Sources: Unadfi 11/07/2023, South-West & France Bleue, 22/06/2023

Thursday, June 22, the Pau court looked into two cases involving ten parents members of the Twelve Tribes community, none of whom were present in the courtroom. They were prosecuted for illegal schooling and “forgery and use of forgery in registering their children for home education”. A mother was also tried for violence against her daughter.

The case already judged in 2021 was judged at the request of the defendants who were absent during their first conviction. This new hearing once again took place in their absence. Speaking through the voice of their lawyer, they stated that “all the parents of children no longer reside in the community because they are in breach of French law or at least expose themselves to criminal prosecution, therefore have chosen to leave France. ”

The investigation which began in 2014 gave rise to a search in 2019 during which the educational shortcomings of the children of the community came to light. Their teaching was based only on “homemade” manuals based on the Bible, without references external to the group so as to conform to the beliefs of the followers. The investigators had also noted significant educational deficiencies in the subjects of common core knowledge and the impossibility for the children to “develop a personal argumentation”.

During the June 22 hearing, Mrs Patricia Cocrelle, who represents the victims, wondered: “how can you put a figure on the harm and loss caused by these educational deficiencies which are much more serious than one can think? without knowledge, being totally conditioned, these children will not be able to become free and independent adults,” she added. She claimed 1,000 euros in damages per child and 1,500 more for the one who was beaten with a stick. This kind of beating is a common punishment in the group and one that the three accused members had defended, while under police custody, as a practice done for “educational purpose” and as “an act of love”.

At the end of the hearing, the prosecutor, Richard Pineau, asked for the same damages as the lawyer and requested six months suspended prison sentence for illegal schooling and four months more for the mother accused of violence.

The court will deliver its decision on September 7.

Author: Unadfi

Translation from French by Rosemary Cruzado

by News Division · Published April 13, 2019 · Updated April 14, 2019

Before I told this story, I wanted enough time to pass to de-escalate a highly volatile situation. But, it’s a story that needs to be told.

A little more than a year ago, I made contact with a family who attended a satellite Bible study in a town an hour away from our church facility, which is one Bible study of several I do in communities away from home. This is my way of helping to connect families that travel a good distance to church and may not be able to attend a mid-week study and it helps to build a teaching presence away from home, being faithful to the Great Commission.

The family seemed fine enough, sincere in their beliefs, solid in their convictions, and devout. Within a short time, they decided to move closer to us to partake in our weekly Lord’s Day gatherings, and we added them to the Body of the Church by a vote of the congregation. As a matter of due diligence, I spoke to one of their former pastors and asked for a recommendation. The pastor told me that the gentleman, who I will call Kepha – his cult name – would be commended for membership but that he once had a troubling episode and shared with me various ‘signs’ to be on the lookout for in regards to his mental health. Because of clergy-penitent privilege, he did not tell me more.

I should have asked for more specifics.

For several months, the family integrated themselves into the church and I gave him various service responsibilities, like turning on the lights and making the coffee on Sunday morning (we want all of our members to serve in some capacity). It seemed well enough.

However, mid-summer, Kepha began to show signs that something wasn’t right mentally, and certain of the indicators mentioned to me by his former pastor had manifested themselves.

While on summer vacation with my family, Kepha told me of a conspiracy involving a long-standing member of our church (he had been at my church longer than me), which sounded fanciful and not true to the man’s character or the nature of reality. It seemed to me he was spiraling into a world of fantasy.

It was during this time that Kepha became intensely interested in the ‘ministry’ work of Servus Christi, a pseudonymous online YouTube host (whose real identity I still don’t know, but I know it’s questioned by many) who I previously had encountered in my polemics work. Servus Christi is a Sectarian Minimalist and seems to hate the ‘organized church.’ He also did videos attacking me, Dr. John MacArthur, Paul Washer, and others. Kepha would call me frantically and ask, “Have you seen Servus Christi’s new video? Paul Washer is a Jesuit!”

I would settle his fears by calling HeartCry, getting the facts that Servus Christi had twisted, and reaffirm to Kepha the truths that had been perverted by the YouTube personality. Ultimately, Kepha became convinced that of all those criticized by Servus Christi, only Paul Washer seemed legitimately Christian. I, of course, vehemently and diligently deposed those fears as irrational.

However, upon the fanciful accusation regarding this mutual church member, I called and asked his former pastor for more information.

I was shocked to discover the extent of his (what I viewed to be) psychosis and its previous outbursts that led to fear of the pastor – at one point – for his life. I then relayed to Kepha that I was concerned for his mental health.

Then, I asked our church’s security team leader to communicate directly with his previous church’s security team leader for the details, wanting to avoid gossip or tattling and letting those who make security judgement calls make them. After they spoke, it was determined that he was a potential physical risk to the Body and we issued a security memo that he would not be allowed into the facility without first getting a mental health evaluation that the church would pay for.

