The Impasse

The Impasse

The law’s righteous requirements are a wall too high to scale.

Many souls have endeavored and shrunk back hands limp and pale.

For to be reconciled to Him whose image in oneself has been desecrated

Lies before this impasse. For in the arm of flesh who has ever been consecrated?

The Spirit has reveal that one’s sin was so great

That in comparison to His perfect holiness, there could be only one fate.

What is more? Judgment and wrath loomed imminently overhead.

And thus would the soul enter into a place where too short to lie upon was the bed.

Then came Divine Providence, the drawing hand of this heavenly Father.

For the clay of this thorny rocky soil was into good soil turned by the gardening Potter.

Then came the Word, the royal seed, which took root, was well-grounded, and thus to perfection brought forth fruit.

And thus the impasse was crossed through the holy sacrifice of blood, and reconciliation followed suit.

These are those sacred events which have regenerated now holy souls.

The bottomless chasm of God-hating rebellion was in one moment removed by burning majestic coals.

Consider, wise ones, what constituted the soul of the one with good soil

Lest by carelessness, cares, riches, and tribulation the granted removing of the impasse, this plan, your adversary foil.

Good soil: the heart had seen that there was indeed an impasse.

That in one’s own devices, assets, powers, possessions, and strength, into hell’s lake, would he justly be cast.

Thus the heart could not lean upon its own understanding.

And into the ocean of relentless humility, the soul was every temptation to glory-in-flesh withstanding.

And so the heart the WORD understood, to it, persevered and held fast.

As to a light shining in a dark place the soul placed attention till was finished the impasse-crossing task

But those saints who have persevered have come to know

That many impasses were to follow and lie still ahead threatening woe.

They are the prowling of the roaring lion, the raging besetting sins of the flesh.

The impasse would arise yet again and again, and must be crossed in the same way to enter His rest

Novel and greater impasses yet lie ahead

Yet novel and greater glory and grace to be revealed would be if the soul stayed connected to Christ, the Head.

Thus to maintain that impasse-acknowledging heart of good soil

We do endeavor to see another revelation of salvific power, as we with our lamps carry this moral filth-dissolving oil.

Oh beloved saints, whatever impasse you do now face, yes, these giants that threaten to remove our eternal inheritance

Know that a converting gift of an atoning miracle He can to you provide for He may from His wrath yet relent.

Three New Prezi's for the Remnant

Turn You at My Reproof

Turn You at My Reproof

"Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you." (Prov 1:23)

You commanded that I turn at Your reproof

That upon the outpouring of Your Spirit I may not from Your presence be aloof.

The charge was granted thus so plainly for You grant grace to the humble

But in the multitude of thoughts and words proud and resisted men do fumble.

For many snares lay privily in the way.

Innumerable bents from that straight way do seek my soul to sway.

And thus countless souls now damned and sunk in the ocean deep wrath do portray

The manner in which fates are sealed when once bright souls are allured away into oblivion and dismay.

What is this manner oh my soul mark it well

For of the similitude of rebellion and witchcraft, of stubbornness, iniquity, and idolatry the Scriptures do tell.

As with King Saul there were deceptions regarding burnt offerings and sacrifices

Deceptions that these can be thus when the LORD’s voice is not obeyed but the lust of the boast of self the deed of rebellion entices

Where the broken heart and contrite spirit is disregarded

When noble men turn wroth, prophets are oppressed, and His voice is discarded

When all His counsel is set as naught, correction was hated, for these would none of His reproof do.

This reproof their hearts despise though their souls He does with His rod pursue

Innumerable lusts of the flesh emanating with pride do arise.

Innumerable fears of man and self shame do the fearfulness of His WORD disguise.

The corruption of the deceitful heart do lock this soul into incoherence, and an uproar of denial to turn.

Oh I had forgotten the eternal pleasures that were at Christ’s right hand when I did feel myself a worm.

LORD I cannot draw near in these manifold temptations which do prosper the pride that warrants Your resistance.

What can I do but turn this battle at the gate, Oh King I cannot succeed with my army against Your’s though I come with persistence.

I may not overcome this Angel of the LORD lest I to His will conform

And in Your righteousness You will a holy wrenching of this hip perform.

Oh hide me from the misinterpretation of the prophet that arises within me from the stumbling blocks that accompany Your WORD towards Your prophets.

Let me see their noble intent as this wounded hip pains within its socket.

I know that the living Christ grips me hard for it is Him

Surely the pillars of heavens tremble and are astonished at this very reproof for my sin.

Would that poverty and shame not be mine, that I despise not my own soul, that correction be not grievous.

I entreat that Your reproofs would enter within me, that I may abide among Your wise and get understanding of what was once mysterious.

It is not man whom I seek to please, but the living Christ from whose mouth decreed the reproof of life

So may I not with the prophet come into endless strife.

It is a chance to behold the glory of Calvary yet once more

Reproofs are the stepping stones across this ocean of time until that beautiful shore.

Make me a babe, oh My Father, I only seek to be with You, to hear Your voice as each sheep does

That I may not fall into grief in contemplating the glorious shame of what I once was.

Garner a fire and lamp that I may hold fast to Your WORD.

For I have seen that this is the manner in which You seek to pour out Your Spirit upon me

Making me a recipient of the prophet’s anointing oil

Noble companions who do the works of the devil seek to foil.

Now all is at rest as fears of men and flesh subside and all I see is the Kingdom rising within my heart.

Your WORDs of life, Your peace and love that surpass knowledge Your Spirit does now impart.

Oh You have shown me grace, Your Son! He is alive and this Redeemer will soon arise and come upon the earth.

Righteousness, honor, glory, and immortality, perfect and eternal, if I every reproof turn at, will in perfection come to birth!

