Free From the House of God and the Parker Community Church

Mark Duke's "BLACK THURSDAY"

2010-05-12T21:59:00.014-05:00

“…two of God’s children had been murdered, had been raped …two people who had such a bright future ...the pureness of innocence …I got that call, we called it at the beach, Black Thursday …I found out that on a piece of land I had is were it was performed …I’m preaching a funeral today, but I wanna tell you, that these two little lives that were taken have an opportunity to be reborn, they have an opportunity to live again, because what was murdered and killed that day was not the breath of their life but the breath of their soul.”

(Mark Duke, House of God cult founder and Freedom Foundation president)

Of all of the recording of Mark Duke’s sermons I have listened to, none was stranger than the message that he preached to the House of God cult on July 10, 2005.

In typical fashion, Duke was using his sermon trying to make comparisons between the American Civil-Rights movement of the 1960’s and his group’s warped “spiritual rights movement.” But there was something frightening about this message, something that made me wonder exactly what I had stumbled upon. This was something that sounded much, much darker than the false doctrine and hate that Duke normally spews from the pulpit of his separatist cult.

In this sermon, Duke is talking about the infamous bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church on the morning of September 15, 1963. It was a disgusting act of racism; a bombing that took the lives of four young African-American girls and injured twenty two others.

Somewhere near the middle of the sermon Duke’s demeanor briefly changes and the tone of his message takes on a somber note as he talks about the murder and rape of two young people on a piece of property he owned – a day that he and others vacationing at the beach called “Black Thursday.” After mentioning it, Duke goes right back into his sermon without missing a beat or offering more explanation of the events of “Black Thursday.” This is beyond creepy.

Who were these two little lives that Duke said “had been murdered, had been raped?”

Note, near the end of the clip Duke says “what was murdered and killed that day was not the breath of their life but the breath of their soul.” I believe that Duke is saying that there was not an actual murder, but rather a spiritual death.

What actually happened on a “piece of property” that Duke owned, and where was that property?

In another one of Duke’s outrageously racist sermons, he said that those in the Church “…shouldn’t have to worry about child molesters” and immediately mentioned Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Perhaps this was prophetic, because I firmly believe that people who are involved in one of Duke’s “churches,” should indeed worry about child molesters and those who rape children.

I believe that the two young lives that Duke speaks of in this sermon were two young African-American girls who were related to Mark Duke’s spiritual mentor, Bob Stewart.

I have heard from a credible source that these two young girls were molested and raped on a piece of property that was used by the Church of Faith Grace and Truth (CFGT)– the cult Bible study of Bob Stewart, Mark Duke and others in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

In fact, Mark and Becky Duke owned the house where the CFGT met, and Bob Stewart lived in his motor-home in the driveway. The house was at 1230 Izod Court in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Other members of the cult lived in the house commune-style.

During this time, two other prominent members of the CFGT, who are now very active members of the House of God (Selma Community Church) and the Freedom Foundation were aware of these criminal acts. Did they report them to the authorities?

Duke uses the mention of this horrible event(s) to tell his cult how he felt about hearing the news – it almost sounds as if he is seeking sympathy, and it certainly shows how he uses other's misfortune to elevate his supposed spiritual stature. He and others on vacation at the beach called it “Black Thursday.” One wonders what these innocent children felt about being sexually abused and taken advantage of by “church” leaders they thought they could trust.

From the beginning the House of God and the Freedom Foundation came to Selma with stated goal of working with Selma youth. Are they safe? Who is watching the youth workers; who really knows what is going on behind closed doors?

We know that there is a blatant disregard for marriage and family within the House of God cult and the Freedom Foundation. They have paid for divorces that have torn children from their parents; husbands from their wives.

And, who are the leaders within the House of God and the Freedom Foundation working with the youth in Selma? The very women Duke has taken into his marriage with his “legal” wife Becky Duke to be his “spiritual partners.”

Mark Duke and his ilk have lied repeatedly (even when the truth would do); most recently to the city of Selma; the mayor, city officials, the fire department, the police department and its citizens over “Project Dance.”

They have used racially charged dialog to tear the city apart in the good name of freedom. Yet are their members really free?

It’s time to send a message to this group that Selma does not need their lies, their false hope, and their way of life.

WAKE UP SELMA!

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Don't Miss WeTV's Secret Lives of Women: Cults

2009-08-27T20:39:00.014-05:00

On September 1, 2009, WeTV premiered an episode on cults of their series The Secret Lives of Women. The episode Chronicled the lives of four women whose live had been impacted by cults and abusive spiritual movements. One of the women included was Patricia Mornin, who has lost a daughter to the House of God and the Freedom Foundation.

Click the play button on the video player to see a short portion of the documentary

Watch Secret Lives of Women online WARNING - SOME OF THE CONTENT OF THIS LINK MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES - RADAR13 Ministries did not create the content at this link.

Click the play button above to hear RADAR13's RAdio AD for the WeTV Special

The Alabama Baptist Prints Investgative Report on The Freedom Foundation, The House of God (a.k.a. Parker Community Church and Selma Community Church)

2009-07-23T14:51:00.026-05:00

UPDATE: YOU CAN NOW READ ALL OF THE STORIES AS THEY APPEARED IN PRINT - CLICK HERE NOW

The Alabama Baptist has done an extensive (and excellent) investigative report on the Freedom Foundation, The House of God (a.k.a. Parker Community Church and Selma Community Church) and cult founder and leader Mark Duke.

The report contains six articles spanning four full-pages in the July 23rd print edition of The Baptist.

Links to the online version of the articles are provided below.