As he was spiraling, I asked a ‘famous’ friend of mine – who Kepha still claimed to admire – to speak with him. I thought he might be able to get through. My friend agreed to speak with him, but Kepha would not speak to him.

I approached the local police department and asked if they had someone in the public area where two members of our security team and a fellow elder (and myself) would meet with Kepha to explain the security memo. We explained to Kepha that evening that this was not a matter of church discipline, that he was not removed from the Church Body (because this would violate our principles of Matthew 18 and due process) but was a temporary security measure independent of ecclesiastical discipline. I never saw the police that night in the area.

Kepha then made various accusations about me (including that I was a Jesuit and some other weird things), at which point we asked him to pick two witnesses and take them his concerns (in accordance to Matthew 18), while yet insisting that he also receive a mental health evaluation. His witnesses, by the way, investigated his accusations in spite of their seemingly fanatical nature, as a part of due diligence, and determined them invalid. These were witnesses, by the way, that he chose to determine his case.

Shortly after this meeting, he grew apparently worse. I again spoke to the police and explained how I believed him to be a threat to himself and others.

We explained to the church that Sunday in a special business meeting our security memo, and that it was not a matter of church discipline, but of mental health.

A few days after, I drove to Grand Forks for the Pirate Christian Radio Conference, where my acquaintances, Chris Rosebrough and Phil Johnson were speaking. While there, it became quite apparent that Kepha had ‘gone off the rails’ via text.

I was sitting at a table with the aforementioned speakers when I got a text from him introducing himself as “Kepha,” which is a transliteration of Cepha, or Peter, and a last name that in the original tongue means, “the glorious one.”

I looked at Phil, showed him the text messages, and said, “I’ve got to get home.” I thought I was speaking to a demon, which even as a Cessationist, I believe in.

Kepha then began to reference Eugene Spriggs, who at the time I did not know. It became apparent that Spriggs had some kind of religious affiliation with Kepha, and that Kepha was also texting members of another, unknown congregation of people, along with me and a few other members of the security team.

I then became a quick expert on the 12 Tribes, or the Cult of the Yellow Deli, as I drove home the six-plus hours from Rosebrough’s church. I wrote a synopsis about this cult on August 13, which you can find here.

Essentially, the 12 Tribes is a Judaizing cult that began to attract young hippies and those of the “Jesus People” movement in 1972. Spriggs, its founder, claimed to be the reincarnated prophet, Elijah, in 1982. Founded in Chattanooga, the cult spread from state to state, centering each location around a cafe called ‘The Yellow Deli.” The diner would attract patrons, who would then be inundated with cult propaganda and eventually join the Yellow Deli as a free laborer, money-maker, and follower of Spriggs.

Suddenly, things began to come together. The ultra-controling and hovering over children was present in their parenting (the 12 Tribes doesn’t allow children play with other children). They forbade themselves from eating pork. When I asked them about this, worried about possible Judaizing, Kepha claimed it was health-related and not religious-oriented. I rolled my eyes (because bacon is awesome), but considered it a matter of liberty. It should have been a red flag.

Driving home was the longest six hours of my life. Kepha began to send video after video from “Christian rappers” with violent lyrics. He made implicit threats. He was near the home of at least one security team member, who immediately left work to guard and be near his family. Kepha then began to refer to his wife by her cult name and seemed to indicate that he was operating some kind of nebulous plan orchestrated by the other people in this text conversation (who I did not at the time know). I called the police again to apprise them of this potential threat to our community.

I told my wife to leave the home and go to the country at a church member’s house. However, as we realized he was an hour away in a different town, my wife came back, feeling as things were fine. We thought, perhaps, we had overreacted to the threat. My wife and family went back home and I stopped in a community an hour away for Bible study. It was there that I got a text that he was heading to my home and was back in my town.

I immediately told my wife to flee and left back again for home, as quickly as I could go.

Then, I got a text from Kepha that my “son had a message for [me].” Seconds later my wife called to say that as she was preparing the vehicle to leave and gathering up belongings, Kepha drove by my house, made a threatening gesture to my son, and said what we – and ultimately, the police, a prosecutor, and a judge – considered to be a threat.

My wife had panicked, believing that she had left her keys in the house and with the house locked, had the children in the vehicle but no way to leave or go back in the house. I instructed her to go to a nearby location that had been pre-staged for emergencies, and to lock herself and the children inside and shoot whoever came to kick down the door. She was terrified.

I first called my neighbor, because I knew he would get to my home faster than law enforcement, who immediately went to do the job of a good neighbor and patrol the area as a Citizen. I then called 911 and asked them to dispatch officers to my home. Then, I called our security team leader.