A Letter To Family and Friends

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​Dear Beloved Family and Friends,

I write this letter with a heart of gladness, and with a heart of brokenness under the command and charge of the living LORD Jesus Christ., the reigning King. There is a specific reason for which He has charged me to write: in love that your blood be not upon my head and to testify yet again of His irresistible grace and mercy whereby He continues to save me by imparting to me ever-increasing measures of His fear that will keep me from departing from Him, placing me under pastors according to His heart who seek not their own glory but the glory of the LORD imparting to us His burdens, WORD, and Doctrine, placing me among true brethren who wholeheartedly seek Him and desire to please Him...I still say to you: He has never stopped doing good to me. Everything He has done thus far has been good, and has worked for my salvation. Oh praise Him! He is the King of kings and LORD of lords! Herein will be conveyed in an integrated manner LORD willing:

1) An Explanation of the Spiritual Significance of the Events which    have Transpired since June 2013
2) Testimony of the Reconciliation of the David Family
3) How this Relates to You: a Sober Plea

A Brief Personal Update: The LORD has been astonishingly merciful to me, beloved family and friends! My present life, though filled with particulars trials and salvific chastenings from the hand of God, which are for our salvation and are His loving remedial judgments, is exactly what I had longed for for years: I am reconciled to my Savior on the merits of His blood and righteousness. I am taught by pastors according to the heart of God whose ministry is worthy of all my reverence, and there has not been any worthy occasion for me to mistrust them or their teachings or their motivations, for they are anointed of the LORD, are men of Truth who seek the glory of the LORD! I am surrounded by brothers and sisters who desire nothing but Christ and true fellowship and care not for the vain and foolish exploits and conversations and false religion/christendom of this passing world. I am taught salvific doctrine that is in accordance to Godliness and which constrains me in the path of righteousness, to be hidden with Christ in God, to love and prepare myself for Christ's return! And the LORD has given me a husband who is ever filled with the Holy Spirit....words cannot describe the presence and love of the LORD Jesus Christ with him! [*] We have one child who is no longer with us (the child was miscarried), but whom we trust is with our LORD, and do wait patiently upon the LORD's timing and will if He might grant us another. Our desire is to see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

*The statement previously here has been removed, not because I am recanting or because I disagree with any aspect of it, but to avoid further confusion due to doctrinal misunderstanding and potential misrepresentation of the meaning. Please see 1 Pet 3:6 and/or contact me at preethimdavid@gmail.com for more explanation.

Why you must read this: Oh beloved, in spite of all the things you have heard about the Church of Wells (that we cut ties with families, we are legalistic, we teach a works righteousness gospel, we are a cult, that we think we are the only true Christians, the elders are controlling, etc.), do you contain enough sobriety of mind to read my witness, if perchance there be any truth in what I speak, any unction of the Holy Spirit in my words? Do you fear God enough to believe not every report, but to hear each witness and “incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of GOD. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the path of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path” (Prov 4:2-9) Indeed rightoeus judgment is performed that God's wrath may depart from His people, that men might be spared! But when judgment is forsaken the masses are annihilated under the just wrath of God!

Oh how I love you! I long for you to see the LORD's tears on your behalf! I love you, regardless of my silence towards you and the cause of your offence towards me. I have not been sinlessly perfect, but the LORD has kept my ways, for indeed, by His grace, He keeps the feet of His saints! (1 Sam 2:9) and I may say in good conscience that I have intense Spirit-filled charity shed abroad in my heart for you as I write. May the LORD spare you from coming under the impression that I harbor unrighteous bitterness, false judgment, self righteousness, and the like. If I speak of the Truth I implore Him to help you see and believe.

A statement of principle: In this letter, I will be explicitly and openly referring to some of you by name because I fear God, and must perform righteous judgment upon what I have seen and heard (1 Cor. 5:9-13, John 7:24). Surely the people of God must fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What Christ tells in darkness, that we must speak in light: and what we hear in the ear, that we must preach upon the housetops. For we fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather we fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:26-28)

You can read my account of the Fruit of the Church of Wells here:http://www.thechurchofwells.com/the-fruit-of-the-church-of-wells.html

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During the months preceding the David family's exit from New Life, the LORD had been strengthening and intensifying the convictions that He had been imparting to me since 2006: These convictions include:

• true conversion causes a person to be radically changed from within: the sinful nature dies, the stony heart is removed, a new heart and spirit are granted, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell, a new creature is made, a person is made to love God wholeheartedly (not sinlessly perfect, but with a conscience cleansed from dead works to serve the living God, and a love for God that far supersedes any other affection that overtakes his life, his desires, his motivations, his convictions...)
• the percentage of those who are truly converted of the total sum of professing Christians is extremely small. This is the case in New Life.
• The true people of God are scattered in large masses of false Christians, starved, asleep, destitute, afflicted, lonely, often dis-fellowshipped by false Christianity, backslidden, NOT PREPARED for Christ's second coming (though I was a strong Calvinist who did not believe that such a state was possible, the LORD had shown me in fall 2012 that this was the reality of the situation of His sleeping bride and that I ought to mourn with God over His bride's terrible estate)

By the time we left New Life, I was broken-hearted, especially to leave the children, but peace and sweet relief flooded my soul and that of our family, for it was not the LORD's good pleasure for us to remain in New Life, that synogogue of Satan, that place where iniquity reigns, and in which resides idolatry of carnality, false religiosity, meaningless sermons and studies and exploits. The place is largely unconverted, with several fallen Christians (people who were once truly converted but in a backslidden or reprobate state (1 Cor 3:1, Gal 5:4, James 4:4, hundreds of others)). There were less than 20 among them that I believed feared God in anywise at the time that I left. May the LORD bring to light the deeds of Mark Lafollette, who knew explicitly that the Lamberts believed and promoted the Free Grace Theology Doctrine as taught by Zane Hodges and yet openly denied it, of Bill Gramer (whom I believe was truly converted) and Dave Meier who craftily forsook righteous judgment, and Rex Bernardo, who acted as a servant of Satan to deceive the masses and promote this heresy. These have done much bloodshed in that place. I cannot neglect naming the Alan Anderstrom; at the time when the heresy was first taught, I shared it with Mr. Anderstrom, who ascertained to me that there was no possibility that the elders of New Life would receive or permit the teaching of such doctrine, but later took upon himself the role of a silent onlooker. For he had been given a measure of light to discern the danger of the heresy, and yet looked on without speaking a word openly. God knows the mischief he had been working behind closed doors. My heart is broken for Jathan Edwards who is currently working as a false prophet, holding his family and true saints back from holy fear and hearkening unto the voice of the Spirit to the true church. And all others who have known and seen the evil done in that place and remained silent, forsaking righteous judgment,  even choosing to remain yoked to it and deceived individuals therein, know that you cannot escape the leaven of wickedness and insincerity in that place. If you want to have any hope of receiving the promises of God, you must leave that wicked place (see 2 Cor 6). I love you all. The LORD has seen the innumerable tears of my wailing on your behalf throughout these years. I poured out myself that you might see and know the truth and be set free. Those of you who knew me at any level of intimacy knew that I did. But you were unwilling, and your house is left desolate.

