Below is a post from the JC forum from someone named "Steven". I thought it was very interesting.
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welikejesus.com]
about 5 years ago I was contacted by Dave (and Cherri I beleive) via email, in an unsollicited response to a posting I had made on a secular board about my being a live kidney donor.
I am also a practicing Christian, and have occasionaly shared my faith as a foundation to what motivated my actions.
Long story short - I come from a Jehovah's Witness background (17 years) and there were things about Dave, in how he addressed me, that set off warning signals. I felt very much like I was being recruited and Dave even included me in their philosphies as a fellow brother, although I did not know the group. Just because soembody claims to be a beleiver does not make them so.
I told Dave that I was not comfortable with his approach.
Dave proceeded to respnd with scriptural quotations and teachings that seemed to lean on his own interpretation being quite authoritive, in that If I was truly a beleiver in Christ then I would recognize his annointed voce (Dave).
I didint dig that, at all. VERY JW styled. I also do not recal the biblical text stating "THALL SHALL NOT REFUTE DAVE".
Dave and I went back and forth for a short period, until I literally told him "I aint one of you Jack" I also got a phone call from a very young follower of Dave, I think the kid was Australian, cant remember his name but it might have been Jeremy??? cant remember. He was coming to Los Angeles, where I lived at the time. I remember that the kid was very bright, very sincere, he reminded me of ME - in my young JW days. That also bothered me.
Dave however bothered me the most, because after our back and forth was proving to be unfruitful - he started to pitch shift on me.
The more I disputed his authority in doctrine, the more spiritually thrteatening he became, quoting scripture pertaining to God's wrath and being cast aside. Dave was attempting to scare me into yeilding to him, which in effect only solidified my beleif that Dave had quite an ego and a ravenous group of followers feeding it.
I called Dave on his behaviour, and his instensity only grew.
If you want to piss off a leader people, simply question their authority, that's really all you have to do. At that point, whatevr they do next will tell you what's most important to them.
Dave could have shaken the dust off of his sandles in regard to me, but he was angry, so he shot some attempted fear missles my way. Took him a few passes to realize that I was not imopressionable, nor was I ignorant to what I beleive are cult-like attributes in terms of authority and leadership. We agreed to leave each other alone. But I did take his survivors book (its in my library) and I do read your newsletter from time to time.
And every time I do, I am further convinced that Dave is what I thought he was, and like I told him before "I aint one of you Jack."
Had Dave truly been gifted with spiritual authority, he'd have known I was a waste of time from the very beginning. But he did not. And, he sought ME out, not the other way around.
Dave's attempts to put the fear of God (with Dave as God's voice) into me showed me several things:
1) Fear of a wrathful Jehovah is not the root fo Christ's ministry, but it sure works great as plan B if these hard heds are not getting it.
2) Control is always at the heart of a substitute for faith and trust. I know the Jesuschristians lead a lifestyle that seems to place all trust in God, and I repsct this, much like I respect the followersd of the JW's as opposed to the leadership. But what God ordains shall always come to pass. What was ordained between Dave and I? For what purposes?
3) Faith in God can indeed lead one to take risks, such as is the case with Kidney donations. I can accept that to a degree, and to a degree dave and I share a common viewpoint. However, my decision came from a quiet place within the confines of my faith, no charasmatic leader led me to it, or introduced the concept as part of a set of personal ideals. It is also not a critical identifyer in my faith and walk with God. I have done many risky things because of my faith, many of which are much more dangerous than giving an organ. Those thigns too, remain with me, as the text quotes to "Not let you left hand know what your right hand is doing". Dave's approach seems to be quite different. The who internet knows what his right hand is doing.
4) These lashes taken in the Joe situation.....seems to me, that if a charasmatic leader set himself up for reputable martyrdom that allowed him to be punished and bled for the sake of others in a christ like manner, yet allowed him to retain working authoritive control fo a group of followers, you'd really have something. Daves decision to receive the lashes could certainly elevate his divine nature to his followers. Especially since he took on the greatest share fo the punishment.
We have one mediator allready. One lamb. Dave, your not it.
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