My wife realized she did, in fact, have her keys after-all (her adrenaline was sky-rocketing), and was able to rendezvous with the security team who took her to one of several undisclosed locations where it would be hard for them to be found. The police arrived at roughly the same time as church security, two of whom waited at my home until I arrived in the event Kepha returned. The police instructed my wife to come into the station, but I believed my family was safer with the security team for the moment and explained I would come into town first and personally retrieve them.

When I went to the station upon arrival, I explained the concern. The police were polite but reluctant to arrest the suspect based only upon my testimony. Ultimately, they looked at the text messages I had received and ascertained the specific legal infractions he had committed.

When police arrived, they found him belligerent and, indeed, troubled. I’ve seen the footage from the police car in which he threatened both me and the police officer. After arriving at the jail, he vandalized his cell, a charge for which he later pled guilty. He eventually wound up medicated and taken to the hospital. Reports from jailers indicate he considered himself and was calling himself Yahweh, or a variant thereof.

We again notified the church body, and held a vote to remove the man under discipline per Titus 3:10. The church voted unanimously. We also notified his wife through another church that we would – through them – extend any type of financial help, food assistance, or the like to help them while he was in custody.

Upon his release from jail after several days, he was given the condition of GPS monitoring, I was assigned a victim’s advocate (who was fantastic at her job, by the way), and I filed a restraining order while a temporary order of protection was put immediately into service.

Twenty or so days later, we held the trial for the permanent restraining order while criminal charges were still pending. It was an incredibly long ordeal, while Kepha and his wife appeared to try to filibuster the proceedings (that’s my subjective take) and were rebuked on numerous occasions by the judge for acting out of order.

When asked how long a restraining order I wanted, I said that I wanted as long as I could get. The judge stated that “the Hall children” shouldn’t have to live in fear and gave me – what I’ve since been told – is the longest restraining order in Montana history…20 years so that all of my children will reach adulthood before it’s up. My wife and I, and also our oldest children, carry an official state-issued Order of Protection card with his name and face on it.

One of Kepha’s last questions to the judge is if he could, in spite of the restraining order, work with someone on YouTube (I presume Servus Christi) to “expose me.” Ultimately, the judge ordered that he not ever do anything that might harass or distress me and went so far as to take away Kepha’s rights to own a firearm (which is not uncommon in such cases with restraining orders).

In working with the prosecution and speaking to parole and my victims’ advocate, they seem to have a consensus that his involvement in the 12 Tribes played an important role in his behavior and outbursts.

My sincere belief is that the 12 Tribes sent Kepha to my church, and before that another one very similar to mine, to disrupt it. Eventually, Kepha was charged with Privacy in Communications, which is harassment via electronic communications, for which he received a pre-trial diversion after going through two court-appointed attorneys. Kepha was intent on having a trial (even though he pled guilty to other charges relating to the incident), but I was content with the convictions already obtained by the prosecution so that he would have something on his criminal record that might inform others of his potential threat.

Before they left town and moved away, they changed the wife’s name to her singular (first name only) cult name.

To this day, Kepha is still being monitored by GPS as a condition of his pre-trial diversion and is heavily watched by the monitoring serving. I’ve been told by his attorney that he might also hold the record for the amount of time (at least in his experience) that someone has spent on GPS monitoring.

WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN?

First, since this incident, we have changed our church’s by-laws to require a criminal background check of all new members (not just children’s workers). A criminal background does not preclude or prevent membership but serves the purpose of informing the security team.

Second, I have also committed to being much more in depth when speaking to the former pastors of potential members. It is necessary. And frankly, I should have caught it sooner.

Third, a criminal background check is not enough. There should be a religious background check to make sure you’re not accidentally admitting a dangerous cult member into your church. I and P&P are capable of this, but most people are not, and service should be provided to churches to look at social media or provide a questionnaire of some kind to rule out the possibility that someone has been or still is a part of a dangerous cult.

Fourth, our church and my family has only strengthened (and continue to strengthen) our personal security measures. I have also previously contacted the local FBI field office after receiving threats and I have since then had to contact the FBI in relation to other threats. Needless to say, we have done as much as we can to assure our facilities are as safe as possible and well-monitored through every possible avenue and resource.

Fifth, this has only strengthened my presupposition that I – and not law enforcement – am the first line of defense. I notified the police numerous times. I appreciate – and love – my local law enforcement, but had I relied on them for protection and not my church security (and my home security) it could have gone very badly.

The most terrifying aspect of all of this is that Kepha warned me he was coming to my home after sending me threats all day long, and he did so ominously. He did not know that I was away from home, but believed I was there. We believed he intended us physical harm. He knew that armed self-defense is way of life for me and he knew (from our personal relationship) that had I been home, this very likely would have ended very violently and very badly. I believe in my heart that’s what he wanted.

