CULTS

I am challenging dad's remark he made to me when I returned from church on Sunday that the Vineyard Church was a cult.

A cult is a system of  religious worship (dictionary).  Great admiration for a person, thing idea etc.  It has been called a cult as have other denominations.  One of its great strengths was that it was a teaching church and encourage people to get to know each other by being a part off a small group.

Going to church can be a habit or it can actually be life-changing experience as it was and is for me.  It is a community that is drawn together to strengthen and encourage and teach each other.  Our worship is centered around Jesus and his teachings of wisdom and his knowledge of a heavenly being who we call God.
 

In recent years there has been a shift away from old-fashioned religion that was legalistic and has caused rebellion and the turning from the faith of our parents to engage spirituality. 

Evidently some one on the radio referred to the Vineyard as a cult.  There has been a well documented research done by Donald Miller that centers on the new use of emotional and bodily experience by mainstream, white and middle-class congregations.

Other books are “Main street Mystics” by Margaret Poloma or “Words Upon the Word” by James Bielo.

Here is me returning from church wearing my mom’s dress which I also wear to funerals.  She influenced my life by her reverence and her faithfulness in  church attendance.  She made good friends and joined U.C.W. too.  She would definitely not been comfortable in a Vineyard Church like many others.

The Vineyard did emerge out of the Jesus Movement, which has also been written about by historical writers like the one by Steven Tipton.

It is good to have an opinion I believe that is grounded on both experience and knowledge.    Find out the facts. This church gave me a new vision and a closer walk with Jesus and especially a new awareness of my own potential!

I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit moves among us today like the power of the wind.  It can be gentle or it can blow you over.

Anyway dad and I had a scare today when Haiti escaped from our yard and we could not find her.  We drove all around and when we got home there she was waiting although she had scared the mail man from  delivering our mail.  Yes, I was praying hard and was very thankful she was safe.

Just a few more words.  Many ministers from the Vineyard have written books.  Ken Blue for one who both dad and I like for his practical style and the church was calmer then.  Bill Jackson's "The Quest For The Radical Middle is a detailed account of the birthing progress of this group. 

This church attracted the emotionally damaged seekers who were desperate to experience salvation as a healing process and the way to freedom. 

It is much easier to preach to a well-dressed, well behaved, disciplined group of church goers sitting quietly in their pews.  I am thankful for the healing experiences I had when we left our mainline church for awhile.  There were the young and creative, the fabulous musicians, and intellectual leaders.  It was exciting and alive something like the crowd I think Jesus attracted.

I am writing this in response to dad's negative words about the Vineyard when I arrived home from church on Sunday.  I refuse to listen or to let it bother me anymore.  I have strong opinions and will stick to them because of the good I have seen.  This church cared for people who would never darken the door of any other.  We delivered food to the hungry, we clothed the poor and really welcomed all!

So  today dad and I are off to the eye doctor.