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Evil that imitates light


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#1 Meema

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 05:02 AM

We have a situation in our community that seems to present a clear and present danger. In this age of great delusion, where satan is pulling out the stops in every possible way to undermine, dilute and destroy all influence true Christianity might have on society, the rise of false Christianity is the worst, in my way of thinking. It enslaves many to false doctrine and those it can’t capture, forces them to turn away from Christ altogether. Sort of diabolical actually.

 

What we have happening here is that a huge cult by the name La Luz Del Mundo, is buying up hundreds of acres with the intent of creating a closed off community for their followers. I won’t go into detail of this cult, that somehow has multi millions of dollars available to operate on but it started with one man in Mexico, who had massive visions, who thought he was the next great savior of the world - La Luz Del Mundo translates to The Light of the World. When he died, his son took over. He is considered god-like and all controlling. This evil has managed to spread into the US in recent years. There are compounds all over now, starting in Texas. They buy land, build communities and then go out and recruit. 

 

The women are subject to being essentially slaves to the men. Must dress super conservative, be subservient. Not unlike Muslim women. No one knows how they get their money but some have speculated it comes from nefarious enterprises. Maybe even drugs.

 

Where I live, 50 miles from Atlanta, we are still sort of rural and small town minded here. There are neighborhoods that border pastures with cows and horses. The county is dotted with multiple small incorporated towns with historic main streets, town hall buildings and low key elected officials running the business of the burgs. 

 

LLDM has quietly petitioned one of our smallest town councils for zoning permits to buy up land and build their compound. On paper it sounds so good, they project to build new housing, businesses, open spaces for parks and recreation. 

 

At this point it doesn’t matter how many people have lodged concern and complaint to the city planning board. I see nothing that can stop this cult from inserting their poisonous, fake anti-Christian presence here. 

 

For me, having escaped another kind of ‘Christian’ cult that adhered to similar doctrines and demanded loyalty to a single self-proclaimed leader, I see this as a serious sign of the times. 

 

“Come ye out” is a term that most accept as a call to step away from Babylonian worldliness but I also see it as a warning to refuse dogmatic, law-based false religion as well. 



#2 Candice

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 06:20 AM

Meema,
I just read a brief article on this via a Houston-based publication. Oneness theology which denies trinity.

But, it is the second largest denomination in Mexico and growing in south and Central America. Second only to the Catholicism.

Thanks for sharing. I hope this is blocked by your community. I fear it’s too late for America. Even though we know signs. But the Lord knows and things are unfolding biblically.
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#3 Meema

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 08:06 AM

Cults on the rise - the worst being those who claim to be Christian. Does seem to be clear signs of the end days. 

 

I just realized this morning that it’s been ten years this month that I finally cut the ties to the cult I worked for so long. Truth is, I knew years before I bailed that something truly was not right but I hung in until I just couldn’t anymore.  I can rationalize that because I was several states away and not involved in the day to day ‘ministry’ I was, in a sense, one foot out the door anyway. That’s not an excuse, of course, but it is a sobering realization that we can be sucked into something and then find ourselves unable to break free even as we struggle to explain why.

 

In the final days, as I was severing ties from people I cared about, I spoke at length with a woman who received and deposited all the donations. She admitted that she could not listen to the leader’s sermons anymore, that she had lost her gifts and felt disheartened. I asked her why she didn’t quit. She hesitated then responded that she didn’t do anything else for God so she felt it was at least something. I was stunned by her answer and had nothing left to say.  She clearly could not see the logical fallacy in her reasoning. I suspected that some of it was fear based because the leader often threatened anyone who left would not only not prosper but be cursed. It was clear to me that in her foggy thinking she was more afraid of him than God. 

 

And so it goes, cults rise and prosper because followers, even those who don’t want to be a part of it anymore are coerced and enslaved by fear. Pretty standard tactic even in mainstream religions.

 

When I left I shook the dust off my sandals and declared I was not obligated to speak out against him and his minions who continue to protect him and delete his false prophecies from his website when they do not come to pass. I’m not inclined to retaliatory actions against those who do me harm. 

 

Ten years out, I have to wonder if perhaps it’s time to share my experience more openly, even as I know in my heart that those who are attracted to cultism in any form aren’t going to see what they should see but only what they choose to see.

 

Reading in Matthew 12 this morning, and one thing stood out: 

 

Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

 

And so it goes. When you are dug into what you believe to be true, you cannot see the untruth of it all.



#4 Charles Miles

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 02:17 PM

Meema, What are the beliefs behind this group? By the term.."light of the world", it would seem that they think they have the truth and everyone else does not. There is a lot of that going around right now, as you know. 