Those of you who observed our family, especially in that year before we left saw a unity and closeness among us. That final year, we were knit together strongly in the doctrines of true Christianity, of standing for true grace which teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age (Tit 2:11-12), and standing against false grace. Surely my father was a mighty support as a male figure, whereby I was not alone as a young woman, and my mother a constant comfort and companion in my daily sorrowing and anguish over your souls. Many of you mocked us, calling us a “three-person-jury” and things like this, but it was a unity in the Spirit of God in the WORD of God, and we were of one spirit when we exited New Life and started our home meetings. Little did we know that though we were true Christians, persecuted for righteousness sake, for regarding the honor of the LORD, we were largely unequipped to start a church. father, though a zealous man of God and prophet, was not anointed for eldership. Yet, the LORD spoke a word to us in our first meeting that where two or three are gathered together in His name He is surely there in our midst (Matt 18:20)! Oh how the LORD came in that first meeting! His presence was undeniably with us and I wept at the freedom I felt from the leaven of hypocrisy and wickedness of the place we had left and the blessed glory of the risen Christ who was with us. Oh He was surely with us!

During those months my heart was drawn to the I'll Be Honest Community because of their large percentage of true Christians, and the doctrinal understanding of the straight gate (the fruits of true Christianity). They were the Godliest people I knew, and I was fed Spiritually in some measure from Paul Washer, Charles Leiter, and Tim Conway. But they were all strong Calvinists as I was at the time, believing in eternal security: that once a person is TRULY converted, he can never fall away finally and irreversibly from the LORD Jesus Christ. A few people whom I believe feared God in some measure contended with me including Mary Jo Nohava, Martha Navara, and Don and Linda Boe. I thought they were innocently deceived and did not understand the sovereignty of God, but I confess to you here, that I was the one deceived. I repent of any statements I made (particularly in the Unity Letter and audio recording on eternal security and the book “The Shepherd's Eternal Covenant” which a few may have received the manuscript of) which conveyed that it is impossible for a born again person to fall away finally and be damned. I was in error. My error was largely due to the my vital experiences of the irresistible grace of the LORD Jesus Christ by which I had been restored innumerable times after falling into sin. I saw how He was keeping me in a mercy and grace which was too compelling for me to resist; it seemed a relentless Fatherly force of discipline and intoxicating love whereby I was ever swept into greater glories and greater conformance to the Person of Christ. So because of these experiences I assumed that it must always be this way, for how else had I remained in the faith? How else could I hope to remain in the faith without this otherworldly compelling tide of sovereignly-wise mercies and judgments upon my soul? And since the Godliest men I knew, those men who understood true conversion taught unconditional eternal security in a way that made sense logically to the carnal mind, I was emotionally attached to this doctrine, so much so that I deeply questioned if any who believe one could fall away had experienced the ongoing saving work of the LORD the way that I had.

The LORD was with us in our family “church”, and we were set to do His will, but the devil proceeded to release a violent flood of his rage against us. A dear friend from the I'll Be Honest Community, Linda Mann connected me to Sean Morris, an elder at the Church of Wells, and Chris Faulkner, an ex-Church of Wells member, who is presently a false prophet and deceiver, transformed into an angel of light. I had no experience either with a certain great measure of anointing that the elders of the Church of Wells had, NOR of false prophets transformed into angels of light. Thus, I was initially very drawn to the Church of Wells, astounded by their zeal and the genuineness of their convictions and faith, and the LORD gave me a burden for the church which caused me to weep and pray for the church and the bride of Christ (the latter I had been doing faithfully already).

Following my introduction to both the Church of Wells and Chris, I had sought the LORD earnestly on the matter of eternal security, and the Spirit commanded me to believe His WORD, that I could fall away if I stopped believing the Gospel of glorious grace, but that if I remain in Christ I am eternally secure and He will keep me as He had been keeping me until the end. I do believe in eternal security. It is a Person! His name is Jesus Christ! There is no security apart from Him, so let us abide in Him that we may be confident and not be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28)! My father and mother were convinced of the same, having never acclaimed the 5^thpoint of Calvinism prior as strongly as I had.

Chris Faulkner came to our home, gave us a false witness of the Church of Wells, made many false claims about their ways and the deeds of the elders, and the weakness of my flesh led to my downfall, for I believed his report, and began to follow Chris and his ways. The terrifying reality is that of whom I man is overcome of the same is he brought into bondage (2 Pet 2:19). Chris had a form of godliness that was likened to the vision I had of a Godly man. I had never met anyone who could recite so much Scripture, who sung hymns constantly, who open air preached, who wept as he prayed...and because of my besetting sins, I forsook Spiritual judgment, the testing of spirits that the anointing of the holy One would have granted me had I humbly sought his face, and followed this false prophet. Chris was intending to take over our home “church”, to be a pastor in it, and to start his own kingdom. Though many of his words seemed well, he did not seek the Kingdom of the LORD nor the glory of His Son, but rather his own glory, and thus all who followed him were drawn to him and not the LORD. Thus, for about 1.5 months, our home was destroyed. I fell into sin emotionally being as a silly [ weak-willed, foolish] woman laden with sins and thus he crept his way into our home (2 Tim 3:6). My parents followed him in some measure as well, though they were more discerning of his wickedness than I was initially.

The story of how the events progressed is in the Account of the Church of Wellshttp://www.thechurchofwells.com/the-fruit-of-the-church-of-wells.htm Briefly, the LORD granted me repentance, my heart was turned back to the Church of Wells and the LORD, my father fell into sin and began to lack kindheartedness and charity for the Church of Wells, but rather believed much slander against them, thus I secretly communicated with the elders in my broken repentant confoundedness, I was found out, my parents fell into great sin (familial idolatry had been a besetting sin of theirs) and turned violently against me making me a hostage in my own home with irrational fears for my safety and proud anger against me and the Church of Wells. I was in a situation where I was being required to forsake the convictions of the LORD Jesus Christ were I to maintain “peace” with my family, and the compelling of the LORD was utterly strong towards me that at that particular time to remain in subjection to my parents in particular areas meant forsaking Christ and transgressing His LORDship in my life. It meant forsaking the people of God, the saving doctrines of Christ, subjection to the only God-ordained elders I knew...