I timed this article both to provide distance from the original incident to allow Kepha time to seek help and calm down, and also so that it would be published before his time on GPS monitoring was up.

It is a very, very dangerous world out there. Pastors, watch yourselves and your flock closely.

In the meantime, the 12 Tribes and Cult of the Yellow Deli is still a thing, and they’re still dangerous.

If you have Hulu – the video streaming service available online and Roku – you can watch episode 6 of “Cults and Extreme Belief,” which deals exclusively with the 12 Tribes cult. It’s fascinating. Or, the episode should be available anywhere you can stream original programming from A&E.

Posted on June 27, 2018 

In this episode of Hebrew Voices, The Yellow Deli ‘Twelve Tribes’ Communists, I sat down with two members of a Tennessee commune who keep the Sabbath, feasts, and eat “Biblically clean”. As I enjoyed a delicious cup of their coffee, we discuss replacement theology, the verses they use to explain why they turn over all possessions to their community, and how they try to implement aspects of the Torah into their lives. Thank you for supporting Makor Hebrew Foundation, which allows me to create all the teachings found on NehemiasWall.com. I hope you enjoy this episode of Hebrew Voices and look forward to reading what you think about this co-operative life-style in the comments section below. Here is my conversation with the group that calls itself the “Twelve Tribes”.

I look forward to reading your comments!

Despite increasing demand for transparency, there remains a veil of secrecy separating beauty consumers from the factories making the beauty products they purchase. When that veil is lifted, the picture can be unsettling as Inside Edition reporting last Friday exposing possible labor law violations at a facility in Cambridge, N.Y., manufacturing for Acure and Savannah Bee demonstrated.

Beauty Independent asked the brands involved, influencers and retailers for their reactions to the investigation that contends children as young as 9-years-old were working on the assembly line at personal care producer Greener Formulas. The scrutiny of Greener Formulas stemmed from a larger inquiry into the activities of religious sect Twelve Tribes.

An Acure spokesperson said the brand has parted ways with Greener Formulas and pulled production from its New York facility. “The serious allegations raised against the facility in Cambridge, N.Y. are abhorrent and go against our values as a company,” stated the spokesperson.

Savannah Bee shared it’s similarly terminated its relationship with Greener Formulas. “We take great pride in our products, from the ingredients we use to the way they are produced. Our company values and policies do not tolerate child labor,” said Ted Dennard, founder and owner of Savannah Bee. “Our contracts with all of our manufacturing vendors explicitly prohibit any child labor. Any manufacturing vendor found to be violating our contract in this manner is also violating our company values and standards.”

Still digesting the news, retailers and e-tailers carrying Acure, including Integrity Botanicals and Pharmaca, declined to comment on the Inside Edition investigation. Lydia Kandel, director of marketing at Credo, another Acure stockist, commented that allegations are “against everything Credo and Acure stand for.” She revealed the natural beauty retailer immediately contacted Acure after Inside Edition published the article looking into Greener Formulas, and received clarification from the brand on its connection to the manufacturer and Twelve Tribes.

Acure told Credo, “While we are no longer working with Greener Formulas, we have previously used them to produce a small amount of select certified organic products. This contract was based on our confidence in the facility’s USDA Organic Certification, which requires manufacturers to meet rigorous standards and undergo an annual review and inspection process. We never knowingly had a contract with the Twelve Tribes organization. As part of our commitment to supply chain transparency, we are currently working with a third-party auditor to review all of our manufacturing facilities and will be publishing the audits as soon as they become available.”

On social media, green beauty influencers are trying to make sense of the Greener Formulas accusations for their followers. The influencer known as Janny Organically put the controversy into a broader context. “It’s important to realize that while this story is horrendous, it’s not just limited to Acure or Savannah Bee. Slave labor and unfair working conditions and wages are worldwide and affect nearly everything we purchase,” she said. “This story should be a call to change. Brands who are outsourcing any part of their process need to do their due diligence in managing and auditing every aspect of development and production. Consumers need to demand this due diligence.”

Janny Organically continued, “Perhaps instead of getting excited about cheap clean beauty, we should be asking, ‘Why is this so cheap?’ I’m sure most of the brands started out by wanting to offer cleaner options to the masses at a more affordable price, but lost/gave up their oversight. When the labor comes cheap, the brands need to concern themselves more heavily on the working conditions of those handling their product.”

Amanda Jo, the influencer behind the The Organic Bunny social media channels, subscription box service and e-commerce site, shows up at suppliers in an attempt to ensure their ethical standards are unassailable. She said, “My advice for any business using a third party to ship out their orders or to source ingredients from is to choose a supplier you’re able to visit as often as needed. Choose someone that will answer your questions and not make you feel bad about it.”

