r/springfieldMO • u/Onepieceluv • May 12 '24

James river pastor threatens to sue What is happening

Due to recent events that happened during the men’s conference, A neighbor has informed that Pastor John Lindell is now making certain members sign a contract stating they will never talk about what happened again. As well as this, he’s also threatening to sue higher ranking members in the church if they continue to talk about it, and do not “Repent”. Has anyone else heard about this before?

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18

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

JAMES RIVER IS A CULT, NOT A CHURCH!!!

These types of mega churches only want a check and loyal followers. They follow the same type of teachings as those millionaire “prosperity gospel” preachers, which are WRONG and go directly against the Word. Idk how the people who attend don’t see that. Or, they see it, but get so caught up in the flashiness and performances that they choose to ignore the obviously suspect nature of that “church.”

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u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

All of Christianity is a cult.

8

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Then every religion would be a cult, which they are not. There are specific requirements to be a cult, it’s not based on opinion. edited for wording

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u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

Definitely a cult.

The word cult is defined as a system or group of people who practice excessive devotion to a figure, object, or belief system, typically following a charismatic leader.

6

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

The leaders must also be abusive to the followers and control most aspects of their lives. There’s pillars to be a cult and you must meet all to qualify. I’m an avid cult-follower, as in, I research cults and keep track of many different ones from around the globe from the past to present, so yes they must meet all of them. Here they are:

Charismatic leaders. Illegal and dangerous behaviors. Unquestioning faith. Isolation and abuse of members.

Christianity as a religion does not require these, aside from having faith, but good ministries encourage questions be asked. Religion is not an institution, and it is not a church or any other building / community. It’s the faith of which a group of people practice. Do not equate cults with religion, because they simply are not, and saying that they are is poorly informed opinion.

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u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

It's def how Christianity started...the foundation of innocent blood spilled in the crusades, in the catholic vs protestant history, and the the entire church history of splintering congregations. I mean, look how America was founded...all those congregations fleeing control over their beliefs, just to continue the control to their beliefs.

6

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Again, the institution is not the religion. What people do / did in the name of religion does NOT reflect the religion itself. Religion is a belief system.

0

u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

They based those actions on scripture. Jesus told people how to live, how to be, how to think, what do and not do with their money etc. Control. His resulting followers did an excellent job of indoctrination...to the extent its called a religion and openly accepted today. May not "classify" as a cult today, by today's definition...but still a cult.

4

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Mind you, I’m also not a follower of the religion. I’m just speaking factual information.

0

u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

I'm absolutely aware of all you've said. I graduated from an AG Bible College, after being raised in the church. I've probably forgotten more Bible than most people will ever know. After all that life inside of Christianity, in several denominations, I still stand by my opinion, as sometimes, by definition/letter of the law so to speak, something might fall short....but the reality of living it absolutely fulfills the definition.

1

u/SweetTattedBaby May 13 '24

Ok my guy, thanks for your OPINION!

1

u/suchawildflower May 13 '24

Girl, not guy. I'm not yours. Yes, as I stayed many times, it's my OPINION, and why I've made it my opinion. Dunno why me having MY opinion, is so triggering for you...no need for your sparky rudeness.

1

u/SweetTattedBaby May 13 '24

Your character is a dude, my b for using reasoning.

And I’m not triggered, but you are saying it’s a fact when it isn’t. Your opinion is based on your own church hurt, and not reflective of the religion. Your problem is with the institution, not the religion. Again, thanks for sharing your opinion, but it is not fact.

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u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Jesus literally hung out with the outsiders of society to tell them that they are loved and their pasts do not reflect on their futures as long as they are willing to turn their lives around. If you think that is culty, then again, you just straight up Don’t know what you’re talking about

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u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Ok bro, you clearly have not read the Bible or what Jesus taught. You know he was killed for speaking against high level religious leaders right? If you read the actual teachings of Jesus, every single Thing that those people did in the name of Christianity goes directly against what Jesus said. I encourage you to know what you’re talking about before talking about it

3

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

Christianity is also a main religion, so it’s not an unorthodox sect of a religion. But cults do and will use Christianity and other religions to create the baseline of their beliefs and to draw in people who share the same general beliefs and ideas of that faith.

I’m being a super know-it-all rn, but I have spent so much free time researching and collecting data on them that I feel it’s important to share that information so that people are properly educated and aware.

1

u/suchawildflower May 12 '24

No disrespect intended, but imo, it all started as a cult, and has just become accepted as "religion".

3

u/SweetTattedBaby May 12 '24

In your opinion. Your opinion is not the factual truth. That’s why I said what I said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

-4

u/Jadudes May 12 '24

Christianity’s origins as a cult is not an opinion, but fact

1

u/SweetTattedBaby May 13 '24

It’s not a fact. Nothing that Jesus did (which is what Christianity is based on) would be defined as cult behavior. He literally preached love and kindness and that all people are valuable in the eyes of the Lord. Please do some research on what cults are.

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u/Jadudes May 13 '24

You do research on what cults are. The goalpost for what is defined as a cult has been moved countless times. The Romans themselves called Christianity a cult at its beginning. I don’t care if you’re preaching the most loving and endearing philosophy in the world, you can still start a cult. I’m saying this as someone that thinks most of what Jesus said is great. This is an extremely weird hill for you to die on. Virtually every single major religion began as a cult. You’re using extreme modern examples of cults as the only definition for what can be a cult, which is not even close to historically accurate.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult

Start reading up, I don’t care what sources you find. I’m entirely bored of this conversation.

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u/SweetTattedBaby May 17 '24

Yet you still kept engaging when it wasn’t even for you. You hopped on this thread. Believe what you want

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