I am compelled to share, particularly for the sake of those who have scorned this situation, and used it for your own advantage to mock, scorn, and condemn the righteous, those who have lain in wait for blood, and lurked privily for the innocent without cause (Prov 1:11), that I am eternally grateful for the authority of my parents throughout these years. Much of it has been salvific! Those of you who fear the LORD have not mocked the strictness of my parents as the masses have, but have honored them with me for it. They had even been a strength unto my faith: to be submissive unto these parents. Indeed they have been a blessing, and they had been constant companions to me, especially in that final year in New Life with my father and with my mother throughout the years. Truly she is blessed for she had taught me the WORDs of life!

But what happened in in fall of 2013 was unlike any situation I had ever been in at home. We were unified as a family in the prior years because we were not divided regarding the WORD in such ways as we were at that time. I had never felt the authority of my parents to so blatantly and continuously transgress the LORDship of Christ. And so when I state that I “came out from their covering” that I have“hated father and mother” for the sake of Christ, I do not mean to disregard all of their authority and blessing from all time, but particularly during this time. My parents were in great sin of anger and rebellion, and were in a backslidden Spiritual estate at the time. They will confirm this today if you ask them. I myself was falling into bouts of depression and unbearable sorrow in my confinement, often resorting to my room to weep and pray in the waking hours. The LORD brought me to Wells with a mighty deliverance. I literally had the storms of hell against me with numerous visitors and callers daily railing against me, calling me insane and demon-possessed, and out of my mind. Finally in the end I was personally contacted by Paul Washer, Marc Glass, Charles Leiter, Tim Conway, and James Jennings, major Calvinistic remnant leaders and warned not to go to the Church of Wells. Any day at any time I was fair game for the subversions via such men and other evil spirits that spoke lies to me. Yet the LORD Jesus was protecting me and giving me enough light daily to remain steadfast in my course and resolve to follow Him. Meanwhile the saints in the Church of Wells were interceding for me in the Spirit of the living Christ night and day.

What is the Spiritual significance of this fire? Why was all of hell against me going to the Church of Wells? What does this mean to you? Oh how I would need to direct you to my husband's writings which could speak endlessly on the Spiritual significance, not simply of my own flight, but of the state of the people of God, the voice of the living Christ through His Spirit to the church, the masses of true and false converts sinking away into damnation under the just and righteous wrath of the LAMB because of the deceptions of false prophets, of these peace preachers, even converted men, preaching the promises of God, eternal security, to those who are not savingly related to God, to false converts and the backslidden saints who will perish lest they repent, lest they wake up from their slumber. Oh how I did not fear God as I ought in those days of my Calvinism! Oh how I did not understand the dire situation that I was in, the indescribable forbearance of God's mercy towards me, the need for a clean and pure local church body where Christ would be pleased to dwell and reign and rule through Biblical elders, the unbelief in my own heart of all that the prophets of Scripture have spoken, of the end result of the course of my Calvinism: slothfulness, unawareness, unreadiness, false security, INSECURITY. But Oh how my Christ has rained down mercy upon me and my dear family! For He has turned our hearts, yes, even our souls, unto the WORDS of the risen and living Christ! He has wakened our souls to hear and believe in His call. What is His call? What is His cry? Tis none but to be prepared for the return of the LAMB who was slain who is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and honour, and glory, and blessing (Rev5:12). For at midnight there was a cry made! The Bridegroom cometh! For “Behold, He shall come up as clouds, and His chariots shall be as a whirlwind: His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! For we are spoiled. O Jerusalem, WASH THINE HEART FROM WICKEDNESS THAT THOU MAYEST BE SAVED. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim. Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against Me, saith the LORD. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart. My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a motherent. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge...And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clotheth thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! For my soul is wearied because of murderers”(Jer 4:13-22, 30-31)

The LORD has performed good unto my soul, for He has brought me to pastors according to His heart. What do these pastors proclaim? What is His heart in which they are in accordance? Tis so simple and clear: be worthy, unblameable, unrebukeable, perfect (not sinlessly, but in a Biblical sense of having a conscience cleansed from dead works to serve the living God/going from glory to glory/not continually willfully sinning). The cry of the LORD Jesus from His throne is to be prepared for Him, simply to BE RIGHT WITH GOD! The Spirit is calling His church to wake up, to trim her lamps, to prepare for His coming, to make Christ preeminent and LORD over her life, to be cleansed of everything that defiles body and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God, to be found loving the saints, being poured out for the Gospel's sake...surely salvation is not wrought by these righteous acts, for her righteous acts are the fine linen GIVEN her to wear (Rev 19:8). They are the inevitable overflowing result of true saving faith in the Gospel of grace! And He is telling us to be prepared because we are not prepared. He is telling us to wake up because we are asleep. He is telling us to heed the warnings of the Spirit because the Spirit warns us of real possibilities of damnation without repentance.

This is the situation that we are in: the bride of Christ is asleep and backslidden; in her current state many saints will perish were Christ to return. Thus the LORD is crying out to her to repent and be prepared for Christ! But the teachers of the day unanimously have gathered together to preach peace and security to a people that had been converted at one time, but presently are backslidden, and thus do not have peace with God and are utterly insecure! Why is no one preaching the WORDS of the living Christ?! All the Church of Wells proclaims is that men ought to repent and be right with God! Both the lost and saved alike! And there is an intensity, a love for God, an earnestness, a fervency, a zeal, a holy terror, a giving more earnest heed, a labouring, a diligence to add to our faith increasing and abounding attributes of righteousness that must overtake us for these comprise the very FEAR of GOD that will surely keep us from departing from God, from falling away, that will prepare us for His coming (Jer 32:40)!

This cry to repentance is a fiery and painful cry for it pierces into the hearts, condemning most, bringing into the light the shroud of darkness, which lies upon this bride. To hear this cry and receive this word will involve pain and sorrow, excruciating Spiritual experiences of comprehension of the looming wrath of God, the shattering of man-made doctrinal systems to which souls are emotionally and mentally attached, fervent vehement intercessions against the wrath of God towards oneself and other saints, transpiration of the reality of all the typological Lots who now tarry in Sodom and Gomorrah, waiting to be snatched by the hands, saved with fear, pulled out of the fear, for the true prophet hates even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 1:23)! It will be a sorrowful and painful repentance for most saints, and thus they make an outcry with their peace-preaching against the TRUE CRY! LORD have mercy!