 Many problems seem to arise when christians don`t know what they are supposed to believe, so they stumble off into some TV minister`s concepts, or look to some cult that has the answers rather than attach themselves to a good Bible teaching church. I always get concerned when anyone tells me that they have the trufh, I don`t, and I must accept their version of this truth or I`m going to hell in a handbasket. 

  There are essentials of the faith that we all should believe as christians, but then there are non-essentials that really unite us together. Much of the Tulip`s anger is focused on non-essentials. It does make me sad that he is so unhappy about his own beliefs.

 

May God bless you,

 

Charlie


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#5 Meema

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Posted 12 February 2019 - 02:55 PM

Charlie, there are numerous online articles about LLDM. I think Wikipedia seemed to have the only positive spin toward them so it was probably written by one of their minions. Apparently they have moles out combing the internet looking for negative press or reports to throw up counter arguments against. 

 

Based on everything I have read it is about as bad as it can get. Loosely founded on a Pentecostal POV but then has morphed since its beginning in 1926 to something decidedly evil. Includes every single kind of abuse, domination, and demands for  unwavering loyalty to the leader which includes unspeakable violence on anyone who dares to speak out against him. Pretty scary stuff.  This is just one link that gives the overview:

http://www.sectas.org/sfcchronicle.asp

 

People do run to and fro looking for someone they want to believe has the ‘truth’ and I think that is because they don’t know how to just go to God. They need to have some human to worship and trust because they don’t believe God can guide them. Cults form because of this - the need for a flesh and blood god.

 

Mulling over this ten year anniversary of being set free I thought about cults in general and how they do seem to follow a script. But because it is a script, even though the originator of the cult thinks he is doing something no one else has ever done, they are predictable. I sat and listed the buzz words that apply to the cult I left and realized many of these are words that can be red flags. 

 

Five-fold ministry

Unleavened bread ministry

Man-child/Bride ministry

Hidden Manna

Apostate church (any church that does not follow leader’s view)

 

Leader ultimate power over elders and followers

Obsession with/ Devotion to/dependance on revelations/dreams/visions/signs and wonders

 

Perfectionism (only as defined by the leader)

 

Rebellious spirit (term used to define any questioning)

 

Harlot Church (any ministry other than the leader’s)

Women subservient/seen - not heard

Jezebel spirit (any woman who dares to speak out against leader)

 

Factious spirits (members must sever ties with anyone who opposes leader)

 

Spiritual warfare tactics include intimidation by naming in website and radio program those who stand in opposition - no response from the named one allowed though.



#6 Candice

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Posted 13 February 2019 - 07:17 PM

This is all too much for me....it's making me feel nauseated and just sick. 

 

I visited a church a few times over the past month or so.  It's home-based.  A self-proclaimed prophetess telling me what the Lord tells her to tell me....

 

If I think something is "off" because the Lord has provided me with discernment to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ, then another says the opposite...?  I know the Shepherd's voice. Period.  I don't hear her voice. Nothing she said is "wrong" or "bad" but this is only the beginning -- I just know it. So why visit again?  

 

Disheartened.



#7 Charles Miles

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Posted 13 February 2019 - 09:39 PM

Almost everybody is looking for answers to life and its problems but many times they accept what they are told, especially when it comes from someone who claims to know the "truth". Cults are right there to "fit thr bill" because everyone involved seems to understand the same things the same way. Only when one digs beyond the superficial does the ugliness start to creep out into the light, but often by that time people are afraid to ask too many questions.

 

I am not aware of this group you describe, but sounds like numerous others that have come and gone in the past. Unfortunately some are still around and cause much damage. I hesitate to name names, but scientology is probably a huge example of a problem disguised as a religion. 

 

Not being a theologian, I don`t know the ins and outs of most cult doctrines, but I do know when they can`t say..."Jesus is Lord", they just have to go on without me.

 

Note on our family and our healing bodies. Judi and I spent the day in an ortho office discussing a total hip replacement for her. The truck wreck just seems to continue to produce painful problems for her. We hope we don`t have to go that route, but time will tell. We were blessed to survive at all, so we have no complaints about how the Lord is working this out. It is hard to watch her hurt and see her activities reduced when she has been very active all her life. 

 

May God bless all of my friends here, whether you post or just read.

 

Charlie



#8 Meema

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Posted 14 February 2019 - 04:11 AM

Candice - when in doubt - trust your stlll small voice. 

 

Charlie - I’m so sorry that Judi is having to deal with this ongoing pain. Given I am at the age not a few of my contemporaries have had the hip replacement with amazing results. I will certainly add you both to my prayer list.