[ZNPaaneah]

Lessons about Cult leaders from James

1. They have grandiose ideas about themselves. James said that the “rich” blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you. For example, with WL, the teaching about MOTA (Minister of the Age) takes OT typology for Jesus Christ and applies it to himself and his ministry. That is blasphemy.
2. Preoccupied with success, power, and proof that his ministry is the only true one. James warned that a “double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. If our focus on only on the Lord then our own success, power, and accomplishments are irrelevant.
3. Demands blind, unquestioned loyalty. This is a very big one. James warned that “above all” to not make any pledge. No loyalty pledge. Do not have the faith of the Lord Jesus with respect of persons. Referring to him as “the apostle” is to have respect of persons. To say “even when he is wrong he is right” is to have respect of persons. To not read any other ministry is to have “blind, unquestioning loyalty”. He requires excessive admiration. Many times we heard WL saying “who can do this, only Lee!”
4. They are exploitive of others. According to Peter the cult leaders “make merchandise of the saints”. With WL we saw this with Daystar, with the blue chairs, and with the monopoly of the saints time and money with LSM, the standing orders, the gold bars, and the trainings.
5. They are haughty and arrogant in their behavior and attitude. We heard many haughty and arrogant statements from WL “boasting in his ministry”. James warns that “every good gift and every perfect give comes from above, from the Father of lights”. We should take the attitude of Paul that whatever we have it came from the Lord, and likewise the Lord said “freely you have received, freely give”. They habitually put down others as inferior and themselves as superior. James warned that the “tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles.”
6. They will bend and break laws. Selling an ownership stake in Daystar to the saints through the church violates SEC laws. Pushing the saints to forgive the debt indicates a lack of accountability for his actions. James said that “He that fixes his view on the perfect law of liberty, and abides in it, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his doing”. The false prophet does not abide in the perfect law of liberty.
7. The wisdom from above is first pure. We saw with WL and all these other cults that first and foremost they are not pure. They may appear to be, but in truth they aren’t. With WL the two sons TL and PL were both “filthy” and “impure”.
8. The cult leaders will publicly devalue others as being inferior or not worthy. We saw this with WL in insulting every other Christian ministry as being not worthy. He also subjected members to ridicule and humiliation by publicly exposing their sins. We saw this with WL in the perfecting training. James said “do not the rich oppress you, and they drag you before tribunals?” We saw that with WL as well with all the lawsuits. He was hypersensitive to how he is seen and perceived by others.
9. They ignore the needs of others. James warned that pure religion is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. It should be a fundamental role of the church to be concerned about the needs of others.
10. When criticized they tend to lash out at others with rage. James warned that “the wrath of man does not work God’s righteousness”. But we saw with WL and other cult leaders that anyone who criticizes him is “the enemy”. This is contrary to James who said that wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful. Cult leaders are not peacemakers, rather everything becomes a war with enemies. How many rebellions did we see in the Local church?
11. Cults will use enforcers (sycophants) to insure compliance. We saw this with WL with RG forcing elders to sign a loyalty pledge, and we all experienced this in our respective localities. In contrast James said that “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle”. Forcing compliance out of members is not gentle but is often nasty, underhanded, and vile. Sister’s rebellion, and “The fomentation of the present rebellion” are two examples that come immediately to mind.
12. James also said that “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, full of mercy and good fruits”. The Lord Jesus said "you will know them by their fruit". He also said that their disciples are the sons of Gehenna. Is the fruit full of mercy and good works? Or after 50 years is there little or no fruit to be seen, only a violent, merciless history of attack and excommunication.