But oh how He will gather His people when they turn at His reproof! Oh how He will pour out His Spirit upon them, be with them and bless them when they fear and obey Him! He will stir their spirits to repair His house. He will turn favorably and mercifully to His people when He sees that they indeed take pleasure in the stones and favour the dust of His temple!

“15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.18 And therefore will the Lordwait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lordis a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.23 Then shall He give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lordbindeth up the breach of His people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.27 Behold, the name of the Lordcometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire:28 And His breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.30 And the Lordshall cause His glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of His arm, with the indignation of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.” (Is 30:15-30).

My parents were glorious turned by the LORD in favour towards His WORD and to us, His children here at the Church of Wells on the day before Sean and my wedding. It was the first time they had ever met Sean, and as they beheld what manner of man he was, his conversation, the grace of the LORD towards him revealed in the sharing of his testimony, the witness of Christ through the Spirit in him, they gave glory to God and repented. Since then the LORD has reunited me to my father and mother and we are of one mind and spirit. They have a fervent love not only for Sean and me, but for all the brethren here at the Church of Wells. They have stayed with us here, even with the other brethren in our absence and they can give their own testimony of the work of God in their own souls, the exceeding increase of love for God and their own trembling and fear before the WORDs of Christ spoken in this place (from scripture). They have beheld our lifestyles, our fruit, our ways of speaking and behaving, and they attest to the presence of Christ in and among us. Furthermore the Spirit of the LORD has gripped their own hearts with this cry to be right with God, by believing presently and progressively in the Gospel of His glorious grace! My mother and I do speak on the phone frequently, and Sean has called my father as “ten thousand fathers”. There would have been no hope for reconciliation without the witness of the Spirit, even His ability to restore, to make all things new, to revive and restore. My father, mother, and myself have had our turns of backsliddenness, of falling hard as a result of our besetting sin, of chastening, of humbling, of bearing his indignation, and He has been merciful towards us and restored our souls unto Himself, leading us in the path of righteousness for His glorious name's sake!

There are others that the LORD has caused to acknowledge the veracity of the burden with which I speak, the authority which the LORD has granted our elders, and the favour of God upon us. These people are from outside of the Church of Wells. The LORD is raising up children from the stones! Surely He does shake this earth, and the desired of all nations do come unto Him and His people who have His Spirit!

My earnest plea: Of all things spoken herein, I plead with you to be right with God, not according to your own definition, not with a judgment done by yourselves whereby you and most saints are left unscathed, but with righteous and Spiritual judgment. The WORD of God is the judge. We do not judge our own judgment. We declare the WORD of God. The WORD of God is your judge. My earnest plea to you is to search these matters out with all of your heart before it is too late http://www.thecondescensionofgod.com/It is not beyond you. If you seek Him with all your heart, He will come to you wherever you are and reveal Himself to you. He will condescend to you as much as He must that He may save you by His WORD. He is so wise that His foolishness is greater than man's wisdom, and yet the only way to understand the secrets of His Kingdom is to believe in Him as a child. Oh dear beloved, the lame, and sick, and blind, and poor, and unwise, and foolish, and non-intelligent beings of the world....these He has been pleased to save. Would you then fear the wholehearted seeking of the LORD?! It is not beyond you. He looks to those who are poor, and of a contrite spirit, that tremble at His WORD.

I love you...before God, Christ in me loves you!

An Open Response to Matt Slick from CARM by Sean Morris

An Open Response to Matt Slick from CARM

Hello Matt Slick, 

There are many grievous generalities that you have made in the article you have written, generalities I am willing to answer in specific, but since you have been general...I will give general answers. I am encouraged by your willingness to sit down with us. Indeed, it would be a daunting task to seek to answer specifics via typing. Your willingness to sit down and talk with us demonstrates a willingness to be incorrect with the generalities you have made, and I am grateful for this. We too are willing to be incorrect in our doctrine and practice, if it can be proven by scripture. We welcome Spirit-filled men to approach us in godly fear and love, with correction and concern. My attempt in this email is to show the error of the loose-handed examination process which makes conclusions by generalities, by heathen persecutions, and by speculation. I will attempt to, by God's grace, show the error of generalities by pointing to scriptural truths and scriptural realities. 

With regard to Paul Washer's prediction about the coming persecution: if it is true, then it would be great folly for us to come to conclusions based upon heathen reports, persecutions, or slanders. An approach such as this would have led the common Jew or Greek to deny the 1st Century Jesus Christ of the Bible. He too, and the 1st century Church, were overwhelmed with slander and misrepresentation. And yet, they affirmed that it was a Sovereign appointment by God (Rom. 8:36, 1 Thess. 1:6-7, 2:1-2, 13-16, 3:1-5, 2 Tim. 3:10-12, 1 Cor. 4:8-17, 15:19, 29-34, 2 Cor. 4:8-18, 6:4-10, 11:21-33, Heb. 12:3-4, 1 Pet. 2:21-23, 4:1-5, 12-14, etc.). I believe, as Paul Washer seemed to believe judging by the clip above, the Church today is ignorant of how, why, and in what way persecution is going to come upon us as true Christians...but the 1st century Church was not ignorant. For further information which reveals how deceitful the media is, please see this video titled: The Catherine Grove Controversy - "What is the Truth?"

From here onward, I plan to address specific statements you have made in the CARM article. I have separated the statements you made by topical titles. My answers are following your quotes. 

The Church Cursed & Exclusivity: 
"The Church is very tight knit, and exclusivistic. This makes sense since they teach that they are among the remnant of God's true believers and that the Christian church has been cursed for the past 2000 years. This is problematic because it lays the intellectual foundation to teach a kind of "restored" or "true" teaching of Scripture. However, this does not automatically make them a cult." 

 The Church is very "tight knit", you said, but what does this mean? 

 Col. 2:2  "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;" 

 Col. 2:19  "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

 The Church is very "exclusivistic", but what does this mean? 

 Rom. 16:17-19  "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." 

