I found this to be a fascinating story. It’s about a church that was sort of a hybrid between the LDS church and Jehovah’s Witness.
You may disagree with their conclusions or their approach, but their story is quite interesting. That they have survived is quite amazing
Coincidentally, I just saw a link on Drudge Report to a splinter group that’s trying to wrestle power away from the Worldwide Church of God. They say they’ve been “spiritually hijacked”.
http://www.raisingtheruins.com/index.php?page=video&clip=keyofdavid
Here’s my 2cents.
actually, this progression makes all kinds of sense to me. I don’t know anything about this. But here is my take on the potential flow of this whole thing.
As with Martin Luthor, it seems this guy recognized some problems and saw some truths that were not being taught. Where it seems to go bad is that this guy went beyond what God gave him and became controlling and self absorbed. He went too far and so added much of his own articulation to whatever inspiration or revelation he may have been given. It also seems that, though he saw some truths, he didn’t have a firm understanding of the details behind those truths. It looks very much like he substituted that understandng with heavy handed control and passionate blustering. At some point it is clear that he sought to force his perspective on others rather than simply articulating what God had given him and letting the spirit confirm the truth.
From the member perspective, it seems that they experienced a validation that some of what they were hearing was truth. This intrigued them. Past that his passion seems to have enveloped them. Truth mixed with passion is extremely potent. It can cover many a falsehood couched in the overall discussion.
I found the concept of Ephraim and Menassah fascinating, but to claim that everyone in the US was a litteral descendant just goes too far. The gospel of obedience is very much what Christ taught, but not because obedience brings us grace. Christ brings us grace, obedience brings us growth. He just went too far.
It seems to go on like that. Foundational truths that were just taken too far. Past what God may have given and into his own understanding.
The doctrine of the trinity. He sensed something wrong with the popular notion, but was unable to reconcile the basis of the notion with the truth he saw. So he just passionately spoke against it.
I’m aware of potential similarities, but I am equally aware of foundational, key differentiations.
What an interesting amalgamation.