She elaborated, “If you come across pricing that seems too good to be true, chances are it is. I learned that lesson the hard way after choosing a cheaper warehouse to ship my orders, all to have them lose things, neglect things, upset my customers and ignore me for weeks at a time. It wasn’t easy, but I quickly said this isn’t working and packed up thousands of items a day before Christmas to move locations. I now pay almost double my cost…I have seen countless situations in which brands were lied to about how their own products were being made, even by their very own chemists. This is a reminder to take back your control, and to take full responsibility for your brand and how you want it managed.”

To go to Part 1 and Part 2 of this very special podcast on the Twelve Tribes and their founder Elbert Eugene Spriggs click on the image above and it will take you straight to the audio and start listening. To go to the page of the producers, click link above titled Source. Podcast available on Apple podcast, Stitcher, Google Play and TuneIn. Please leave a review on their site. Thank you for watching.

“About Cults

Mystery. Manipulation. Murder. Cults are associated with all of these. But what really goes on inside a cult? More specifically, what goes on inside the minds of people who join cults and leaders who start them? Every Tuesday, Greg and Vanessa (co-hosts of the podcast Serial Killers) explore the history and psychology behind the most notorious cults. Cults is part of the Parcast Network and is a Cutler Media production.”

“Elbert Eugene Spriggs Jr. felt he could never live up to his strict Christian father’s expectations. After three failed marriages and numerous jobs, Spriggs had a revelation that his duty was to bring people to God – but to do that he wanted to establish a new church…one where he would make the rules.”

Richard Hollerman

Somehow most of us go through life, following the religion of our parents, and give little thought about why that religion even exists. When did it begin? Where did it begin? Why did it begin? How did it begin? What caused the religion to begin years ago? Who was responsible for the particular church or denomination?

The result is that the Mormon is taught his Mormonism from his Mormon parents, and he remains a Mormon until the day he dies. He just assumes that the Mormons (“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”) are right. All that he hears and reads convinces him that there is abundant evidence that Joseph Smith knew what he was doing and the this man is to be trusted for one’s relationship to the church—and for one’s eternal life!

The same is true for the Watchtower Witness, the Catholic, the Lutheran, the Methodist, and the Presbyterian. Obviously, it is true for those religions that are not even related to any form of Christendom—such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, or Buddhism. Everyone doesn’t question his religion but gives ultimate confidence in someone—whether it be the (so-called) Pope, or Muhammad, or Buddha, or Baha’u’llah (Baha’i).

The logical (and theological) thinker will look at this situation and realize that this is not at all the way we arrive at truth! What are the chances that the Mormon just happened to be born into a Mormon family and that this is the religion of which God approves? There are about 15 million Mormons worldwide, and 7.4 billion people in the world. Thus, about one in 500 people in the world are Mormons. There is a one in 500 chance that a person would have been born into the “right” faith if Mormonism were true. But dare we ask: Is it really true?

What we say of this religion is true of all of the others. It just isn’t rational to think that we just happened to be born into the “true” religion, without personal examination of that religion. If you see the point that I’m making, don’t you think it is obligatory of you to study and examine your religion in light of the objective standard of the Word of God? Only in this way can you be protected from false reasoning, ecclesiological tradition, and religious charlatans.

Human Religious Leaders

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation of the faith of which God approves. Scripture says, “No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus Himself said, “I will build My church [or assembly]” (Matthew 16:18). Paul says that we are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets; Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Jesus said that He is truth personified (John 14:6) and God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). If our religion isn’t based on the infallible Lord of glory, the Savior of the World, and the infallible revelation of Scripture, we should rethink the wisdom of staying in our particular religion or church!

Have you considered the danger of following a human leader, teacher, or founder and assuming that he or she is the source of all truth, the key to secret knowledge, the dispenser of saving faith, and the guide to spiritual life? There is no indication in the written Word of God that the Lord would begin His church, body, denomination, or movement through an earthly leader! Yet repeatedly we learn of a human teacher or fallible overseer who claims to be God’s mouthpiece on the earth in our day! Isn’t this the height of foolishness? Isn’t it utterly precarious?

The Lord Jesus warned His followers: “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:13-14). Although this may be a reference to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, the principle applies to our own day. If God didn’t “plant” the church, sect, community, or movement, then it will be uprooted! If the leader is spiritually “blind” about one or more major areas of truth, his leadership will lead many others into a spiritual pit!

Spiritual Leaders and Founders

Since this is true, we need to ask ourselves about the spiritual founder of the religions and churches around us. Who were they and why is it that they hold the ultimate source of what is right and wrong?