1 Cor. 5:11-13  "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person." 

“From such turn away” – 2 Tim. 3:5 
“From such withdraw thyself” – 1 Tim. 6:5 
“Receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed” – 2 John 1:10. 

 See also 1 John 2:19, Jude 3-4, Philippians 3:1-3, Matt. 15:13-14, 23:13, Gal. 4:29-31, 1 Thess. 2:16, Luke 12:1, Matt. 16:6, 11-12, Jude 16, 2 Peter 2:3, 13-14, 18, 
3:17, 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1.

Matt, you stated that we teach the Church has been cursed for 2000 years, and that it needs to be restored, but I don't believe you understand what we would mean when we say "cursed". Also the general response that you gave saying, "This is problematic because it lays the intellectual foundation to teach a kind of 'restored' or 'true' teaching of Scripture", is erroneous and exceedingly general. I could point to biblical and extra-biblical Church history to affirm how vital and consistent it was for God-ordained men to arise and accomplish a reformation or restoration of the true meaning of scripture, applying it to their generation. Reformation orrestoration into the true meaning of scripture should not be shunned, scorned, or by title condemned, but the true meaning of scripture should be soundly addressed and applied NO MATTER WHAT. Woe to us if we are no longer subject to scripture, simply because we believe we are correct and standing in the truth right here and now. We can profess that we hold to the ancient truths (of extra-biblical Church history and the biblical witness), but even the Pharisees said they were followers of the true prophets. Christ affirmed how they did "garnish the sepulchres of the righteous" (Matt. 23:29)...this means that they honored them, taught their teachings, claimed to follow them, and by their lives they claimed to rightly represent them. Christ had another word to say about it - "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets" (Matt. 23:29-30). Many teach the truth, but oh! Do we do the truth (seeMatt. 23:2-3)? In conclusion, one should not rebuke and disdain another because he believes a truth from scripture must be restored, but the interpretation of scripture which he is arguing for should be addressed, and either refuted or accepted - anything but this is cult-like. 

Death of Baby: 

"However, it is a concern when medical treatment is not sought for a very young child who is obviously having breathing difficulties. If prayer does not quickly alleviate the problem, then the other God-ordained means of healing via medical attention should be utilized.  The apostle Luke, after all, was a physician and Paul himself even said take a little wine for one's infirmities, (1 Timothy 5:23).  So, seeking medical attention is biblical."

There was red-ish purple-ish color in the baby's extremities, yes, but this was not apparently different than other newborn babies that we have seen. In fact, the mother of the child that died affirmed that her former baby boy, named Levi, had colorful extremities and difficulty breathing, and this information foremost of all did give much reason to think that the child was NOT in any real danger. The Church of Wells does believe in using medical attention, and we are grateful for all beloved physicians out there who can be compared to Luke. Indeed, seeking medical attention is biblical. 

Many Generalized "Suspicions" and a Final Conclusion on the "restored gospel mentality": 

"Accusations of brainwashing have been rampant where at least one set of parents (Andy and Patty Groves) had been prevented from seeing their daughter, Catherine, who gave away everything and joined the group. But, an accusation does not a cult make. Apparently, the daughter does not want to see her parents and she is old enough to make that choice.  This alone does not mean it is a cult. But, as things begin to add up and suspicious behavior becomes more evident, it makes us wonder what is going on.

In an interview with KTRE, Gardner, one of the elders of the church, said... "We have not in the past or ever intend to arrange marriages."  Morris, another elder said, "Everyone in the church has their own possessions, their own homes, has their own bank accounts, the ones that do," said Morris. "So no we don't have all the money and we don't give allowances that is not how this church operates. That's absolutely unbiblical and absurd."  These statements are good.  But, what about the following said by Jake Gardner, one of the elders...

"Professing Christianity today overwhelming is a cult because a cult is that which is not found in the written word of God which is born by the thoughts of human beings...And the reason why there is so much ignominy and reproach cast upon us is because we're merely endeavoring to get back to what the Bible says and in a generation that is so far departed from the plain understanding and interpretation of the scriptures that is a cult, someone who is trying to return to simply what the bible is, is labeled a cult and that shows the degeneracy of our age,"

Such a statement usually is born out of a "restored gospel" mentality or the idea that everyone else is wrong except them." 

What is "brainwashing", truly? I have never met anyone who has given me a clear answer on this. Our brains certainly are filthy, yes, but we don't need a brain washing but a heart washing. Praise God! This word, "brainwashing", is a common scare tactic that people use who are afraid of or amazed about the converting, changing, and transforming power of real salvation! In fact, the revival experienced near Scotland, in which Duncan Campbell was used, was hindered and brought to an end partly because of a slanderous accusation that Duncan Campbell was hypnotizing people (you can read more about this revival HERE). Woe to us that we accuse the work of the Holy Ghost to be hypnotizing or brainwashing, but in an age when psychology is one of the idol-gods to which this "civilized" and "noble" society does unquestionably subscribe faith to, what are we to expect? How can they explain the power of conversion if, in their worldview, they don't even acknowledge sin, depravity, God, and regeneration? I say again, people don't need a brainwashing but "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). That is the truth, and I am not ashamed of it. It is perplexing to me how people give weight to the scare tactic - "brainwashing" - usually nobody knows what it is, how it is done, or anything (I acknowledge that it is a Satanic delusion). And even more so, when those who profess Christianity move and sway with such a scare tactic as "brainwashing" name-calling, I would question if the man has ever been used by God to affect lost souls by the ministry of verbal preaching to strangers. If the man had, he would have seen what it is like for the Spirit of God to blow upon and convert poor, God-hating sons of the devil. Anyone who has seen this in any moderate degree has also waded through the hell that breaks loose to steal that convert from his convictions, i.e., the various persecutors, the baffled friends and relatives, etc. Either they get convicted and repent, or persecute it and slander it (like name-call brainwashing)...this is usually the pattern. Anyone who has personally experienced this would not quickly judge another man or ministry who is named by the tags which are commonly attached to us! Also, Catherine did NOT give away everything to join the Church. Furthermore, Jake's statement is sound and right, and it shouldn't be persecuted. Matt, you said, "such a statement usually is born out of "restored gospel" mentality or the idea that everyone else is wrong except them". I wonder if the reformation in the days of Luther would match up to some of your cult criteria? What about the 1st century Church, point-by-point? Jesus looked a lot like two cults of his day (see Acts 5:34-39) - yes, both He and the apostles were known as cult leaders (Acts 24:5-6)! By God's grace, I am not ashamed of them. So what does this mean? What am I saying? I am saying that generalizations as these are not righteous and sound, they often scare and subvert the simple-minded because it sounds good and reasonable. The question should be, what does the scripture teach in comparison to what the accused teach? What is "usual" does not matter, because today it is unusual for a Church to be biblical, it is unusual for a Church to be experiencing the power of God, it is unusual for a Church to be persecuted, but none of these things were true for the New Testament Churches. Finally, we do NOT believe that everyone else is wrong except us! God have mercy on all the slanderers! 

