Ramblings of a brain-washed teen
The following passage is taken word-for-word from the Web site of a teenager who attends Generations.
See THIS LINK.
-----------------------From the Web site of “Lil Miss G12------------------------------
“Well I know that there is RUMORS about the Generation church that it fools you and steals your money but it does not it only asks for $20 for the encounter and it invloves a relationship with god and it provides food and other stuff like fun activities..and if a child cant pay we figure out a way for the child to raise the money themselves with help so we dont steal anything and we do pass a small bucket like basket and you put 10% of the money you have and it is for the church and also the 10% your giving is for god and so we dont not steal money and we deffenetly dont brain wash you because we read dirrectly from the bible.Also we are not religious people we dont want religons just so that people can fight over a bielief that is not what god is about its just about loving him and always having a connection with him and we take ourselves more as a community not a religon.”
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Ironically, despite the superficial message suggesting otherwise, this is a very telling example of the technique Generations employs to manage its followers’ thoughts. Clearly, if there was nothing suspicious or unethical going on at the Cult, then its members would not be trained to defend the organization. The mere fact that Cult followers are inclined to defend the Cult suggests that the Cult leaders are engrossed in a strategic plan to systematically influence its members’ thoughts and beliefs. This technique creates the automatic, defensive responses exemplified above.
Oh, and the best line from this is: " ... we take ourselves more as a community not a religon." Sure sounds like a sign of a CULT to me!
The girl's website also lists the following comment about the devil:
(http://s1.webstarts.com/g12_love/services.html)
"the enemy is like........
well he is like a bad monster that just wants to kill,destroy,and steal which are sins and the worst thigs you can do
also he is like........
he is like a phython
he is sneaky and slowly will take your life away little by little
until he destroys all of your soul and keeps you away from god and the Generation Church just helps you stay away from that so JOIN"
I find the idea frightening that the Church "helps you stay away" from the devil. In reality, a church is just a building and its people are merely fellow sinners saved by grace. The church won't save you. Only a relationship with God will *protect* you.
Furthermore, it's not even humanly possible to "stay away" from the devil if you wanted. Satan followed Jesus up to the mountain. He can and does follow us everywhere we go too.
The idea a church will ward off the devil is no different than saying a golden calf will protect you in your time of need.
These sheep have been led astray by a wolf in Shepard's clothing.
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THIS POOR YOUNG GIRL HAS BEEN SO LED ASTRAY BY HER PARENTS... IT IS SHAMEFUL THEY WOULD BRING HER INTO A CULT LIKE THIS! THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. OF COURSE, THE PARENTS ARE NOT ASHAMED.. BECAUSE THEY USE "GOD" AS AN EXCUSE TO DO WHAT THEY DO!
I HAVE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS, YOU CANNOT EVEN REASON WITH THESE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE NO THOUGHTS OF Their OWN Their MINDS ARE COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER, IT IS Sinful WHAT THESE "LEADERS" OF THE CULT DO, ALL FOR MONEY. Especially TO USE THE EVEN YOUNG PEOPLE THIS WAY... THESE PEOPLE JUST HAVE NO SHAME, AND THEY WILL NEVER, EVER RUN OUT OF VICTIMS BECAUSE THERE ARE LOST PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING SIMPLE FRIENDSHIP AND UNFORTUNATELY FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THESE TYPE OF Predators ON A DAILY BASIS!