Joseph Smith (1805-1844) wrote the Book of Mormon, claiming that God had revealed Golden Plates to him at the hill called Cumorah, hear Manchester, New York. This New York self-proclaimed prophet says that God had singled him out, among all people on earth, to translate these esoteric plates (that no one can see and have not been preserved) and reveal the truth of God to the world in the early nineteenth century. Today, some 15 million people follow the teachings of Smith and claim that he was the unique dispenser of God’s will in the latter days. Yet, as we examine the Mormon teachings, we find that they are polytheistic since they claim that God had many “baby” gods and good Mormons will become gods themselves, with their own domains in the universe! Dozens of false teachings have been promulgated under Smith’s banner!

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) made a diligent search of the Scriptures and wrote Studies in the Scriptures. Originally being influenced deeply by Adventist teachings, Russell went on his own and gathered a following himself. He not only spoke extensively, but also wrote at length about various Biblical topics, especially prophetic themes taken from Daniel and Revelation. Today there are over eight million Witnesses in the world who earnestly visit door-to-door with the intention of setting up Bible studies and leading unsuspecting people into their human religious system, even though many of their doctrines deviation from the plain teachings of the Word of God. Has it never occurred to the devoted Witness that Russell’s system is filled with error and outright heresy?

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) is known as the originator of a mind-science group called “The Church of Christ, Scientist’ (which has been revealed as neither the Church of Christ nor is it Scientific!), in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the author of the esoteric book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1875, 1883). Eddy denies major portions of the Word of God, including the nature of God, the nature of Jesus Christ, the nature of the Holy Spirit, the nature of humanity, the inspiration of the Bible, the atoning death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and much more! Only about 85,000 members continue to exist in the world. Don’t these members ever doubt that Eddy was a prophetess of God who rejected nearly everything that Christendom has taught for two millennia?

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Ellen G. White (1827-1915) began as a disciple of William Miller who predicted the return of Christ in 1843. When Jesus did not return that year, he again predicted Jesus’ return in October of 1844. When the Lord didn’t return at that time, Miller gave up in despair, but Ellen Harmon (who married James White) was able to redeem the movement, claiming that the Lord had entered the “Heavenly Sanctuary” at that time. She also emphasized the fourth commandment as she sought to promote Sabbath-keeping. This latter day “prophetess” became the virtual head or leader of the moment until her death in 1915. Today there are about 19 million members around the world, especially since the church is known for their missionary zeal as well as their “health message.”

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986) began as a minister in the Church of God (Seventh-day) in Oregon, and went on to begin a radio program and ministry called the “Radio Church of God.” Eventually Armstrong moved to California and named his church the “Worldwide Church of God” in 1968. In 1947 Ambassador College in Pasadena, California was begun. Armstrong emphasized Old Covenant regulations and imposed part of the Law of Moses on his growing number of followers (e.g., Holy Days, the Sabbath, food laws). This founder and leader emphasized British Israelism (Anglo Israelism), in which he taught that the United States and Britain descended from Ephraim and Manasseh of the Northern Tribes of Israel. Armstrong wrote Mystery of the Ages in 1985 and promoted the idea that his followers would become “God” (or be part of the God Family). One statement sums up what his followers thought of him: “Worldwide Church of God (WCG) members believed that Herbert W. Armstrong was Christ’s apostle in the 20th century. Armstrong taught that God only works through ‘one man at a time’ and that he was God’s selected representative on earth for his time” (Wikipedia).

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) was a talented and flamboyant preacher, teacher, and leader who began the “International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.” In some respects, McPherson’s church was similar to other Pentecostal Churches, but she was the undisputed head, leader, and motivator of the denomination. People found her somewhat questionable in her lifestyle and morality. Today, some eight million followers are found around the world.

Sun Myung Moon (1920-2012) was rejected by the Presbyterian Church in Korea and launched out on his own. He taught that Jesus didn’t finish his work, and this work was given to Moon to accomplish. His unique message and principles are described in his book, The Divine Principle. Much deception is found in the group and they have various front organizations that hide their identity. Generally they are officially called the “Unification Church” (the “Moonies”).

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Victor Paul Wierwille began “The Way International,” an organization that today has groups in some 30 countries. The headquarters is located in New Knoxville, Ohio. Wierwille rejected Christ’s deity and eternality. Today the group is headed by Rosalie F. Rivenbark along with two other members.

Witness Lee (1905-1997) was born in China and became part of the ministry led by Watchman Nee. Later he immigrated to the United States and formed Local Churches in various large cities (especially in the United States and Taiwan). He began Living Stream Ministry and emphasized personal subjective experience. When I visited a Local Church in this city years ago, they expressed their disfavor of Biblical “doctrine” and their emphasis on inner life. Witness Lee was the undisputed leader and all he spoke was accepted as God’s truth.

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

David “Moses” Berg (1919-1994) founded the “Children of God” group in 1968. They began as part of the Jesus Movement but began to follow Berg and his writings (Mo Letters) as inspired of God. Eventually they began an evangelistic outreach called “Flirty Fishing” in which their members practiced a form of religious prostitution. Many branches were formed overseas, some of which are to be found today.