What is a Cult? 

In one section, Matt, you made a list of the ways you think we are cult-like. You made six points. These six points are your conclusions based upon a Nightline piece and other articles written by heathen men, etc. You said, "Again, it is difficult to make accurate assessments without actual contact with the group, but through the examination of articles written about them and watching the Nightline piece on them, I must say that they definitely have cult-like tendencies." We are certainly being defamed (1 Cor. 4:13), but my entreaty is this: Matt, is it biblical and righteous to publicize and spread abroad your thoughts, interpretations, and conclusions based upon unreliable reports (while having no contact with us, as you said), and all this without first coming to us and reproving us as the scriptures teach (Matt. 18)? What if we are true brothers? If there is any doubt, shouldn't there be longsuffering, instruction (2 Tim. 2:24-26), privacy (Matt. 18:15-17), and interaction (1 Cor. 14:29, 33, 40, see Acts 15, the entire chapter), before open rebuke? 

 In another article that you have written, Matt, I found your understanding of what these six points are. They are listed below, with my answers: 

Exclusivity

A.    Their group is the only true religious system, or one of the few true remnants of God's people. 

As far as the situation of exclusivity, what would David say in the days of his persecution when he was running from Saul? What would the generations of Kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah say concerning Israel and other professing Jews? What would Judah say about Israel? Is there something wrong with asserting that there are "few true remnants of God's people"? Were these biblical persons I just cited wrong? What about Christ when he used the word "few" (Matt. 7:13-14, 9:37, 20:16, 22:14, 1 Pet. 3:20, Matt. 24:37-39, Rev. 3:4)? Truly, I say this with all gravity, I would be afraid to persecute someone because they affirm that the way of God is found by FEW!

 Luke 13:23-30  "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." 

If we examine the right-standing of God's people by judging in such generalizations as you made, Matt, consider this: with the same generalizations we could condemn Christ, the scriptures, and other historical moves of God in the process...but sadly, the simple-minded don't know this. They are not aware of scripture or history, and when they read something like this, taking a quick read, they can be moved to persecute something neither the writer nor the reader has biblically examined, tried, and found to be false! Reading something like this can do untold harm to the simple-minded. What I mean to say is, it can be a "great fair speech" (Rom. 16:18), if you will, that can greatly sway men to discount, reject, and repel anyone who meets these six points of "cult-like" attributes - even if it is biblical. "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD" (Prov. 17:15). 

Isolation

A.    Minimizing contact of church members with those outside the group. This facilitates a further control over the thinking and practices of the members by the leadership.

As for "minimization of contact": what are biblical representations and presentations of such behavior? And what would they look like if played out in the midst of a genuine move of God which includes the suffering of persecution and other attacks by spiritual forces of Satan (i.e. false prophets)? What kind of "contact" are we talking about? And what kind of "contact" was the scripture speaking about when it stated such verses in reference earlier in this article, when I addressed "exclusivity"? One such verse is notable and bold, which states: 

2 Cor. 6:14-18  "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 

What is the point? The point is, these ideas themselves (i.e., "isolation", minimization of contact, exclusivity, etc.) are not to be disdained when in their scriptural and biblical context! Generalizing these attributes would successfully condemn BIBLICAL Christianity, according to the words of scripture. Righteous judgment in such circumstances as this calls for and demands specifics! Even so we are warned, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). And again, "But wisdom is justified of her children" (Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:35, see also the argument in Matthew 12:1-8). 

Everyone is led by something (1 Cor. 12:2). Everyone, whether they are saved or unsaved, is controlled by and in slavery to something or Someone. Scripture states, "as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:21). Either sin rules, reigns, and controls the lost man, or Jesus Christ (through Grace) rules, reigns, and controls the saved man! The experience of saving grace discontinues the possibility that the man would, as it is written, "continue in sin" (Rom. 6:1, 15-16). Grace causes the lost man to yield to the Master - Jesus Christ - as a servant to obey Him! "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness" (Rom. 6:16)? Grace forcibly controls lost men so that they become "servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:18) and "servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom. 6:19), when formerly they were "servants of sin" (Rom. 6:20). This experience of grace, in context, is "the gift of God" which is "eternal life" (Rom. 6:23). I am not ashamed of the fact that, "he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant" (1 Cor. 7:22). This being the case, what place have God's ministers? 

Christ is a Ruler, a Monarch, and a King, and His people love to have it so...this is true! By His grace He makes slaves, and shockingly, His slavery is freedom...this is true! But furthermore He had created for Himself a Body through which He maintains His Lordship practically and experientially. God has appointed ministers as "labourers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9), this also is true; and yet they are incomparable to God. They help and look after the furtherance of faith and grace in the people of God, and in so doing they help the Lordship of Jesus Christ progress into deeper realities - glory to glory - therefore it is written, "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand" (2 Cor. 1:24). All this is true, but according to the sovereignty of God, each individual proves their own burdens (Gal. 6:4-5), will obey or disobey the calling of God on their life which is scripturally revealed, and in the process of time and circumstantial necessity, the Elders do operate as ambassadors and helpers of the rulership of the Ruler - what I mean to say is, they use authority when necessary for spiritual sanctity (2 Cor. 1:23, 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 2 Cor. 2:10, 1 Cor. 4:18-21, 2 Cor. 12:19-13:5, 2 Cor. 4:5, 1 John 2:19, 4:5-6, Heb. 13:17). Through the instruction of scripture to the flock, coupled with godly accountability, the "thinking and practices" of the members of Christ are conformed to Christ instead of the world (1 Cor. 2:16, 3:18, 2 Cor. 10:3-6, Php. 3:17-21, 4:8-9, 1 Cor. 4:16-21, Heb. 13:17, 1 Pet. 5:5-6, 1 Tim. 4:16, Heb. 3:12-13, 10:25, Gal. 6:1, Jas. 5:19-20,Eph. 4:11-13, Acts 2:42-47, Rom. 12:1-3, 1 John 4:5-6). Amen. 

