Introduction #
I’m getting coffee with a guy from church today, we’re planning to swap some stories about how the Lord has worked in our lives in a few specific ways. He has some history in the New Age movement, and I’m very interested in that story. My offering to him will be my own story, fairly short it might be, of how God protected me from long-term involvement in a hypercharasmatic cult.
Theological Context #
This dove-tails well with Andrew’s sermon yesterday, noting that in many Charasmatic circles the gift of the Holy Spirit becomes more important than the person of Jesus who gives the Spirit, and who gives Salvation. This is the crux of my own experience as well.
The Group #
The group was called “Wind and Fire Ministries” and they had their own purpose-built building out in the middle of nowhere, but close enough for me to drive to. I grew up in Iowa, a 10 minute drive on the interstate landed you pretty quick in the scene of any low-budget horror movie. The building was definitely nice, there was even some land, but there was nothing around it.
How I Got Involved #
I barely remember how I got involved - a kid I was in high school with went there regularly and then one adult who helped out in my church’s youth group did as well. I can still vividly remember him telling me about an experience he had at this place - a “slayed in the spirit” kind of experience.
My Experience #
I was hungry, desperate even, for spiritual experiences and this “ministry” was extremely welcoming and accessible. My parents didn’t know anything about what went on there, and to be fair they didn’t do a ton of ultra-weird stuff when I was there… flag-waving and tongues were enough to probably ruffle some fundie feathers. I never fell to the ground shaking or spoke in tongues (not for lack of awkwardly trying upon the instruction of a member there though). I remember going one night and staying for hours while the head honcho was doing annointings with oil and I wanted to be annointed because I wanted to speak in tongues because I wanted an “experience”. By God’s grace I was never given a super emotional experience there - the emphasis was always on gifts and supernatural things, not on the person and work of the Lord Jesus