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Elbert Eugene Spriggs founded the “Twelve Tribes” religious movement, based on the Law of Moses. This leader claimed to have a vision that led to the formation of about 30 communities scattered around the world as well as in the United States (especially New England). I visited their Island Pond (Vermont) community a couple decades ago.

Jim Jones was a liberal pastor of the Disciples of Christ but eventually began a group called the “Peoples Temple” in California. This leader had paranoid tendencies and began to think the government and others were beginning to persecute this small cult. Some claimed that he began to proclaim himself to be divine and rejected the Scriptures. Jone moved his people to Guyana in South America and eventually, in 1977, convinced the community of over 900 members to commit suicide by drinking poison.

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

David Koresh (1959-1993) was a radical Pentecostal preacher in Waco who took radical views and proclaimed himself God’s special agent. He began to stockpile munitions in their well-fortified compound. Eventually, the compound and most of those inside went up in flames in 1993.

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

Chuck Smith (1927-2013) founded the Calvary Chapel movement in 1965 in Costa Mesa, California. Originally propelled by the budding Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, eventually Calvary Chapels spread around the world. Breaking away from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (of Aimee Semple McPhereson) in 1968, Smith launched out on his own. He promoted the idea that Jesus would return in 1981, but when He did not reappear, many left the movement. Today there are about 1,500 chapels in the world, led by a 21-member “leadership council” (since the death of Smith). Although Smith never claimed direct inspiration (as in the case of some of the other leaders we have examined), he was the undisputed head of the movement until his death.

If we were to search earlier church history, we would see certain other religious leaders:

• Martin Luther began what we know as the Lutheran Church, composed of many different Lutheran denominations.
• John Calvin might be seen as the originator of various Reformed denominations.
• John Wesley is the undisputed founder of the Methodist Church, consisting of the liberal United Methodist Church and many other more conservative denominations.

Who Are You Following?

It is one thing to notice various religious leaders who are responsible for beginning a number of well-known denominations as well as non-traditional groups generally called “cults” (although they would deny this). The question we should be asking ourselves is whether it is safe or right to follow any human being! Is it wise and good to heed the teachings, directives or theology of important, even charismatic, leaders who gather a following and instill trust in people?

Sadly, most or even all of these human leaders were deceived in various ways. They may have been able to see certain truths but they were mistaken on other important doctrines. Many of these doctrines were heretical or plainly false teachings. In other words, many of the ones we have briefly examined were clearly false teachers or false prophets!

Earlier we noticed that Jesus said of the Pharisees, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). This means that if a “blind” false teacher seeks to lead people into his or her false teaching, all of those affected will fall into a doctrinal “pit”!

We might also notice that various of these leaders and teachers were women! These feminist women were active before the modern “feminist” movement arose! Think of Mary Baker Glover Patterson Eddy. Think of Ellen G. White. Think of Aimee Semple McPherson. Think of the many women preachers, teachers, and leaders in our own day! It is almost as though they either never read or simply denied plain scriptures like Paul’s words: “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

Would any of these women teachers and leaders obey these solemn words? Do they “receive instruction” or do they boldly “give instruction”? Do they “teach or exercise authority over a man”? Do they “remain quiet”? No, these brazen feminist women proceed to do what the Holy Spirit says not to do! Scripture says that “women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says” (1 Corinthians 14:34). It is plainly wrong “for a woman to speak in church” (v. 35). But such women as McPherson, Eddy, and White boldly speak publicly and exercise authority over men.

The Word of God says, “Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17). What about the men and women who began the church movements we noticed earlier? Did they teach anything “contrary to the teaching” of Scripture? Did people “turn away from them”? Do we turn away from them? The Scriptures go on to say, “Such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (v. 18). Did their “smooth and flattering speech” propel them into leadership and cause multitudes to follow them and their authoritative teachings?

Are You Following a Human Leader–or the Divine Son of God?

This is a serious matter and all sincere men and women who value their own soul and that of their family must beware of the spiritual dangers that are to be found in such teachers. We must refuse to be sucked into their movements and taken in by their theology. Remember, your spiritual welfare is at stake!

Information from “Handbook of Denominations in the United States” as well as Wikipedia. See also “Fast Facts on False Teachings” by Ron Carlson and Ed Decker, “Christianity, Cults and Religions” by Carden, “What’s the Big Deal about Other Religions” by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs, “Understanding Non-Christian Religions” by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, “The Illustrated Guide to World Religions” by Dean Halverson, and “World Religions” by Rick Billingsley.

