THE WAY ~
We were taught there was no earthly founder;
…Yet the truth is that William Irvine started this ministry and church around 1897.
We were taught the Friends & Workers Fellowship was a continuation of the New Testament church that began on “the shores of Galilee;”
…Yet the truth is their history cannot be traced back further than 1897 and their Founder was a Scotsman named William Irvine.
We were taught the fellowship was the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow– in everywhere, every place, every people;
…Yet the truth is the fellowship is different from person to person, place to place, generation to generation, worker to worker, state to state, etc. It is: Jesus (who) is still the same and ever will remain.”
We were taught their method (2×2 ministry and meeting in the home) is God’s only true way and the only way to receive the gospel is through the workers;
…Yet Jesus said “I am the Way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6. Jesus was a person–not a method or system.
We were taught that only the F&W Fellowship follows Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 10, Luke 9, Mark 6, etc. the most closely of any church ever;
…Yet the truth is they only follow 33% at best (Click to view study)
We were taught the F&W Fellowship was not a denomination and has no name, bearing only the name of Christ;
…Yet the truth is they are registered in various countries under a number of different names. And they use official letterhead bearing the name “Christian Conventions”.
We were taught their headquarters are in heaven; that it is not an organization, business or corporation;
…Yet the truth is it was incorporated in Canada as Alberta Society of Christian Assemblies; and there is a well-defined chain of command in the fellowship.
We were taught God doesn’t “dwell in temples made with hands;” and any church that meets in a church building is a false church;
…Yet the truth is there are implement/machine sheds on convention grounds; and gospel and special meetings are often held in buildings; and homes and convention sheds are built with hands.
We were taught God’s way is a perfect way and that the F&W Fellowship was God’s only true way on earth and one had to follow it in order to get to Heaven;
…Yet the truth is many changes have been made in the Fellowship. How can perfection be improved upon? Among the Fellowship there have been: murderers, embezzlers, wife and child abusers, liars, adulterers, pedophiles, drug addicts, rapists, swindlers, alcoholics, etc. Shouldn’t a “perfect way” produce people who are more nearly perfect?
THE WORKERS ~
We were taught that only the workers can correctly interpret the Bible; and that the Bible is a dead book unless interpreted by a worker;
…Yet the truth is the workers readily admit they’re not infallible, and excuse their mistakes as being human.
We were taught: “Jesus ONLY is our message;”
…Yet the truth is the workers teach that salvation only comes through Jesus PLUS following their method and ministry.
We were taught that there are no married worker couples because they choose not to marry and to be like Paul;
…Yet the truth is–it’s not by choice—it’s mandatory. Since the 1950s, if two workers want to marry each other, they must both leave the work. Paul said that “forbidding to marry” is a “doctrine of devils” 1 Tim 4:1-3
We were taught that ONLY the workers could dispense salvation to men; and that we cannot know in our lifetime that we ARE saved, and we will only find out after death if we made it to Heaven;
…Yet the truth is “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
We were taught that the workers are the only channel or mediator to God;
…Yet the Truth is “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
We were taught there were no rules or regulations in the Fellowship;
…Yet the truth is there are numerous unwritten rules enforced by the workers.
THE FRIENDS ~
We were taught the Friends and workers are God’s children; and not others claiming to be Christians
…Yet the truth is we knew Christian outsiders who had more marks of Christ than those in this fellowship and who were better people than we were.
We were taught to revere the messenger more than the message and more than our Creator;
…Yet the truth is that The Good News Gospel isn’t the method of preaching or the preachers–it is the MESSAGE of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ! “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” Rom. 1:25.
We were taught that we must attend every possible meeting for all our life in order to get to Heaven;
…Yet the truth is meeting attendance has nothing to do with attaining eternal life.
We were taught that “ye shall know them by their fruits;” that the fruit in the lives of the Friends and Workers proves this is God’s only true way;
…Yet the truth is the F&Ws do not have any fruit that other Christians do not also have.
We were taught that the love that exists among God’s children was special and unique in this world;
…Yet the truth was there is some malicious backbiting, tale bearers, critical judgments, lack of compassion, even cruelty and hatred towards others both inside and out.
We were taught that the wonderful harmony and unity in the fellowship is not found anywhere else in the world;
…Yet the truth is that the so-called unity was a farce since one must conform or be expelled; and there is division and disagreement among the workers in many areas and upon various subjects, especially Divorce and Remarriage. What is there to boast about when “unity” is the result of enforced uniformity?
We were taught that God’s children are to be “a peculiar people” and should keep separated from the world;
…Yet, the truth is that Jesus didn’t come to save “the whole,” but the sinner Mark 2:17; and he mixed and mingled with the world.
We were taught we did not need to be concerned with doing good works to help the poor, needy and hungry, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always” Mark 14:7;
…Yet Jesus said: “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke 11:42
We were taught we were the only ones who sincerely studied and understood the Bible;
…Yet the truth is we found that there are many Christians who study and know their Bible far better than we did, and who put us to shame with their knowledge.
We were taught many negative generalities about other Christians, preachers and churches;
…Yet we found very few to be true and most were utter falsehoods.
We were taught to speak against the workers was “the sin that could not be forgiven” Matt 12:31;
…Yet the truth is Jesus said that the only unforgiveable sin was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He said this when the Jewish leaders claimed the spirit and power Jesus exercised was not of God, but rather from Belzebub (Satan).
We were taught that we were the happiest people on earth and the only ones who knew true joy; the rest of the world just thought they were happy and were trying to find happiness;
…Yet there were some who were miserable, unhappy and suffered from depression; some even committed suicide; and workers frequently had nerve problems. True joy comes from receiving the unspeakable gift of salvation absolutely free–by faith through grace and not by continually trying to earn our salvation by our works.
BELIEFS ~
We were taught that a Believer must earn his salvation;
…Yet the truth is that Jesus did not need to die if we can work our way to Heaven.
We were taught Jesus was just a man who came to show us the right way, to be our example and the pattern minister; who lived a perfect life and was awarded the title of Christ; we were not taught Jesus was God the Son or the second person in the trinity;
…Yet the truth is that Jesus was long-promised Messiah and He came to die in our stead that we might have LIFE eternal.
We were not taught the difference between salvation and rewards;
…Yet the Bible clearly makes the distinction that Believers will be rewarded according to their works: “For the Son of man shall…reward every man according to his works. Matt 16:27; and that Salvation is a free gift for Believers: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Eph 2:8
We were taught very little about the Holy Spirit’s role and function in the lives of Believers;
…Yet the truth is the workers encourage the Friends to trust them, rather than trusting in the Holy Spirit for personal guidance and direction. To trust in workers causes them to usurp the place and role of the Holy Spirit and relegate Him to second place, thereby putting Him in a box. The Bible says: “Quench not the Spirit” 1 Thes. 5:19.
We were taught “he that endureth to the end will be saved” (Matt 10:22) meant professing people must continue in the Fellowship until death to be saved;
…Yet the truth is that continuing all our life within the fellowship or any other church won’t save us. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and: “Whosoever believeth on me shall not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
We were taught the devil is the father of lies, master of deception and goes about roaring like a lion; and to beware of all religions and religious people;
…Yet the truth is that WE were the ones who had been deceived and WE were a part of the “congregation of the dead.”
We were taught that it is never wrong to worship, praise and be thankful for Jesus’ birth or resurrection nor to give gifts;
…Yet celebrating Christmas and Easter religiously was wrong, and celebrating Halloween (Satan’s day) was OK.
Thy Word is Truth (John 17:7)