Jesus Christ is Lord of All

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Church of Wells

Dear Friends,

     I turn 24 today, and the Lord has granted our family a great gift of humbling, brokenness, and hope in the sovereignty of our Lord over His church this morning. Many of you have seen dad’s recent face book post regarding my interaction and respect for the Church of Wells. Thank you to all who have prayed for our family. I must briefly convey, in my own words, that my wholehearted desire is to honor my father and mother, and to submit to them in the Lord. I am eternally grateful to all who have encouraged me to honor my parents. My parent’s grief had been primarily the private nature of my communication with the elders of this church. The complexity of the situation I faced, involving my own family and a few dear friends, and an overwhelming attitude of displeasure, initially, towards the church from those around me resulted in my going out on my own to discover the truth from these elders who ministered to me in love and integrity. It was never in my heart to dishonor my parents, and my parents and I would be willing to share the nature of the situation to all who would desire to know. I do not seek to justify my behavior, but rather do entrust myself to the righteous Judge, whose favor I seek. It is a true statement that from my experience with the elders, I do regard them as my own Biblical authorities, but this does not eliminate the presence of my parents as God-given authorities. I will submit to my parents in the Lord with God’s help. By God’s grace my dad, who now has a tremendous weight on him, has expressed a desire and begun to take steps to carefully search out this Church. I do not have all the time I desire to elaborate on the Church of Wells, but below is a brief summary of my convictions regarding them.

 Miraculous & Violent Opposition

     Since my interaction with the Church of Wells was discovered, I have received the most violent opposition that I have ever received particularly from those closest to me. It is miraculous in the sense that, I feel that were I under physical attack by a man or fallen into some sort of gross immorality the “protectiveness” or opposition against me would have been far less. I am astonished to see my beloved hear of but a few words on this incident, and immediately their “concern” flares up and their admonition, yes genuine admonitions, are intensely spoken aloud. The moment you hear of this church, there is an almost gut reaction, that “bad feeling”, about the church and my private interaction with them. There has been an instantaneous negative response from most of you before you have carefully searched out the matter. The Lord and my parents know the role for you to warn and protect me, and yet, never before have I been so quickly and thoroughly opposed by all of you. It is indeed miraculous. My only desire, by God’s grace, is to follow my Lord and align my life with His Word, and many have fallen away from me along the way, and now what I face has been excruciating, yet, I will not deny the conviction of my soul. For your sake I say that if I be wrong in what follows, then may the Lord discipline me in His justice and mercy, but please know that I believe I would die for my convictions about the Church of Wells. I love you all so much.

 Due Process

     I discovered the Church of Wells a few months ago through a dear friend, and was incredibly blessed from the start with the sermons and writings that I heard. Before the Lord, the sermons I heard were, to me, the most blessed sermons I had ever heard, filled with love, power, conviction, and a complete portrayal of the Counsel of the Word. Joyous edification was brought to my soul through the resources on the church’s website. However, in due time I started to read internet slander against the church, most of which I did not believe, because it was from ungodly sources, carnal men, those whose “god is their belly, whose glory is their shame, and who mind earthly things ” (Phil 3:19). The comprehension of the tremendous reproach and slander against this church created a great burden in my heart for their vindication. I would pray for the church with tears and groans for many hours, and it became a constant burden that I believe the Lord Himself had given me. Many of you may ask, “Why do you care about some random church that you do not know anyone from?” And to this I would respond that as I seek the heart of God in prayer and look to see where His countenance is turned, I believe that the heart of God is towards these people and His countenance is turned towards them. They are of great significance to my Lord, and thus my heart joined this church and my countenance turned towards them.

     With time, I became good friends with some people who had come out from this church, and I heard many more accusations against the church: namely that they preached wrath and not love, that they had ungodly zeal, and that they cut ties with their families. Since I trusted these friends, I believed their witness and my attitude towards the church changed, my burden waned, and I ceased to pray for them to the degree that I had previously. During this time, I believe that a Spiritual plague came over me. I had sinned against the Lord in failing to follow Biblical due process. I was not the only one who committed this sin, but rather, countless God-fearing regenerated saints now condemned to various degrees or ignored this church, specifically because of their own failure to carry out due process.

What is due process?