Follow Us

Most Commented

1. Our Welcome Page and Guest Book 156 comments
2. The Woman’s Glory: Comments 35 comments
3. Families Divided! Comments 20 comments
4. The Truediscipleship Blog 16 comments
5. Time Management: Do You Tithe Your Time? Comments 12 comments

Our Most Viewed Articles

1. Agradando a Dios en nuestra manera de vestir 39920 views
2. Ten Scriptural Reasons Why the Rock Beat is Evil in Any Form 18801 views
3. Was Jesus Actually Naked on the Cross 16508 views
4. How is Baptism Defined by Greek Dictionaries? 16427 views
5. Set Your Priorities for God! 15578 views
6. Bendiciones Espirituales en Jesucristo 14304 views
7. Families Divided! 14063 views
8. Long Hair–The Woman’s Glory 13297 views
9. Living for the Lord in a Wicked World 9865 views
10. Why I Left the Lutheran Church 8291 views
11. Living With a Girlfriend or Boyfriend? 7881 views
12. Pleasing God In Personal Appearance 7875 views
13. Correction: The Blessings of Correction 7782 views
14. Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus  7236 views
15. Baptism: Single or Triple Immersion? 6402 views
16. Living with Unfulfilled Desires 6241 views
17. Acts 2:38–What Does it Really Mean? 6097 views
18. Outward Actions, and Inward Meaning 5882 views
19. Time Management: Do You Tithe Your Time? 5292 views
20. Junk Food! Why I Don’t Eat Junk Foods! 4982 views
21. My Name is Gossip 4975 views
22. Read the Bible! How to Really Enjoy Reading the Bible! 4695 views
23. William Barclay the False Teacher 4646 views
24. The Plan of Salvation and the Churches of Christ 4129 views
25. ¿QUE HARÍA JESÚS? 4120 views

Recent Articles

• Why Did John the Baptist Lose His Head?

• Character Traits of the Spiritual Life: Hospitality

• World War II and the Conscientious Objector Overseas

• Labor Unionism

• Warfare on Fort Worth Streets

• Letter to Our Mennonite Brethren

• Carnal Warfare or Spiritual Warfare?

• Labor Unionism and the Rejection of Christian Values

• Overcoming Sin Through Christ – Anger or Wrath

• What About The Thief on The Cross?

• What God Wants in the Community of Christ

• Come Out and Come Together!

• How were the Early Communities of Christ Organized?

• The Simplicity of Gods Organization

• Prostitution of Movie Actors and Others

• Character traits–Ambition

• How Serious is Remarriage?

• The Doctrine of Nonresistance

• Shameful Reporting of Shameful Relationship

• Why Not Obey All of God’s Word?

Source: popoetmax blog-

or look at complete article posted here on our website

text translated by Rosemary Cruzado

Published December 22, 2012

We did some woofing in a “community” . After a warm welcome by the charismatic leader, we gradually realized that it was a real cult. All people have Hebrew names, beard (for men!) A scarf (for women) and a diadem on their heads.

The first days were rich in emotions and many fits of laughter. We were surrounded by illuminated who believe that their community, protected from the outside world which is in full decadence, was the most marvellous place on earth and that they would succeed in convincing us to stay.

Photographing was prohibited during the ceremonies , so we will not be able to share these great moments: when illuminated traditionally dance on Hebrew songs, everyone thanked “our father Joshua (Jesus in Hebrew),” for having left that “disaster” (the outside world), and for sharing moments lived with their brothers and sisters (the other members of the community). After everyone raise their hands to the heavens and shouts “Thank you Joshua”. We cried because it was so hilarious (indeed they were not too happy about it).

The schedule was very strict: getting up at 5 am, the ceremony preparation (shower getting ready), ceremony at 6 am, breakfast at 7 am, work in the garden from 8am to 12am, lunch at 12am, dishes and help cooking until 4 pm, 4 to 5pm work in the garden, 5 pm: preparation for the ceremony, ceremony, still a little gardening, dinner, sleep … (shower again!). and once more !

No time to think, no time to read … Besides the only book present in the community was the Bible.

We asked them many questions : why you do not read other books? why don’t you ever go out? don’t you feel that you are lacking freedom? etc ….

And everytime the answers revolved around God, their happiness in the community and the complete rejection of everything that comes from the outside world.

In the end, we thought that these people are happy and good for them because before entering the sect most of them were poor, and / or on drugs, etc … At least they found a very healthy lifestyle ( organic food, no drugs, no alcohol …).

However the education of children didn’t seem right.  The schooling is organized by the women of the community, children work in the garden, cooking, and playing football on Sunday for the boys, they participate in all ceremonies and quote the Bible by heart ….

We had trouble accepting the lack of freedom, the illuminated were constantly after us all day because we had to hide to read, or just to have a private quiet conversation and then we tried to miss the ceremonies …which proved impossible as they came to get us.