Special Knowledge

A.    Instructions and/or knowledge are sometimes said to be received by a leader(s) from God. This leader then informs the members.
B.    The Special Knowledge can be received through visions, dreams, or new interpretations of sacred scriptures such as the Bible.

Receiving instruction and knowledge that comes from God, in fact, is the only knowledge of God at all (James 1:5, 3:13-18). Anyone who professes to have "the knowledge of God" (Prov. 2:3-5) - it is for sure: they did not learn it like a heathen man learned chemistry (1 Cor. 2:14, John 6:63, 7:16-17, 8:37, 43, 47, Matt. 16:17). I mean to say that it was a revelation from God! For more concerning this, I wrote a blog post called, "Seminary & Seminarian - Do You Pray?". As for the "special knowledge" that is received through the gifts of the Spirit like visions and dreams, I can say that I am not a cessationist, I am NOT a charismatic, I hold the written word of God as the supreme and unrivaled RULE, and I do not aspire to obtain or teach anything that would or could be rightly considered a "new" interpretation of sacred scripture, but only the old ones which are forgotten and destroyed by false prophets. 

Indoctrination

A.    The teachings of the group are repeatedly drilled into the members, but the indoctrination usually occurs around Special Knowledge.

I am not sure what is meant by the phrase, "repeatedly drilled", but I know this: the New Testament pastors and apostles were VERY repetitious (Col. 1:28-29, 2 Pet. 1:12-15, 1 Thess. 2:11-12, 3:10, Rom. 15:14-16, Php. 3:1-3, Jude 3). The Lord knows that we NEEDED four gospels, not just one - for many reasons. As for our experience in special knowledge (visions, dreams, etc.), I can say that our preaching and pastoral repetition is of the truth found written in scripture; the other forms of revelation cannot even compare to this affirmation. 

Group Think

A.    The group's coherence is maintained by the observance to policies handed down from those in authority.
B.    There is an internal enforcement of policies by members who reward "proper" behavior, and those who perform properly are rewarded with further inclusion and acceptance by the group.

By "policies" which are "handed down" from the "authority", what are these policies? Certainly you are referring to non-scriptural policies...but I don't know of any non-biblical policies that we instruct the people with, hand down to them, or expect them to obey by faith through grace. In the Church of Wells, all who are covered by the blood are accepted equally and wholly, by God's grace, from all different backgrounds, denominations, and non-damnable heretical tendencies, etc. I praise God that we are not a group, but a Church; not a gathering, but a Body; not a collection of doctrines, but a family; not a disconnected, dismembered mess of mishap, but a fitly jointed and biologically connected Body in which every member is NEEDED - a body with one single mind (Php. 1:27)! 

Appearance Standards

A.     Often a common appearance is maintained. For instance, women might wear prairie dresses, and/or their hair in buns, and/or no makeup, and/or the men might all wear white short-sleeved shirts, and/or without beards, or all wear beards.

As for appearances, we believe in biblical modesty for men and women. We do NOT teach that women should wear prairie dresses, hair buns, etc., but a few Anabaptists have been converted from their former religion, and they still wear prairie dresses at times. Also, not all are convinced that the covering of the woman’s head is a non-literal head covering in 1 Corinthians 11, so a few women do wear head coverings. We accept them and do not condemn them because this is a non-damnable heresy. It is their personal conviction that they cover their head with a piece of cloth. This is not the teaching of the Church, nor is it what we understand 1 Corinthians 11 to teach. Convictions on makeup change from home to home, family to family, so some wear it and some don't. There is no laid out rule so that all look the same, but we do believe in modesty, meekness, and shamefacedness as the scriptures teach. The men do not all wear short-sleeved shirts, they do not dress alike in any intentional way, they do not wear beards or refrain from beards in any intentional way of rule or anything like that, as all the cults of Anabaptism do. Nevertheless, it does so happen that, when men are dead to the world, don't like the labels of popular apostasy, don't desire to be flashy, and don't desire to live in luxury, they start dressing with modesty and they live with temperance - such a thing can sometimes make men appear similar. The truth is that they just don't care about these things that dazzle others, but by God's grace they are amazed with and in earnest pursuit of Christ - their treasure is in heaven (Matt. 6)! 

 Two closing verses that are upon my heart, that deserve due consideration and reflection: 

"Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates" - 2 Corinthians 13:7

 "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him." - Proverbs 18:17 

Is it is possible that “evil communications” of false prophets and carnal men have so inoculated this generation that we cannot discern good from evil and do not walk in the sufferings that the Book of God deems normal? Though our consciences scream that we need Revival, we are incoherent and proud enough to think that we can still judge our own state rightly, divide the word of God wisely, and know His will truly: yet how can we? If we need Revival (or are carnal), how can we know judgment, wisdom, and righteousness? If we are carnal, then it is predominately hidden from us (John 16:12, 1 Cor. 3:1-2, Hebrews 5:11-14) and must be taught or exemplified to us, and if we are not fearfully careful, then we will persecute the wisdom of God because it is foolish, be offended at the righteousness of God because of its weakness, and misdefine the awakenings of God as the darkness of the Devil. Jesus said: “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Matt. 11:6, Luke 7:23). Are we in such a condition where we should take heed to the awful warning, "but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor. 10:12)? 

I appeal to the justice and judgment of Jesus Christ who is alive, who is the King of the Church, who walks in the midst of the Lampstands of God, who is a searcher of hearts and a revealer of secrets: Jesus Christ, would you bring the truth to the light? Would you judge your Church right now…that we might be saved from the Judgment to come? Would you gather all men involved in this public address which has begun on the internet, and would you work mightily and powerfully among us that all might look upon and acknowledge the truth? In Jesus Christ’s Name I pray, for the glory of God the Father in the name of His Son, Amen. 

Matt, we are praying about the next step from here. We trust that, God willing, we will be in contact soon. Until then, our sincere love and prayers are toward and for you. 

 Sincerely, 

 Sean Morris on behalf of Ryan, Jake, and the Church of Wells