Cult of Error
THE WAY
You are approached on the street by a young man with a Bible. A
member of the Jesus movement? He may try to give that impression.
He asks a question like, “How many thieves died on crosses near
Jesus?” When you reply with an answer from the Bible he goes, “Aha,
You’re wrong.” Then he gives an entirely different number or answer
and asks you, “Don’t you wish you could know the Bible as well as I
do?” At the end of the conversation he may say, “I’ll bet you have
never heard the Scriptures explained like this before, have you?” Who
is this young man?
Almost 2000 years ago Jesus prophesied the increase of false
prophets in the end times. The world has continued confirming His
word by adding yet another group to the expanding list of cults. The
Way International or the Way Bible Research Institute, most commonly
called The Way, is a growing pseudo-Christian organization largely
comprised of young adults. It is developing into a menace to right-on
body ministries and fellow ships.
As most cults operate, the Way innocently infiltrates a
fellowship. After the meeting they engage new Christians in Biblical
discussions and invite them to Bible studies. Left undisturbed, The
Way members will display loving dispositions and appear quite
harmless. But beware – they are dangerous and would love to steal
sheep from the flock and create damaging divisions in a fellowship.
They preach another gospel and another Jesus than the one you have
received. No matter how they may disguise their message with clever
word games, it is erroneous.
VICTOR PAUL WIERWILLE
The Way’s founder and teacher is Victor Paul Wierwille. He
propagates his many apostate doctrines by misusing some scriptures and
ignoring others.
Wierwille has stated that he has produced the only “pure and
correct” interpretation of the Bible since the first century. Nearly
all cults founders take this proud unscriptural view: Herbert W.
Armstrong of the Worldwide Church of God, Witness Lee of the Local
Church, Joseph Smith of the Mormons, Charles Russel of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses. Wierwille has also said, “I have read every commentary in
existence; I consign everyone of them to Gehenna!”
THE INSPIRED WORD
Wierwille teaches that, “Bible as a whole is not relevant to all
people of all times.” He rejects the Old Testament and the Gospels as
unnecessary. Only the rest of the New Testament is relevant for his
group which he calls the “Church of God.”
The Way also teaches that the Bible is not the Word of God but
only contains the word of God. The Bible teaches us an entirely
different thing. In II Timothy 3:16, the Word clearly states that,
“ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness.”
The Greek work used in this verse for inspiration is theopneutos
and literally means God-breathed. This is not the same word used for
inspiring music or books. It is a special word denoting God’s
penmanship.
The Bible says in II Peter 1:20, 21 that “Knowing this first,
that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not inn old times by the will of man, but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
COURSES FOR SALE
Wierwille offers numerous courses at a high price. Each course costs
$65 or more. To take all of his courses could cost a disciple
hundreds of dollars. The initial “Bible” course, “Power for Abundant
Living,” promises that right “believing” will keep away sickness,
insure prosperity, and even protect soldiers from enemy bullets.
Poverty is condemned as the result of imperfect faith. The “Good
Life” is the proper reward for believing.
Wierwille seemingly teaches for gain and is nothing more than a
sophisticated Reverend Ike. The Bible warns the Church about such
false teachers who preach for worldly gain. II Peter 2:3 says that
such men are under judgement and damnation. “And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment
now a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not”.
THE DIETY OF CHRIST
The most dangerous of all Wierwille’s teachings are concerning
the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. He teaches that Jesus is the Son
of God, but not God the Son. “You show me one place in the Bible
where it says he is God,” Wierwille thunders. “I don’t want you
rapping your double talk, your triple talk; all I want it Scripture!”
John 1:1 and 14 says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word
was with God and Word was God…And the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth”.
Col. 2:9 tells us exactly what Jesus is, “For in him dwelleth all
the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” The Greek word for Godhead is
Theotes meaning deity. Otherwise, Jesus is the bodily manifestation
of all the fulness of Deity. I Timothy 3:16 states this spiritual
truth even plainer, “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the
world, received up into glory.” Jesus is God the flesh.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the
government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
There is the excellent example of Thomas’ unbelief changed to
belief in chapter 20 of John. Thomas was absent when Jesus revealed
Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.
Thomas refused to believe unless he saw and touched the nailprints and
the scar of the spear on His side.
Later Jesus appeared to the disciples with Thomas present. Jesus
said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and
reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not
faithless, but believing”, Thomas responded with, “My Lord and my
God.” Jesus answered him saying, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me
thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed”.
THE TRINITY
Wierwille absolutely rejects the Trinity calling such a doctrine
paganism and polytheistic. In I John 5:7 the concept of the Trinity
is given. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” The
word “one” can mean one in unity as well as one in number.
John 17:11 speaks of the unity of the Father and the Son. Jesus
answered Philip in John 14:9, “Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”
Jesus says about the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, “and I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may
abide with you forever: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” In these
verses the Holy Spirit is shown to be a member of the Godhead, yet a
distinct Person from both Jesus and the Father.
Wierwille does not believe that the Holy Spirit is a distinct
personage and says, the Holy Spirit is just a synonym for God.”
The Father is called God, and the Son is called God, and the Holy
Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4). As individual persons each can be
called God and collectively they can be spoken of as one God because
of their perfect unity. Everything said collectively about God
applies equally to each member of the Godhead. There are some things
spoken of each personality of the trinity such as office, position and
work that are peculiar to that individual.
An example is that the Father has the position as the head of
Jesus. “But I would have you know that the head of every man is
Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ
is God.” I Corinthians 11:3
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father and the price paid
for the redemption of man. “For God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Jesus is the mediator between us and the Father. I Timothy 2:5.
The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father in Jesus’ name and will
teach us and anoint us with power. “But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your rememberance, whatsoever I
have said unto you.” John 14:26.
“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the utter most parts of the earth.”
Acts 1:8.
The different names of God denote plurality. The Hebrew Elohim
is the word used for God in Genesis 1:1 and in over 2700 other
scriptures in the Old Testament. It is a plural noun meaning God and
is translated 239 times as God. Usually Elohim, a plural noun, is
used with a singular verb, showing unity in plurality. Plural
personal pronouns are also used in reference to God. “And God said,
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” Genesis 1:26.
The Old and New Testament concept of God is plural and triune.
FALSE PROPHETS
Is Victor Wierwille merely an uneducated man ignorant of the
Scriptures? Unfortunately, he is not. Formerly he was a United
Church of Christ minister. He has studied at the University of
Chicago Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. Wierwille
is a man, who being knowledgeable of the Bible, has rejected God’s
truth in utter rebellion.
Wierwille fulfills the Scriptures on false teachers. “For there
are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers…; Whose mouths must
be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought
not for filthy lucre’s sake….Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in the faith;” Titus 1:10a, 11, 13.
The followers of The Way commonly portray the fruits of false
teaching by living carnal lives. Titus 1:15-16 clearly illustrates
their spiritual state, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto
them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their
mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but
in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient and unto
every good work reprobate.”
The heart of Christianity is not an organization but a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord. Don’t be led astray by false
doctrine. There is no other gospel, only the one you have received.
(Gal. 1:6-8)
If any of The Way come to your fellowship, coffeehouse, or
churches, please ask them to leave. The Way has just recently invaded
Chicago, trying to establish a work here. Do not help them get rooted
by ignorance or tolerance. Give them a false prophets left foot of
fellowship. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
enterest not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some
other way, the same is a thief and a robber…Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:1,7.
Do not be fooled! They are not just sweet people but dangerous
robbers of the sheepfold. “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10a.
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