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well Lil Miss, you only see what you are allowed to see. As of TODAY. I have a member who has been going to Generations come to me. See I no longer go there, I challenged some things, and what I am about to tell you is one of the reason why I don't go there anymore. You want PROOF. Come see me. I can give you TONS of facts. TRUE FACTS. This is NOT a devil's lie. If I was so wrong in my words, God would've struck me and my mate down months ago. One of your members comes to em today, crying. I know that she has asked for help. She titthes what she can. A single mom with two , TWO babies facing final EVICTION from her subsidised housing, working TWO jobs to pay babysitter and buy diapers. Well Generations told her NO, because she didn't tithe like they THOUGHT she should. Well what does the BIBLE say about this Lil MIss. Would you put this mother and her TWO babies in the street, or would you as a church try to help her? She was told no! Time and time again I have seen this. We were thrown out because we questioned action. Trust me, we was pretty far up the G12 ladder here. So yes they have you pay for your stuff, but review the charges on their corporation report what are those charges for thier meetings? SInce you pay for eveyrthing where does that money go. Would you like to hear also about the couple who was thrown out because they wanted children's supplies for kids church? and they also questioned where does the money go? I have all their books and things too, All I paid for. I have a friend who her son goes their, a teen, His father wanted him home on FATHER'S DAY. he chose church. Funny, as I told my firend as SOL teaches. GOD, FAMILY and THEN CHURCH! It gets to be CHURCH, GOD then family! I had a leader who si long gone from thier approach me, my first night there. he said to me. I have had a year and a half here, and one night with my wife sionce we started here. Guess what. Now divorced! SO seek and you will find. I fasted and prayed, and revelation came. Oh yes since then? I contacted my leader and said I missed them. the reply days later in a text was. repent and ask for forgivenesss. My reply? I repented at the Cross as scriptures said. I had done nothing wrong, and I forgave my leaders for their sin, long ago. the reply? NOTHING! so figure it out Lil Miss! I pray to the same God as Rich. If I was wrong here? Don't you think God would have dealt with me. Oh yes when I left I was told not to contact anyone at the church, nor were they allowed to contact me. Is that God's love? NO!
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Wow this church and it's leaders are a very confused people. I can't believe that people could be so very misled
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Religion -noun- a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
I believe that by definition you are a religion. Yeah, I understand it's not hip with the kids, but a sheep by another name is still a sheep.
I love the statement "...We deffenetly dont brain wash you because we read dirrectly from the bible."
I can read directly from the Bible and then tell you what I just read really means that God said all light bulbs are evil and you will believe it because you don't know any better. You are told what the bible means by no people with formal training in the subject. What a dangerous power to wield for someone who is not trained to wield it.
"Also we are not religious people we don’t want religons just so that people can fight over a bielief that is not what god is about its just about loving him and always having a connection with him and we take ourselves more as a community not a religon"
This statement struck me as odd on how she wants people to know that they frown on religion and that apparently religion means to fight over beliefs and I assume that the catalyst for the fighting is the questioning of one another’s beliefs. I feel that the questioning of beliefs is extremely healthy and vital in religion. If my priest or another parishioner says something that I don’t agree with I will debate them, fight is a bit too strong of a word, and regardless of who is right we will both gain a deeper insight into our faith. Yes a relationship with God is paramount, but questioning what other HUMANS decide the bible says is no way shape or form a deviation from that relationship.
This is just incredible!
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There is no relationship with God there. Your relationship is with your cell leader, and Rich. That is it! They tell you what to do.
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YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GENERATIONS CHURCH IS NOT A STAND ALONE ORGANIZATION! IT WAS Recommended TO ME BY MY SISTER'S CHILDREN THAT I ATTEND GENERATIONS CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS A PART OF THEIR TEACHING!!
IT TAKES ME BACK TO MY VISITS WITH MY SISTER!! TRYING TO HELP HER CLEAR HER MIND, SEEING A GLIMMER OF HOPE AND HAPPINESS IN HER.. WONDERING HOW SHE REALLY LOST POSSESSION OF HER 750,000.00 HOME? WHERE WAS HER MONEY THAT I KNEW SHE HAD ALWAYS HAD REALLY GONE? WHERE WAS HER MONTHLY INCOME GOING? WHY WASN'T HER HOUSE PAYMENT BEING MADE? WHEN I BEGAN ASKING TOO MANY QUESTIONS, I WAS TOLD BY HER CHILDREN, THAT I WAS THE DEVIL... IT WAS THE ONE AND ONLY ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION I EVER ASKED... I WAS THE DEVIL.
