ ~ "Salvation begins when you are brought into the "FELLOWSHIP" with Jesus." [Bakersfield CA 1933] Quotations By Workers P.13

[8.] From Jack’s first statement, one could conclude that salvation consists of having Christ governing and ruling their lives from day to day and has nothing to do with “the way”.  However, if one mistakenly came to that conclusion, Jack points out that error with his second statement.

Jackie Meeks ~ ~ "Jesus had a sinful nature and the potential is there for us to overcome our flesh if we walk in His Way. He learned obedience through suffering, We can do the same. Obedience resulted in Jesus being made perfect. Our salvation results in obedience to the Father." [Post Falls Convention 1972] Quotations By Workers P.8, 15

Howard Mooney ~ ~ "The separation comes first, then the washing of the blood of the Lord. You could not have access to the efficiency of that blood without first of all being willing for the separation." [Funeral of Annie Lyness Bozeman MT 6/3/1970] Quotations By Workers P.11

[9.] Are we saved after obedience (or separation), or are we saved first, resulting in obedience or separation?  From these two statements, one cannot tell.

Not only do workers preach a gospel that is contrary with scripture, they often disagree with each other.  This causes divisions from state to state. 

Some are confronted with these facts and usually dodge them by saying, “Oh, you must have misunderstood”. 

The more notes that are taken and passed around, the more opportunity there is to point out the contradictions with scripture and disagreements among each other.

Romans 16:17-19 (NKJV)

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.  19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

Am I saying the workers don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ? 

No. 

What I am saying is that the devil gets in whenever and wherever he can.

Quote From Gray:

When Workers are asked why they refuse to write a doctrinal statement (historically), they almost ALWAYS reply, "Our doctrine is the Bible." Now, IF the Workers' doctrine WERE the Bible, there would be NO contradictions in their statements -- so quite evidently, the Bible IS NOT the Workers doctrine either. ----Gray, 11-09

THE BASICS OF ERROR

By Gray - 11-09

After reading the Contradictions article, the first question that hit my mind was, "Why do Workers make such contradicting statements?"

Here I attempt to draw the reasoning to its basic human level – the bottom line, as it may be.

In the area of human ‘religions’ it is very plain that historically people blame themselves for anything that does not work out well. For example, in some primitive tribes of humanity, when crops failed and starvation resulted, the people often assumed that they had somehow displeased their gods.

It is also noteworthy that those primitive tribes blamed themselves for anything that did not work out well for them, in light of what the Bible says about God writing His law on the human heart.

As a result of the human tendency to think that they have ‘sinned’ against their gods when things go badly, people have historically conceived some means for themselves to APPEASE their gods. Primitive tribes sacrificed human lives (often children) thinking that would APPEASE their gods. And it remains a fact that all such ‘sacrifices’ are done in complete sincerity – i.e., the ‘umbagumba tribe’ (not a real tribe) sincerely threw a baby each year into the ‘sacred river’ to APPEASE the river god when fishing failed. Such sacrifices became routinely performed IN ADVANCE sincerely expecting the ‘river god’ to be pleased IN ADVANCE and therefore guarantee a good supply of ‘fish.’

The 2x2s are similar in that, while they do not throw their babies in a river, they DO throw their babies into ‘attending every meeting’ for life (until physical death) – i.e., just a different form of human sacrifice – one that disallows individuality and ordinary human JOY in every day life. One of the most common Worker sermons I heard as a child was “We must sacrifice our beauty and joy on the alter. And after we die, Gods measures those ashes, and rewards us with an equal amount of beauty and joy (in eternity).”

And the 2x2s are not alone amongst the pseudo-christian religions. In EVERY church calling itself “Christian” – let me repeat – in EVERY Christian church, there is a faction of adherents that does some form of human sacrifice, sincerely believing that those sacrifices please God and cover for their ‘sins’ (as they perceive “sin”). And when the LEADERS of any church are members of that faction, that church becomes no more securely ‘eternally saved’ than the ‘umbagumba’ tribe.

The Bible, and Biblical Christianity perform NO human sacrifices – it relies TOTALLY on the one and only God-man and Savior, Jesus Christ, who did ALL the blood-sacrifice on BEHALF of the sins of EVERY human being who ever lived. And Biblical Christianity STANDS ALONE as the only church that TRUSTS and relies totally (faith) upon that Savior’s sacrifice on their behalf.

Thus, since the 2x2s have sincerely GROPED in human blindness (darkness) right from the start, one might understand that they have ONLY repeated the common sincere ‘tribal’ error of human effort. While using the Bible, evidently with little (if any) understanding of what it teaches, in particular with regard to the Savior, the 2x2s may THINK they are Christians in self-delusion – in company with all the similar factions within every church.

Interestingly, in the realm of 2x2ism there is a small, mainly “saint” (non-Worker) FACTION that does seem to understand what the Bible teaches about the Savior and are Christians (pretty silent Christians though) – the Head Workers are not known to tolerate such members long, because the Biblical Savior strikes out the traditional Worker ‘savior’ status ENTIRELY. The history of 2x2ism contains many documented examples of members who ‘stumbled’ upon Biblical truth regarding the Savior and were KICKED OUT for expressing it. For only one example (out of many), a former Worker in Alaska (Truitt Oyler) in 1989 was booted out of “the ministry” over “doctrinal concerns” after he would not conform to the leading Workers’ demands that he stop preaching Trinitarian doctrine. While these Workers FAILED to clearly state within their documents WHAT his ‘error’ was, they did state that they booted him out for “doctrinal concerns” I learned the rest of that story from some who were closely familiar with the case at that time.