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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Holiness or Hell? Part 1

During our combined twenty two + plus years in the ntcc, we have heard the term "Holiness or Hell" used from behind the pulpit, during bible studies, and in general conversation many times.  Without going into our own personal opinions and convictions that might agree or disagree with the ntcc on many holiness issues, we think that it is important to get down to the root of the problem or matter however you might see it.

My issue with holiness preachers has nothing to do with the content of holiness teachings but with the way it comes across.  With the ntcc every thing comes across the pulpit as:

  • "Do or Die."
  • "My Way or the Highway!"
  • "Heaven or Hell!"
  •  etc... 

But they also throw around the question,

  • "What would Jesus do?"

That is a great question; and one we all should strive to achieve.  I do not ever remember Jesus saying follow me or you will die and go to hell.  It seemed to me that the ones that followed him did so more so out of love than fear.

The reason that the ntcc is so cut and dry on many issues is that they are a cult.
They use these teachings as ultimatums:

  • to gain more control
  • to create fear
  • to make their group seem more elite
  • to make it harder to obtain membership in their exclusive club

This is a very dangerous road to travel down; because the group that usually gets excluded are the people that are the opposite of proud, the least of God's children, and the ones that are the most easily offended. The ntcc have said in the past that "It's God's word that is offending them not our preaching."  By saying this they are displaying their lack of forgiveness and a judgmental attitude that runs many off; in spite of the fact that they do preach Christ crucified. It's counter-productive to introduce holiness or hell after you just got done preaching Jesus' blood or hell.

While there are many teachings in the bible that are the "do's and don'ts" of Christianity there are also teachings that we adhere to that are not all "cut and dry".  Many things in the bible apply to customs of the time and Old Testament Law.  Tithe is a concept that has absolutely no supporting New Testament Scripture; but it is a huge part of ntcc's teaching; because in ntcc tithe is used to separate Christians from sinners and to distinguish those that are saved from those who are not.  And, more importantly to the ntcc, tithe is used to gain revenue ($$$$$$).  Not only do they hammer tithe; but they add all kinds of offerings and use more cult loaded jargon to guilt people to give.  There were many times that I was encouraged to give more than I could; and it was done in a way that made me feel that if I didn't pledge money that I didn't have that I lacked the faith to trust God [manipulation].  Now, I'm finding out that what I did give was funding the higher-ups' lifestyle more than it was helping those for whom the money was designated.  I do not have any problem with somebody paying their tithe; but when it is preached as a stipulation to being saved it takes the blessing away from the giver; and I have to say that there is no scriptural evidence that supports this teaching.

The same applies with holiness teaching.  If someone is taught holiness or hell, it makes holiness an ultimatum and people live it out of fear instead of love.  Most of what the ntcc preaches and teaches is not necessarily un-biblical, although some of it is; but it is the way in which they erupt from the pulpit and spew out ultimatums that makes it wrong.  I could take a dog that dumps on the carpet and stick its nose in it and beat the dog until it can barely walk; and it fears me every time I come near it.  Or I can choose a method like putting a dog door in the house and showing the dog his mess, give the dog some verbal reprimand and possibly a small swat to get his attention and then put him through the dog door.  I wonder which method works the best with Christians?  I wonder which method would bring in the most money into the offering plates?  I wonder if holiness was not preached as a prerequisite to make it into heaven if you might find more takers?

Part of the problem that I have with the ntcc's preaching is that they add to and take away from true holiness.  The ntcc's stand on facial hair on men is not scriptural in any way and has no place being preached as a requirement to being a Christian whether or not it is implied or in the form of public rebuke.  Is not holiness an outward appearance for an inward work?  How does the ntcc's stand on encouraging divorce not apply to "holiness or hell" preaching?  It seems like this is allowed because it would call into question the legitimacy of the entire organization, its founder, and the reasons he started a cult instead of adhering to the principles of the organization that would not allow him to do his own thing.   I could go into how tanya kekel dresses and how michael c. kekel has conducted himself, and whether or not football pants are lascivious, and many other questionable doctrines of  the ntcc; but I think that we have covered this sufficiently.  The holiness or hell doctrine that was preached the entire time that I was in the ntcc, which was 1983 - 1997 [Don] and 1990 -1999 [Ange], has been broken and changed many times by the ntcc leadership to cover their own shortcomings [compromise].

We have found that serving God is not supposed to be this difficult; and that God is much more forgiving than the ntcc.  We appreciate all that contribute to this blog; but we especially recognize the X-ers for what they have had to endure over the years.  We were all made to live as slaves to a machine that tried to control our thoughts and actions by the use of intimidation, public embarrassment and humiliation.  I really believe as said before that there will be a special dispensation of grace for those that had to endure this kind of spiritual abuse; and that God has not forsaken us because we have left this evil and wicked organization; but rather it is the first step in a long process of healing and definitely a move in the right direction toward inward holiness without hell being rammed down our throats.