IT WAS THE ONLY Answer GIVEN BY THE DAUGHTER, HER HUSBAND, AND BY THE GRANDCHILDREN.. I WAS THE DEVIL, THERE TO DO EVIL..
EVERY NIGHT WAS "BIBLE STUDY" NIGHT - IN OTHER WORDS - EVERYONE SAT AROUND THE TABLE AND THE BIBLE WAS READ OUT LOUD, EACH IN TURN - THEN EVERYONE WAS TOLD EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PASSAGES MEANT - AS INTERPRETED BY THE "LEADERS" THEN EVERYONE HAD TO TAKE A WRITTEN TEST! TO MAKE SURE YOU UNERSTOOD THAT YOU KNEW WHAT THE LEADERS WANTED YOU TO SAY ABOUT THOSE PASSAGES!-- AND IF I DARED TO ASK A QUESTION -- AGAIN I WAS THE Devil! THIS WENT ON FOR HOURS EVERY NIGHT
I ASKED ONE TOO MANY QUESTIONS, AND MY SISTER WAS QUITE SIMPLY TAKEN AWAY FROM ME... LITERALLY. SHE IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH ME IN ANY WAY. (BECAUSE I AM THE DEVIL YOU UNDERSTAND)
MY SISTER LOST HER LOVING HUSBAND AFTER ALMOST 35 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND WAS EXTREMELY EXTREMELY DEPRESSED WHEN THESE CHILDREN WERE EVIDENTLY ABLE TO GET HER INTO THIS CULT AND BRAINWASH HER INTO BELIEVING THAT IT WAS "GODS WILL" THAT SHE FALLOW WHATEVER THIS CULT SAYS! ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE MY SISTER IS SIMPLY STILL DEPRESSED AND Fearful OF HER CHILDREN. --
I CAN ONLY, AT THIS POINT SEND LOVE LIGHT AND PRAY MYSELF THAT GOD HIMSELF WILL OPEN MY SISTERS EYES AND MIND AND SHE WILL BECOME AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HER. MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY!
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Rich Witmer the Liar, Generations the Cult
There is a theological definition of “cults” and a sociological definition of “cults”. The two, at some point, inevitably converge.
Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I Go to Generations”, “Rich Witmer is my Pastor” “Tim McDonald is my Pastor”: “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Rich Witmer was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Witmer? (1 Cor. 1:12-13)
“ I'm of Generations”, “I of Witmer”, “I of Christ”. Those who are saying “I of Christ” were the ones saying, “We do not have any leadership or need for leadership. Jesus is our Leader full-stop. We do not recognize any pastoral authority.” There were some who were saying that while others were saying, “He’s mine, he’s mine, he’s mine”, making a man a guru.
What Generations does is shift the focus onto a man, Rich Witmer.
When people are born again through a Christian cult there is a big problem with groups which are theologically “churches” but sociologically “cults”.
Eventually these groups which are theologically “churches” but sociologically cutltic become heretical. Eventually these groups get into apostate doctrine. But in the beginning they begin with the true Gospel.
This is true of Generations.
When somebody is born again through Generations, the leaders or the leader has a tremendous amount of spiritual and psychological influence and even control over people because they really were born again.There is a big problem.
The people who have been in Generations and the people who have been saved through this group are in bondage.
They are in spiritual and psychological bondage to Generations and its leaders.
Notice the apostles like Paul went against this mentality. Did Witmer save you? It is Jesus who saves, it is the Gospel which saves – it is not a church. Witmer will preach Christ, but somehow the distinction is not made between the Christ and the cult, Generations.
Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it has even taken people years to take that person out of that central role in their life and put Christ in that role instead. These people are in unspeakable bondage. And unless you have been in that bondage you do not understand where they are coming from. You will not even be able to grasp what their problem is. Why can they not fit in?
Not only that, but they will even say a lot of true things. “The church is lukewarm.” “The cult was more zealous.” “You are Laodicea.”