In order for us to believe a report concerning another (church/elder/individual/circumstance), even that of a Godly person, the matter must be established by Biblical standards:

1. With two or three witnesses

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor 13:1)

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” (Deut 17:6)

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” (1 Tim 5:19)

2. With careful searching and examination

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”(Prov 18:17)

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Prov 25:2)

3. With the exercising of Spiritual judgment

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess 5:21)

“13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14 But the natural man receivethnot the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2)

     I erred greatly in believing the reports I had heard, simply because they were from people whom I considered to be God-fearing saints. For me to respond in my own heart to these accusations to the extent that I abrogated much of the God-given love, burden, and regard for this church was wicked. It was no different than putting a person to death on the account of only one witness. Furthermore, were I to spread the reports I had heard, though many of you would consider me to be a genuine saint, that would not give you any reason to believe my report.For though I believe that I fear the Lord by God’s grace, I had neglected due process.

     The Spiritual plague that came over my soul could be characterized by a constant anxiety and discomfort in my heart, and an inability to pray as I ought. There was also a great sorrow over considering that these people, who were so devoted to the Word and zealous for the Gospel, could have drifted away in certain ways from the Lord. There was uncertainty in the midst of this sorrow, because deep down I was not fully convinced of the reports I had heard.

     Furthermore, if these people are of God, if I know God, by nature of my standing in he Lord, I hear them; if we hear not the people of God, we are not of God. This is the very means by which we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6) If the church of Wells and the elders from there are of God, it is a terrible offense to cast them off or even to ignore them, when they bear the reproach of the Gospel. If these are indeed precious saints, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, for me to reject them or disregard them is terribly unworthy and detestable to my Lord.

“None have followed this [due process] as they ought, but those that have are with us in heart unto this day (as far as my memory goes)” -Sean Morris

 Persecution

    The Church of Wells is buried under heaps of slander and accusation, and I am convinced that few saints, if any, have followed Biblical due process. For this reason, the church receives defamation and persecution not only from the carnal world, but from
 the regenerate! Saints propose that this church cannot possibly be in right standing with God when other noteworthy saints have rejected them. Saints render that the church is being persecuted for their unrighteous zeal and “extremity” rather than for the sake ofrighteousness. Indeed, this is what I myself had believed for a time. But let us consider the state of reproach that the Scriptures teach that all obedient saints will fall under. Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Paul described himself and the apostles as those set forth as last, as appointed to death, made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men, fools for Christ’s sake, weak, despised, naked, buffeted, being reviled, but blessing, being persecuted, but suffering it, being defamed, but intreating, made as the FILTH of the world, and the OFFSCOURING of all things unto this day. (1 Cor 4:8-13) Christ promised His disciples that they would be hated by all men for His sake (Matt 10:22).He told us not to think that He came to send peace on earth: He came not to send peace, but a SWORD. He came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matt 20:34-36) Christ Himself grew up before God the Father as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He had no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faced from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. (Is53:2-3)

“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:” (Is 52:13)

Dear friends, do WE bear this reproach. Is our reputation slandered? Are we the scum of the earth? Are we hated by all men? Do we follow in the footsteps of this Man of sorrows, Whose appearance was marred more than any man? Do we carry the Sword of His Word that kindles fire upon the earth? If not, how can we, according to Scripture, commend ourselves in His sight?

     As I read and hear the slander and observe the attitudes of the world towards the Church of Wells, I see near perfect parallels between these and the above descriptions of the inevitable persecution of the saints that the Scriptures describe. These people have no reputation. They have no standing in any religious circle or community. They have no title or fame. They are not honored. They are often ignored. They are, truly, the offscouring of the earth. I have never, in my whole life, seen a church bear the reproach that this church bears for the sake of the Gospel. I know that the reproach itself does not prove that they are of God, but it ought to make us tremble in fear. They bear such reproach in the name of Christ, and we do not…

