Some Reasons Why We Left…

Factors that caused our confidence to be destroyed and led to us leaving meetings

Dishonest accounts of doctrine or history; avoidance or lying to questions

Inadequate dealing with questions; fallacious replies to questions.

Workers using fear and guilt to keep people from examining their behavior and doctrines

Lack of understanding of the deity of Jesus and the complete effectiveness of his sacrificial atonement

Lack of emphasis on nature of sin and repentance

Lack of understanding the Holy Spirit and redemption.

Lack of accurate teaching regarding prayer for natural things.

Lack of teaching salvation is by faith through grace—not of works!

Misplaced emphasis on works.

Doctrinal ambiguity

Lack of charitable works/activities towards outsiders or insiders

Traditions of men taught/enforced as commandments of God

Misplaced emphasis on human appearance

Absence of God-centered worship

Lack of spiritual food

Idolization of workers

Idolization of the manmade 2×2 belief system and methodology

Presence of Exclusivism – Living Witness Doctrine- salvation only through the workers

Inaccurate, allegorical and twisted use of scripture

Presence of antifeminism

Incompetent advice and counsel

Indifference of workers towards members’ needs

Indifference of head workers and members to the needs of subordinate workers

Unscriptural withholding of participation in meetings, baptism and emblems

Absence of good fruit among some workers or members

Inappropriate remarks during funeral messages or at funerals

Lack of unity among friends and workers; yet refusal to admit it

Lack of unity re participation of divorced & remarried couples

Lack of joy, warm friendships or trust

Refusal to give a written mission statement of faith

Refusal to examine or teach scriptural doctrines and a denial of some of them

Presence of immorality among workers, elders and professing people

Presence of judgment and scorn for outsiders and for members as well

Presence of hypocrites

Secrecy regarding money

Ignoring the needs of ex-workers. Not supplying them with sufficient start up money when they leave the work; or paying for therapy

Secrecy regarding decisions and lack of protection against bad decisions

Abuse of power and authority among workers

Excommunication without scriptural grounds

Inconsistency in buildings for conventions and owning property, while condemning others for their church buildings and property

Refusal to admit the organizational structure within the church

Refusal to admit the names used for the church

Lack of teaching for adults and especially for children

No scriptural education for workers, children or members

Presence of extreme legalism

Lack of teaching on finances or the importance of honesty in business matters for members

Unscriptural requirement for workers to be unmarried puts everyone at risk for sexual deviancy and immorality

Moving workers from one field to another to hide sexual immorality

Questioning or disagreeing with workers’ decisions may result in excommunication

Misplaced emphasis on submission, sacrifice and suffering

Worker imposed emotional and mental alienation from society in order to be “sanctified and set apart”

Lack of joy and love

Lack of converts

Indifference to errors.

Not allowing Holy Spirit to guide members. Obedience is mandatory (not a free choice. Conformity is required at the risk of excommunication

Workers too slow in changing traditions; staying too far behind “the world”