Witmer is not just telling lies, he is telling Satan’s lies – perversions of truth. But look at the results, look at the damage; it can be found every time.
Generations began sociologically as a “cult”, theologically as a “church”.
Look closely at Witmer and Generations and you will find heresy, you will find financial corruption, you will find immorality. But maybe at the end of it you will find Jesus.
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I just find it odd that a church that requires 10% of wages for tithing would require a child to "find a way" to pay $20 for the "encounter". Why wouldn't the tithe money pay the way for the innocent child, what church would require or find a way for a child to pay? Where does all this tithe money go anyway? Do they give itemized tithing statements to their members?
My teenage son just recently left home along with his girlfriend to find their own way in life and ended up in Yuma at Generations because the girlfriend's sister talked them into coming down for a visit. Now he's wanting me to send an authenticated copy of his birth certificate. Then called his grandmother and requested she send dress ties for job interviews. He's never worn a tie to an interview his whole life! He also told me that he and his girlfriend were no longer allowed to touch one another in any way, shape, or form. These were the rules set by the "church" they were attending and the girlfriend's sister is enforcing it. I only pray that my son's upbringing, knowledge, and study of scriptures in a Christian church will enable him recognize and have strength to withstand the lies he's about to encounter and walk out of that place without any mishaps. I guess a question I would have is: Have there been any reports of missing or unaccounted for members in the past....meaning people who wouldn't give in to the beliefs of Generations? Anyone with responses may email me at...mje1mos@yahoo.com(serious responses only please!)
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dear troubled mom,
my name is jordan. i use to attend generations church and am very much alive and not missing. i was there for quite sometime, along w/others who have also left. sorry to hear your son has joined.
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i used to go to the church. but husband heard about this story and you know they are really shady somethings they ask for just aren't right. and i would like to know why you have to do the cell thing. everyone should have 12 followers i was recruited by my friends. i cant believe i went. as soon as i found out about all this stuff. i text the leader and told them i am out and now i found a catholic church which is my actual religion and i am so much happier. NO ONE SHOULD EVER GO TO THIS CHURCH
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I too went to this church. I felt a need for the Lord to play a larger part in my life. I went to the cell meetings and experienced the fellowship of others who were pretty much like myself. But under it all, the manipulations and pointed animosities from leaders became clear. Not being able to tithe I became singled out and embarrassed in front of others, the cold shoulders and silent treatments blame evident. The gossip of people is disguised as biblical and designed to allow you see the manipulation of Satan that dwells in others. It is about money and enticement through music and shows. I've seen others come who asked not to come back because of their questioning (very intense). When I first went there, my intentions were to only find out more - I found myself enticed in the mood and became intoxicated by the atmosphere of others who were genuinely engaged in their praise. Unknowingly at the time, I now believe this is all part of the program.
Their preaching is that there is tithing and anything else is offering. If you don't tithe God won't bless you. If you tithe with additional offering God will bless you accordingly. If you are not being blessed then there is obviously something wrong in your relationship with Christ that needs to be repaired. I for one agree in tithing. When I first joined Generations my financial situation was far beyond repair. Now, however by Gods grace things have turned around and I am blessed beyond any expect ions. I do not give credit to any of the teachings Rich and friends. They wanted me to tithe first and let God take care of my mortgage. This is a very powerful statement since it questions your faith to the very core. Faith is built upon not forced.
It took me some time to get back to the faith in God I once had. I would have done better if I had never gone to this church. They are led by manipulators who appear to be focused on money, and if the little lambs that follow them become saved by completing their program and requirements so much the better but money comes first.
I finally built the courage to leave and when I confronted my cell leader I was immediately disowned and rejected. Later I talked to my ex-cell leader and it was like he never knew me. No joy in his voice, no love, nothing. Is this the Love that Christians exhibit?
This display only enforced my thoughts of what was going on.
I really don't know exactly what a cult might be classified as, but when a church has such a hold on you emotionally and has you bound to a form of belief I would say this is a cult like atmosphere.