     Furthermore, if these people are indeed suffering reproach for the sake of the Gospel, and we choose to disregard them, and place them in mental categories of unworthy, reprobate, extreme, or cultish, we are in direct disobedience to the Word of God which tells us to remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. (Heb 13:3) It is of utmost necessity that we determine, using Biblical due process, if this church finds favor in the eyes of God. We CANNOT remain in a state of uncertainty. This church is alone bearing the reproach of the Gospel, and if we have believed various witnesses, and if we have believed falsely about them to the extent that we forsake them and fail to regard them as suffering for the sake of righteousness, we are severely in the wrong. Thus, dear friends, I encourage you to examine this church carefully. Do not believe every report, but use Biblical due process to discover the Truth. Specifically, hear the witness of the elders and those in the church in addition to other witnesses. Examine the fruit of their lives. Examine their doctrine. Determine if their lives and reputation are in accordance with the lives and reputation of the New Testament church saints. Try their spirits with Scripture. Make Spiritual judgments with the Spirit of God within you and the Mind of Christ that has been granted to you. CAREFULLY SEARCH OUT THE MATTER. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John7:24).

 My Own Convictions

     My private communication under difficult circumstances with those at the church of Wells, specifically the elders, was a part of my own careful searching out of these matters. Below is a brief list of my former concerns and how, before the Lord, I feel that the Church is vindicated in all these points.

1. Preaching wrath and not love

     I encourage you to hear some of the ferry/university/subway Gospel preaching from this Church from the bottom of the homepage of their website. You will find that their Gospel preaching is filled with zeal, the Word, tremendous love, and sincerity. Furthermore, if you hear the internal teaching at the church, you will find a remarkable emphasis on the love of Christ, a glorying in the atonement, and a complete devotion to the whole Counsel of the Word of God. To understand the heart of their preaching
against wickedness, read the blog, “When Jesus Came He loved Everyone”.

 2. Cutting ties with family

     In my conversation with the elders, it is evident that though many saints have believed that this church cuts off ties with families, it is often the case that the family cuts off ties with the individual who is a part of the Church because of their own resistance to the Word of Christ. I have seen deeper love within individuals of thisc hurch for family members than I have seen perhaps anywhere else. They love, pray for, and entreat their families with the Gospel with great burden and longing. Please
hear the message, Hate Your Family and read “The Reformed Family”.

3. Cultishness

     Many assume that the Church of Wells believe themselves to be the only true saints in the world. I found this to be false. Personally the elders have accepted me as a saint in spite of my evident weaknesses. A message I received from an elder: “Words cannot describe the love I have for all the saints scattered on the hills…” They truly do love and long for the remnant all over the world. Indeed many of the saints who are sources of great slander against them are still regarded in their minds as precious saints who have failed to follow Biblical due process. Their community exhibits a simple desire to conform their lives to the true Word of God, a desire which is altogether absent most everywhere.

 4. Undue authority from elders

     In the many accounts that I have heard from the elders regarding their exercise of authority within their church, I identified no instance in which a righteous and loving judgment was not made. In my personal interaction with them, they guarded my heart from exalting them, and turned my gaze towards the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike many other Godly men, these elders did not glory in their flesh to any visible degree, but were willing to forsake the “pulpits of the world” as they stood against wickedness, false teachers, false doctrine, and false perspectives within other people whom they regard as saints. I must also convey that the unity of spirit, mind, and heart that I observed within the three elders far surpassed anything I have seen. There was no human striving or selfishness among them, but they subjected themselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.

5. Unwillingness to admit their own sin

     In my interaction with the elders, there was an exuberant humility, brokenness, meekness, and servitude towards all men. They elaborated on circumstances in which they subjected themselves one to another in the fear of the Lord and their open confession of sin before the congregation. One elder, Ryan Ringnald, accounted weeping with great fervor in repentance on multiple occasions.

“Truly, we do often confess to God – “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee” (Psalm 69:5)! – but if God took away my sins, if God took away my foolishness, I am assured, on the contrary as mine accusers, that the reproach of which I now bear, and the suffering, and the danger, and the infamy, would not decrease but INCREASE!”–Sean Morris

6. Personal mistreatment of individuals who left the church

     I have heard many details regarding certain individuals who have left the church and presented accusations regarding their own exiting experiences. I do not seek to go into detail, but again encourage you to hear the witness of the elders on each particular circumstance.