Vote Anonymously On This Post By Clicking On The Lettered Boxes Below:
A)  Sounds Like A True Description Of ntcc.
B)  ntcc Sounds Like A Cult.
C)  I Read This Post.
D)  Holiness Comes After Salvation So It Is Not A Prerequisite For Heaven.
E)   Holiness Comes From The Heart, Not From Rules.
F)  Create Your Own By Leaving A Comment:  Example:  "F"  ntcc preaches holiness to gain control of its members' lives and finances.
G)  Glad To Be Out of ntcc
H)  Create Your Own
I)    I'm Thinking Of Leaving ntcc
J)  Create Your Own
**You Can Choose Multiple Answers** 

6 comments:

  1. Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: -- Hebrews 12v14

    Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. -- II_Corinthians 3v6

    Let your moderation be known unto all men. -- Phillipians 4v5 (partial)

    epieikēs, e-pē-ā-kā's: gentle, patient, moderation

    We know ntcc will try to say we are assaulting holiness. We are not.

    We are saying the letter kills; the Spirit gives life.

    We are posting these scriptures to add balance to this discussion, to show both sides; so people can consider them with moderation.

    Scripture quotes and Greek lexicon definitions from the Blue letter Bible.

    Don and Ange

    ReplyDelete
  2. How can ONE man know what each individual holiness is supposed to be. That is between how God guides there life and decisions.
    there choice in music,cloths,acivities,.

    Funny thing,after being in ntcc. I can not stand if anyone tries to give me suggestions on life. I want to do the complete oppposite. Because ntcc controlled my life. Either by coming right out and saying it was a sin. or just insiuated something was wrong. or why would a Christian be in such and such place. As if ONLY the leaders knew what was pure and not worldly pursuit.
    They really have NO idea what being worldly is. folks in ntcc are AFRAID of everything outside the fence. Having a friend outside of ntcc is wordly. Choosing a different style of dress is wrong. or FROWNED upon. I was only told ONE time I looked nice from Verna Davis. I had on one of those UGLE skirt suits.

    You knew what was allowed that was there Holiness ideas. Without having to come right out and saying it.

    April

    ReplyDelete
  3. The ntcc uses the scripture "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" Heb 12:14 to justify their holiness or hell doctrine. They tell you what holiness is. They define holiness as an outward appearance. This is one way that they gain control over people. It's not enough just to dress modestly but they add the wing-tips and white shirts and many other things. Strongs concordance gives us these definitions of holiness:

    1) consecration, purification
    2) the effect of consecration
    a) sanctification of heart and life

    Ntcc says holiness is how we dress, how we look, facial hair, etc...

    Jesus also rebuked the pharisees for placing the emphasis on outward appearances while inwardly they were like open sepulchres, full of dead mens bones.

    The problem with ntcc is that they
    go to great lengths to show everyone how holy they are on the outside but when it comes to helping people or even treating people decently, they fall short.

    If we can do anything to help anyone that has been harmed by the ntcc, we will do whatever we can. If we are asked by the poor and less fortunate of this world for help, we do anything we can. It's hard to help people that don't think they need help. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. The ntcc doesn't admit that anything is wrong. In fact they live as if they are the only ones on this planet going to heaven and preach and joke about everyone else.

    The whole "look what God has done for us attitude instead of what can we do for God" shows that they are in it for themselves in most cases. The ones that do all the work never get the blessings and most of them end up cast out like us while the select few prosper and say, "look how the Lord has blessed us". "If you serve God he will bless you also". It a big time cult.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don or Ange, please give me a call when you get a chance. I tried to call you guys unsuccessfully,

    Thanks,
    Jeff

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry I didn't leave my number handy,
    706-905-8554. I know you have it but I figured I'd make it easy.

    Jeff

    ReplyDelete
  6. On a recent thread on Jeffs blog double-D said:

    "Once again, Jeff, you are on the cutting edge of sanity, here."

    Don and Ange said:

    Since Jeff and the ntcc are 100% opposite of each other, that means that the ntcc is on the cutting edge of insanity. Being in the ntcc was the most insane thing that ever happened to me in my life.

    I remember in the middle of a service while the pastor was preaching, he just started singing, "This train don't carry no cigarette suckers, This train don't carry no cigarette suckers, this train don't carry no cig, cig, cigarette suckers." Each verse after that got worse and worse.
    "This train don't carry no pants wearing women". "This Train don't carry no shorts wearing men" "This train don't carry no face painting women".

    During this spectacle the brethren started getting worked up into a frenzy, shouting and dancing while new people were walking out the door. One brother was doing somersaults around the alter.

    Church service lasted for hours and then we went to Ihop and made fun of the people with blue mohawks and nose rings while we ordered crackers and butter with our coffee because we were too strapped for cash to get any type of meal. I can't blame it all on tithe though because as lower enlisted servicemen we did have other Servicemen's Home related expenses like giving are money to the cigarette sucker singing "pastor."

    Don and Ange

    ReplyDelete

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