The Trinity Foundation of Dallas, Texas
Posted by:
counselor47
()
Date: September 23, 2006 12:24AM
[i:6784fadd0f]If Ole is seen in the background of an interview with Benny Hinn, and is known as one of his most outspoken critics, it seems safe to take Ole at his word that he has indeed spoken with Benny.[/i:6784fadd0f]
I know Ole quite well, and I have ample reasons not to take him at his word—the latest being his mendacity in saying that he does not remember my wife. And, you are ignoring what I said about his claims to have contacted Tilton, Grant, and Lea before the PrimeTime Live investigation.
[i:6784fadd0f]If you really want them to question themselves-which it seems they do in their Bible Studies-why didn't you take it before the whole church and the board of elders?[/i:6784fadd0f]
They certainly do not question themselves seriously in their Bible studies. I was there, remember? As to why I would not want to set myself up as a clay pigeon in front of one of their Bible studies or meetings of the elders, you would probably have to read the book to get the history of the hot seats. Suffice it to say that I would not want to set myself up to be re-victimized. A former elder of Trinity Foundation who left a few years before I did, Larry Ferguson, did exactly what you are suggesting that Wendy and I should have done as he was leaving. They did not hear him, and all he got was a lot of abuse for his trouble. Having seen what happened to him, I did not want to put myself through the same thing.
[i:6784fadd0f]It sounds from their end like your wife went ahead and wrote a book before you even seriously tried to deal with them about this stuff. I doubt it is because they can't be reasoned with.[/i:6784fadd0f]
Again, a lot of this stuff is dealt with in the book. Sadly, it is the case that they are not open to being reasoned with—especially by the former members. I opened this whole thread by talking about how they shun former members. How can you reason with someone who is shunning you?
[i:6784fadd0f]I am sorry about situations like this Doug. I don't have any serious problems with Trinity so far.[/i:6784fadd0f]
Of course not, Nathan. They still see you as someone they can draw into the group.
[i:6784fadd0f]Believe me that certain members have told me things that I have not found pleasant. I am thankful for their challenges though.[/i:6784fadd0f]
Accountability is important. I have found, however, that there are people who can hold me accountable without abusing me in the process.
[i:6784fadd0f]I can see why some would be angry with them. It seems damaging where you have gone by calling them a cult though. I can see where there are similarities to a cult.[/i:6784fadd0f]
If you can see the similarities with just your casual involvement, do you not think it is possible that, with my years of being on the inside (elder, Levite, board member, Bible-study teacher, Ole’s roommate) I might have more insight into what is going on there than you do?
[i:6784fadd0f]Ole is a very intense personality, and I have rarely(if never) heard him budge on an issue. You could say that means he is not accountable. I doubt he has such control over the group that he could not be voted out though. Actually, given his offensive speech, it is amazing he hasn't been voted out by now. [/i:6784fadd0f]
I hardly need to respond to this point, because you have answered yourself. If Ole should have been voted out for his offensive speech, then why hasn’t that happened?
[i:6784fadd0f]One could also say that some of Ole's teachings about the anti-christ mind are used to break people down for his control. What he is saying is that you can't fix yourself or understand God by using your mind. Rather, as the scriptures say, you must "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."[/i:6784fadd0f]
Wendy and I are still believers and are still about “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” It is a lifelong process. However, in our experience, the teaching that “your mind is the antichrist” did, indeed, set us up to be controlled. I no longer buy that your mind is the antichrist—at least, not in the way that Ole taught it. Of course, the Scriptures teach that the carnal mind is enmity with God, but it also tells us that we have the mind of Christ. I Cor 14:20 says, “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature.” (RSV)
[i:6784fadd0f]I agree with John Rutledge that after years of public scrutiny Trinity would have been recognized as an abusive cult by now. There are too many things that don't jive with what you are saying.[/i:6784fadd0f]
Trinity is recognized by many people to be an abusive cult. The most salient fact, in my view, is that essentially all of the former members of Trinity Foundation who spent any significant amount of time there—dozens of people, many of whom Wendy interviewed for her book—say that Trinity is a cult. I don’t understand how you and other Trinity apologists are so cavalier about that fact. These are people who sacrificed time, money, and effort in support of Trinity, and are now left only with their shattered idealism and wounded (and, in some cases, annihilated) faith. Trinity Foundation has much to answer for.