I can only say that I am so happy that my family and I have broke off ties with this "church". I hope that given time I will learn to trust Christians once again because right now it appears there is always a hidden agenda and I will be Forever Shaken by this experience.
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"Obey & Submit"
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you. (Heb. 13:17) KJV
This is a passage that Witmer and his deceptive type love to twist. Let's look at the Strong's Concordance for further insight.
Obey: transliteration...
1) persuade
a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe
b) to make friends of, to win one's favour, gain one's good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one
c) to tranquillise
d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something
2) be persuaded
a) to be persuaded, to suffer one's self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing
1) to believe
2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person
b) to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with
3) to trust, have confidence, be confident
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3982&t=KJV
Submit: Transliteration...
1) to resist no longer, but to give way, yield (of combatants)
2) metaph. to yield to authority and admonition, to submit
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5226&t=KJV
It seems to me you must have trust, confidence, prior to listening, yielding or complying with one in authority. Should we blindly submit to the unproven because they have a title or to one who violates trust? Heaven forbid! We should never be persuaded to believe words induced by demagogic leaders who have to have a business card with their title and have to constantly remind people of their position and self-assumed authority.
Christ alone is the Head of the Body and the Husband is the head of the family...PERIOD!!!
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My husband and I went to that church for some time. It was nice for a while. However we got in trouble once for asking about where all the money is going. They even held a big meeting and said that the financing would be available for all to see. But of course that NEVER happened. Also, there were promises of building a bigger church buying more land etc, but nothing came. It's been over 4 years since those promises were made. We don't go there anymore. They have some really screwed up leaders that worship the Pastor's. They buy all these lavish things like BMW's and ginormous houses but it's all at the church's expense. They justify indulging in expensive things because Jesus wore what was suppose to be the finest garments. But i don't recall anywhere in the bible where it says he spent tithe money on expensive clothes, jewelry(boob job for his wife), top of the line cars etc. I'm not saying they shouldn't have a paycheck but dayum! let there be a limit! And guess what? the numbers have stayed the same! new faces but same numbers. It's sad and scary. However, I did actually get saved there so it wasn't a complete loss. You just gotta know when to get out!
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I noticed a change in my Pastor and the church when he began to teach the prosperity message. My pastor loved to quote Malachi 3:8-10……. Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, In what have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering! Mal 3:9 You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, the nation, all of it. He would tell us if we did not give tithes and offerings that we would BE CURSED!!looking at this scripture again, I believe he has taken it out of context. It appears that these scriptures can be used to force one to give tithes and offerings as who would want to be CURSED…….. this is scriptural blackmail!!! One afternoon while he was sharing his prosperity message, he told us that when we arrived for the evening meeting that we were to all dress up in our most fanciest outfits and jewelry as an act that we are “Sitting in Gods Prosperity for our lives”….. How stupid I feel now for going to church in my fake fur coat and layers of jewelry…..
My pastor and his team (who were told not to mingle with the congregation so as not to be “tainted” by some of us “broken” people) were often into building projects for the church and a Christian school they had established. We were reminded to help “build the church”… if only they realized that God was speaking in a “spiritual sense” of people being “added” to his body the church, and NOT literally the building and “ADDING on” of the church with brick and cement……. What I found out is that because the property is in the pastors name, the church is just enriching the pastor and his family as one day the property will cost millions and how will the church benefit from it all then?The building project has been carrying on for the last 5 years now…..The other thing that we were made to believe was that no matter how hard you tried, if God didn’t bless you then it was YOUR FAULT, because there must be something YOU WERE DOING WRONG, or there was some unresolved sin in your life.We were struggling as a couple and of course the church seemed to look down at us because we didn’t fit into their ideals of what true prosperity shoul look like… yes fancy cars and Armani suits…He also had 2 body guards. He was untouchable because after church if you wanted to speak to him, you would have to make an appointment-So ridiculous.
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