The Critter says:
"Those bums still owe me $10 worth of quarters!"
Matthew 24:23-28, Galatians 1:8
Colossians 2:8, 18, 20-23
"I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create
dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine you have
been taught; avoid them(Romans 16:17)."
In 1997, 39 people, under the leadership of a man named
Marshall Applewhite, committed suicide. From the first news report I
was fascinated. I once had an idea for a story about a science
fiction religion, and there it was on TV, being reported. After
awhile, I went to their website, hoping to get some story ideas.
But, after reading their material, I learned they were nothing new.
Do you know what I've learned? Basically, their religion
adhered to all the things that this week's bible passages warn us
about. Matthew 24:23-28 warns us against any who say, "I am he!" for
when Christ comes again, he will draw us all together with him,
rather than hiding out in an unknown place in California and
expecting us to come there. The cult also believed in fasting and
abstainance. Their castrations are evidence of their self abasement
and severity to the body(Col 3:23).
Their concept of `aliens' also reflects what is warned about in
Colossians. According to them, all religions were started by aliens,
which they identify as being the same as angels. The cult worshipped
Marshall Applewhite and his dead friend, Nettles, calling them both
angels. See Col 3:18.
Finally, they created the dissent found in Romans 16:17. Heavens
Gate only believed in the red letters of the gospel. They did not
accept anything else in the New Testament, from Acts onwards.
Applewhite called them `watered down gospels.' He demanded people to
break away from their religions, whether Christian or otherwise, and
also break away from their families. Although Christ tells us that
we should love him more than our own families, it is meant to be for
those families who do not believe in Christ only. Clearly, this
cult, like many others, uses the gospel as a tool of deceit.
So, next time you join a religious group, examine their goals
and beliefs carefully. They could be another wolf in sheep's
clothing.
Dear Father in heaven, please protect us from the evils of this world. Give us wisdom through your word. Guide us and lead us so we do not fall into the snares of false prophets. Help us to always examine the teachings of our religious groups, and compare them to your word. Help us to excel in discernment and knowledge, and help us to be failures at doing evil things. Amen.