7. Ungodly Zeal

     Please read my blog article, “O Man of God, Be Zealous”. In summary, the verses below I believe precisely characterize the zeal which I observe within the Church of Wells.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Is 58:1)“

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” (Jer 48:10)

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Cor 6:17)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt 23:33-37)
8. Dangerous Doctrine

     I encourage you to carefully examine the doctrine of this church from their sermons, writings, and manifesto.The Lord has brought me to the point of agreement with this church’s view of eternal security by the conviction of the Word by the Holy Spirit. Please see my letter, “The Perseverance of the Saints”. PLEASE read the elder, Sean Morris’s, book, “The Condescension of God” and examine the doctrine in light of Scripture. I have read his stunning work and was blessed and edified to submit to the sovereignty of the Lord and with a gratefulness of Christ’s mindfulness and love for my soul. This book is hidden treasure, I believe worth more than the writings of Godly men of the past few centuries combined, and a gift from the hand of God to our generation. The doctrine of this church may seem extreme, but compare them with Scripture. The Scripture is extreme, dear friends. I believe with all my heart that the doctrine of this church is in line with the Word of God. Multiple reports from those from the church and those who left the church indicate that the church community is filled with tender love one-to-another, great devotion to the learning and teaching of the Word, and great conformance of the life to the Person of Christ.

Understanding our Times

     With great sorrow I could write a large amount on the state of our present day As I have sought the heart of the Lord in the past months, I see that He is tremendously grieved with the reign of wickedness, even among the regenerate. The wickedness of the unregenerate is apparent to many of us. We see the downfall of the remains of justice and Truth falling to the ground with lightning speed. “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” (Is 59:4) But the more horrifying state is that of the people of God. They are in a state of spiritual slumber. The walls of the temple of His house have been torn down. Carnality and lukewarmness reign. The Word of God is “sealed” in many ways, that is, we do not understand the full Counsel of His Word. Confusion and deception are rampant. Young men and women faint and stagger in this famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. The great apostasy is on the onset and numerous souls are drifting away, perhaps unto damnation, unless He reveals His mercy that they repent. Professing “Christian” systems have a form of Godliness with a simultaneous tolerance of wickedness, rejection of a wholehearted seeking of the Lord and the outpouring of the Spirit, and a reliance on man-made wisdom, protocol, doctrine… There are few true shepherds, elders, or overseers who truly watch over the souls of the flock of Christ. I could elaborate quite more…

Sword Between Brethren?

     One of the very unique attributes of the ministry of the Church of Wells is that it often brings a sword of division among the regenerate! Many use this attribute as means to disqualify their ministry assuming that such discord among brethren cannot possibly be from the Lord. But when we consider the state of the people of God,namely, that many are fallen into a state of slumber, passivity, and slavery to sin, we may readily understand why the Word of God would bring a sword between unrepentant regenerate people and repentant regenerate people. Even during the early days of the Corinthian church, Paul states that there must be also heresies among them, that they which are approved may be made manifest among them (1 Cor 11:19). The Scriptures tell us that the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Tim 4:1). As the Sword of the Word of God is delivered to the people of God, they will be unified in the bond of peace ONLY as they heed the voice of the Lord unto repentance and resulting obedience. When the regenerate refuse to repent, they cannot but be at enmity with the people of God who have sided with the Truth. The people of God are united in the bond of peace precisely because they have conformed their lives to the Word of God and the Image of Christ. But when hardness of heart and unrepentance is present in the midst of our gatherings, yes, there will be division.

“14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.” Is 59

 A Warning 

     There is so much more I would like to say to you, dear friends, but I will close by saying that I believe with all my heart, as a result of my careful searching out, my seeking of the Lord in prayer, and my searching of Scripture, that the Church of Wells with their elders, are of God. I believe I would die for that statement. Furthermore, if these people are of God and speak by the Spirit of God, and we choose to resist them, to slander them, to ignore them, or to disregard them, we will find ourselves resisting the Word, Spirit, and work of our very Lord. We will find ourselves slowly drifting away into a state of Spiritual deception and complacency. And as we seek to justify such wicked behavior and to condemn the doctrine and practices of this church, we will find ourselves twisting and arguing away the Counsel of the Word of God. Far be it from us to falter in this way!

O dear saints, you must determine if the Church of Wells finds favor with the Lord.

Beware of Satanic masking of the truth.

Love in Christ,

 preethi 

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