How
to discern sectarian groups within organized religion
Part 1
Simple questions
to ask yourself
before joining an
overly zealous religious group
Originally published in 2000
INTRODUCTION
This relatory was drawn up from the personal experience of a close
friend of The
M+G+R Foundation. It was prepared at our request. Our only
instruction to the author was "What would Jesus say?"
if confronted with such groups.
THE
TESTIMONIAL
After my conversion in 1993, I was seeking a closer relationship
with God. I found a group, or should I say, Regnum Christi
found me. I would later learn that they purposely targeted people
who had money and/or position in the community and who could be
used to further their cause.
This group, like many others, claimed that they followed God, the Pope
and his teachings. On the surface they looked holy, but when I became a
member they began to slowly manipulate me.
This group told me they wanted to work within the parish, help teach
CCD and work with the youth programs, etc. At that time I taught two
Religion classes and knew the parish needed workers. However, within
one hour of joining the group I was told to stop teaching and only work
with their approved apostolate.
I should have run in the opposite direction. But I kept thinking it was
me--that I must have misunderstood, these were good and holy people, so
I thought. The more I found out about the group the more that inner
voice told me there was something wrong and that there was a problem.
If you find yourself in a similar
situation, I suggest that you ask yourself: "What would Jesus do?" and "What has He
said?"
Would
Jesus only call the wealthy or important or righteous or intelligent?
Romans 10:12-13
12 For there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and
bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. 13 For, "every one who
calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
This group used front groups. They
never tell the people the name of the true group behind all their
apostolates.
Would
Jesus be dishonest?
John 14:6-7
6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father, but by me."
Matt 10:26-33
26
"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be
revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the
dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon
the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them
will fall to the ground without your Father's will. 30 But even the
hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of
more value than many sparrows. 32 So every one who acknowledges me
before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven;
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father
who is in heaven.
God gave us a free will and intellect
but this group wants you to blindly follow their directions without
question.
Would
Jesus take away your free will or intellect or the Holy Spirit to guide
you?
Matt 16: 13-17
13
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked
his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they
said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you
say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of
the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father who is in heaven.
Luke 9:18-20
18
Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with
him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 And they
answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Elijah; and others, that
one of the old prophets has risen." 20 And he said to them, "But who do
you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
Matthew 28:18-20
18
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
They do not reveal information to all
their members. Only a select few know all the true goals.
Did
Jesus reveal all to His people?
John 15:14-15
14
You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call
you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father
I have made known to you.
John 18:37
Pilate
said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a
king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to
bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my
voice."
Tobit 12:6
6
Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them: "Thank
God! Give Him the praise and the glory. Before all the living,
acknowledge the many good things He has done for you, by blessing and
extolling His Name in song. Before all men, honor and proclaim
God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising Him."
They all believe they are saved
because they are in the group. They believe all others outside the
group are lost.
Who
are the children of God?
Malachi 4
1
"For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant
and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them
up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor
branch. 2 But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall
rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves
from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be
ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the
LORD of hosts. 4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes
and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 "Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of
the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their
children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the land with a curse."
Matthew 22: 10-14
And
the servants going forth into the ways, gathered together all that they
found, both bad and good: and the marriage was filled with guests. And
the king went into see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not
on a wedding garment. And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in
hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent. Then the
King said to the waiters: bind his hands and feet, and cast him into
the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are called, but few are chosen.
John 10:16
And I
have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also,
and they will heed my voice.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The
coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all
power and with pretended signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked
deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the
truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends upon them a strong
delusion, to make them believe what is false, 12 so that all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
They raise their founder and his
writings as important as God and the Bible.
Whose
words are most important?
Exodus 20: 1-3
1 And
God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 "You shall have no other gods
before me.
Matthew4:4
But
he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
They say they have people positioned
in all parishes and will soon take over the church , and believe me
they do and they will.
Will
they win in the end?
Matt 16:18
And I
tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against
it.
They say they honor Mary but say the
Pope can’t declare her co-redemtrix because it will ruin their plans of
a One Universal Religion.
Judith 16 : 5-24
5 But
the Lord Almighty has foiled them by the hand of a woman. 6 For their
mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men, nor did the sons
of the Titans smite him, nor did tall giants set upon him; but Judith
the daughter of Merari undid him with the beauty of her countenance. 7
For she took off her widow's mourning to exalt the oppressed in Israel.
