Debunking the Myths
Criticism, myths, and false reports have plagued the Christian Church from its earliest beginnings. Romans persecuted early Christians for not believing in more than one god. Others have accused Christians of believing in three gods: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians were even absurdly accused of being cannibalistic when they took the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ during Communion. Jesus Himself was called a glutton, a wine-bibber, and a violator of the Sabbath. He was even accused of being of the devil!
The Living Word Fellowship has not been exempt from the Apostle Paul's warning that, Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12). With today's many forms of communication, anyone in the world can say whatever they want without any regard to whether it is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). The internet is a wonderful tool for communication and entertainment, but unfortunately, it is also an environment in which many people ignore kindness, wisdom, and a respect for the truth. The Living Word Fellowship does not claim to be perfect in its past or present, but strives to have integrity in living according to the principles of the Scriptures. What follows are a few myths and the facts to set the record straight about The Living Word Fellowship.
| MYTH #1: | The Living Word Fellowship is not a Christian group—at best it is "fringe Christianity." |
| FACT: | Churches in The Living Word Fellowship teach the same fundamental biblical principles and tenets that other Christian churches hold sacred. We teach that the Holy Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God; that God is eternally manifested in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that Jesus Christ alone is sovereign over the local church and individual believers; that we are saved by grace through faith; that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and sicknesses and to give us life through faith in His resurrection; and that after this life there is a place prepared for those who are saved and those who are lost. |
| MYTH #2: | The Living Word Fellowship over-emphasizes "Christ in you." |
| FACT: | There are more than 100 references in the New Testament to "in Christ," "in Him," and "in Whom" which clearly demonstrate the fact that believers are in Christ and that Christ is in each of us as believers (Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20; I John 3:24; 4:13; Romans 8:9-11). If anything, many tend to under-emphasize this important biblical truth. We would live more godly lives if we remembered that Christ is found in each believer. |
| MYTH #3: | In practice, the source of teaching is current revelation, not the Bible. |
| FACT: | The sole basis of any teaching in The Living Word Fellowship is the Holy Bible. Just as early Church believers were eager to read the illumination of the Scriptures by the current revelation of the Apostle Paul, so are we eager to hear and read what our apostles and prophets speak and write of the Bible today. The Holy Spirit continues to unfold our understanding of the Scriptures by the anointing of revelation, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and prophecy (I Corinthians 12:8; 14:26). True current revelation is given by the same original author of the Scriptures—the Holy Spirit—and will therefore never be in conflict with the Bible; true revelation will always be confirmed by the Scriptures. Furthermore, we believe that no current teaching can ever supercede the authority of the Bible. |
| MYTH #4: | John Robert Stevens participated in and received his teachings from the Latter Rain Movement. |
| FACT: | John Stevens acknowledged that the Latter Rain Movement contained elements of what God was doing in the restoration of His Church, but the Lord directed him not to become involved. There were a handful of occasions in which Stevens encountered individual members of the Latter Rain Movement, but he did not become a member himself, nor did he derive his revelation or teachings from that movement. Stevens instead, at the direction of the Lord, spent his time and energy in establishing Grace Chapel of South Gate. |
| MYTH #5: | The Living Word Fellowship practices Eastern Mysticism or Gnosticism. |
| FACT: | The Living Word Fellowship churches are patterned after the first-century apostolic Church, which totally and completely rejected the practices and tenets of both Eastern Mysticism and Gnosticism. The Bible clearly teaches that the only way to salvation is through the Lord Jesus (Romans 3:10,23; John 14:6). We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living and only God (Matthew 16:16), a revelation that Gnosticism rejects. The Living Word Fellowship believes that people are saved by grace through faith in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, and not by any other means (Ephesians 2:8-9). |
| MYTH #6: | The Living Word Fellowship controls its members' thoughts and enforces their continued involvement in the church. |
| FACT: | We believe that God places each individual member in the Body of Christ as it pleases Him (I Corinthians 12:18). Members of The Living Word Fellowship are free to follow God's leading for their lives, and are encouraged to fulfill their individual destinies in whatever location God may choose for them. As in any Christ-centered church, members may come and go with God's blessing and without any condemnation. We teach our members to know the voice of the Lord and to make their individual choices by following the leading of the Holy Spirit. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14). |
| MYTH #7: | The Living Word Fellowship believes in submission to authority. |
| FACT: | This is a true statement, taken in a biblical context. The Bible clearly and on several occasions teaches submission, a principle from which no believer, including leaders, is exempt. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21, NIV). The goal of our submission, be it families to church authority (Hebrews 13:17), children to parents (Colossians 3:20), or wives to husbands (Ephesians 5:22), is to bring us, as the Church, to a complete submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Though the principle of submission has been abused by both religious and secular authority in the past, this should not stop believers from seeking a true and godly expression of this principle today. In the churches of The Living Word Fellowship, as in any legitimate and effective church, there is a Divine Order that preserves and protects the flow of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 14:40) so that …where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (II Corinthians 3:17). Our churches are patterned after the ancient apostolic Church as described in the New Testament and, as such, operate under scripturally-based beliefs and standards of conduct that members are expected to follow. It is our practice that any member who does not feel comfortable with our church government is free, without condemnation, to find a home church that is better suited to their individual faith (Romans 8:1). |
| MYTH #8: | The Living Word Fellowship has created a lavish lifestyle for its leaders. |
| FACT: | Churches in The Living Word Fellowship are established as 501(c)(3) corporations. All properties and other assets acquired through tithes and offerings are held under the laws and regulations of this non-profit corporate structure. The checks and balances of such an organization preclude any monies or assets from benefiting any private individual. The only support received by salaried leaders is through committee-approved salary packages, which have been, and continue to be, below accepted national standards for ministers (Luke 10:7; I Timothy 5:18). |
| MYTH #9: | The Living Word members are expected to be at church all the time and are not allowed to socialize with non-members or other Christian churches. |
| FACT: | Our members are free to determine for themselves the extent to which they want to actively participate in church functions. In terms of relations with others, members are encouraged to be …the salt of the earth… in the communities in which they live and work, to be a witness of Christ, and to allow people to …see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:13,16). In fulfilling these Scriptures, members are encouraged to properly socialize with non-members, other Christians, and unbelievers alike. |