She anointed her face with ointment and fastened her hair with a tiara
and put on a linen gown to deceive him. 8 Her sandal ravished his eyes,
her beauty captivated his mind, and the sword severed his neck. 9 The
Persians trembled at her boldness, the Medes were daunted at her daring.
10 Then my oppressed people shouted
for joy; my weak people shouted and the enemy trembled; they lifted up
their voices, and the enemy were turned back. 11 The sons of
maidservants have pierced them through; they were wounded like the
children of fugitives, they perished before the army of my Lord.
12 I will sing to my God a new song:
O Lord, thou are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible.
13 Let all thy creatures serve thee, for thou didst speak, and they
were made. Thou didst send forth thy Spirit, and it formed them; there
is none that can resist thy voice. 14 For the mountains shall be shaken
to their foundations with the waters; at thy presence the rocks shall
melt like wax, but to those who fear thee thou wilt continue to show
mercy. 15 For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing,
and all fat for burnt offerings to thee is a very little thing, but he
who fears the Lord shall be great for ever.
16 Woe to the nations that rise up
against my people! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the
day of judgment; fire and worms he will give to their flesh; they shall
weep in pain for ever.
17 When they arrived at Jerusalem
they worshipped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered
their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts. 18
Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofernes, which the
people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from
his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to the Lord. 19 So the
people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three
months, and Judith remained with them.
20 After this every one returned home
to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethulia, and remained on
her estate, and was honored in her time throughout the whole country.
21 Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of
her life after Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his
people. 22 She became more and more famous, and grew old in her
husband's house, until she was one hundred and five years old. She set
her maid free. She died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of
her husband Manasseh, 23 and the house of Israel mourned for her seven
days. Before she died she distributed her property to all those who
were next of kin to her husband Manasseh, and to her own nearest
kindred. 24 And no one ever again spread terror among the people of
Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death.
Esther 16 :19-24
19
'Therefore post a copy of this letter publicly in every place, and
permit the Jews to live under their own laws. 20 And give them
reinforcements, so that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
Adar, on that very day they may defend themselves against those who
attach them at the time of their affliction. 21 For God, who rules over
all things, has made this day to be a joy to his chosen people instead
of a day of destruction for them.
22 'Therefore you shall observe this
with all good cheer as a notable day among your commemorative
festivals, 23 so that both now and hereafter it may mean salvation for
us and the loyal Persians, but that for those who plot against us it
may be a reminder of destruction.
24 "Every city and country, without
exception, which does not act accordingly, shall be destroyed in wrath
with spear and fire. It shall be made not only impassable for men, but
also most hateful for all time to beasts and birds."
Matthew 28:18-20
18
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
I know these are simple questions and
answers. I am a simple person and that is how God worked in me.
Read
the Bible so you will know what Jesus would do and what He has said
Matt.24:3-44
3 As
he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately,
saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your
coming and of the close of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Take
heed that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name,
saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you
will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for
this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines
and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of
the birth-pangs.
9 "Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations
for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one
another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise
and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most
men's love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be
saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout
the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will
come.
15 "So when you see the desolating
sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place
(let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to
the mountains; 17 let him who is on the housetop not go down to take
what is in his house; 18 and let him who is in the field not turn back
to take his mantle. 19 And alas for those who are with child and for
those who give suck in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be
in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation,
such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and
never will be. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, no human
being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be
shortened. 23 Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or
'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false
prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead
astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Lo, I have told you beforehand.
26 So, if they say to you, 'Lo, he is in the wilderness,' do not go
out; if they say, 'Lo, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of man. 28 Wherever the body is, there
the eagles will be gathered together.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation
of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man
in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they
will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet
call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end
of heaven to the other.
32 "From the fig tree learn its
lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves,
you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these
things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to
you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take
place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away.
36 "But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the
ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all
away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two men will be
in the field; one is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be
grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. 42 Watch therefore,
for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this,
that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief
was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be
broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is
coming at an hour you do not expect.
Beware of groups who promise utopia
here on earth. We cannot save ourselves only
Jesus saves!
NOTE Added on August 16, 2005:
We recommend the reader of this document to read Michael S. Rose's "Vows of Silence"
book review before or after reading this document. It will give the
reader a better understanding of what the Legionnaires of Christ
and Regnum Christi
are all about.
En Español: Cómo discernir grupos sectarios
dentro de la religión organizada
Originally published in 2000
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