Questions continue about Freedom Foundation, House of God

Area Baptists concerned about House of God teachings

THOG’s practices concern some observers

House of God had Southern beginnings

Freedom Foundation leader comes from Southern Baptist background

Freedom Foundation leader leaves city questioning his motives, calls Baptist doctrine ‘crappy’

With more than 250,000 weekly readers, The Alabama Baptist is the most widely circulated state Baptist newspaper in the world!

As I've said in an earlier post, If you do not receive the print version of the The Alabama Baptist at your home or office - you are missing a great newspaper, and it's not just for Baptists. Each week the print edition carries spiritual news you can use - shedding light on a dark world!

Please click here to visit the Baptist's subscription page and subscribe today!

Wake up world!

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Mark Duke Speaks Beyond the Grave?

2009-07-20T09:46:00.015-05:00

"I know what it’s like church to be perpetrated …just like the devil’s tried to come and get you to give up on each other …god didn’t give up on me and he sent somebody to me that wouldn’t give up on me …and god’s people need someone who won’t give up on them …the only time that I’m gonna give up is when you put that person in the grave …AND THERE’S EVEN SOMETHING IN ME THAT COULD PRAY FOR SOMEBODY IN THE GRAVE, THAT GOD COULD REST THEIR SOUL …GOD FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO – YES LORD!"
(Mark Duke, House of God cult founder and Freedom Foundation president)

WOW, WOW, WOW!

Can you imagine, Mark Duke praying for somebody in the grave and God listening to him? The audio clip that accompanies this post contains more outrageous and vile blasphemy straight from the mouth of Mark Duke!

When Mark Duke says that God didn’t give up on him and that he sent somebody to him that wouldn’t give up on him, he is speaking of the false teachers and prophets Bob and Edna Stewart.

It was Bob Stewart that Mark Duke says mentored him for 13-years and it was “sister” Edna Stewart who prophesied about Mark Duke, saying that God called him His servant and that He had chosen - not just called - but chosen Mark Duke to carry a new gospel to the world.

Of course, Edna Stewart’s prophecy was a false one. Mark Duke denies the deity of Jesus Christ and he carries a gospel different from the true good news of Jesus Christ given in the Bible. According to God’s Word (Galatians 1:7 & 8) Mark Duke has perverted the gospel of Christ and is accursed – hardly a chosen one of God.

Perhaps Mark Duke means he can pray to the false god he serves to rest Bob and Edna Stewart’s souls. It won’t work though; the false god he proclaims is already doomed to suffer the same fate of these false teachers who profaned the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and encouraged Duke and many others to do the same.

Notice at the end of the clip that Mark Duke irreverently uses the words of Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross – God will not be mocked!

For me, Psalm 73 comes to mind, particularly verses 8 and 9 (They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.). And verse 27 (For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.)

If the followers of Mark Duke had any sense they would run from his wickedness and repent, asking the true Jesus Christ to forgive them.

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Are They Really Listening?

2009-07-16T19:04:00.030-05:00

"This is what the Civil Rights Movement was all about... I WAS IN IT, I WALKED IN IT, I WAS THERE IN THE SOUTH, I KNEW THE LEADERS..." (Mark Duke, House of God cult founder and Freedom Foundation president, 2004 Parker, Colorado)

These words from Mark Duke seem pretty impressive, and in the context of the sermon in which he preached them, makes him sound like an authority on what God has for us if we just rise up and take it.

One big problem though. Mark Duke, born in 1957, would have been 6 to 8-years old during the activities of the Civil Rights Movement about which he is speaking.

With regard to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, one would hardly think that someone, who was in mid-adolescence, was "in it" and "knew the leaders" as Duke claims about himself. And for someone [Duke] who speaks with such great disdain about African-Americans from behind pulpit of his separatist and exclusivist cult, to seemingly claim this honor, is reprehensible and offensive.

Later in the same sermon Duke speaks about his going to the marches in Alabama and Mississippi and how it broke his heart because they just didn't know better. He then proceeds to talk about Fannie Lou Hamer (actually he called her Fannie Lou Harris and had to ask Gwen Brown, who was in the audience the correct name). Those schooled in the Civil Rights Movement will recognize Ms. Hamer as a pioneer and leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and particularly her work in organizing Freedom Democrats to challenge the Mississippi delegates at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. One wonders if Ms. Hamer was one of the leaders that Duke claimed “to know.”

The people who this writer has communicated with who knew Mark Duke through his teenage and young adult years don’t recall him being engrossed in the Civil Rights Movement. Mark Duke claims to know the leaders, but what one should ask is: did the leaders know him? Anyone who lived in the South during that time knew who the leaders were. What Duke is implying is that he had a relationship with them. This is doubtful; in fact it wasn’t until his life intersected with Bob and Edna Stewart (false teachers and prophets who influenced Mark Duke and other House of God cult leaders) that he seemed to develop a passion for using the verbiage of the Movement in a bizarre effort to recreate the United States Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's from a spiritual perspective.

Are followers of Mark Duke not paying attention to the lies he tells; still believing him to be a true prophet of God? I think so. Many are not listening with a critical ear because they have been told and trained not to.

One of the distinctive things that Mark Duke and his House of God cult (as well as many false and abusive spiritual movements) preach is that one needs to forget about the natural mind, to “get their mind out of it.” At the beginning of the sermon from which the audio clip that accompanies this post was taken, another one of the cult’s leaders, Jason Makaroff, is essentially telling the cult that they shouldn’t trust their own thoughts and minds. Duke carries the theme throughout the sermon.

God has created us with incredible abilities. The human mind is like nothing else in His creation, and He wants us to use it to think critically. When we give up critical thinking, we open ourselves to deception, and that is exactly what a deceiver wants.

If Mark Duke would fabricate his relationships with the leaders of the of the Civil Rights Movement it seems reasonable for one to assume that he would fabricate many other things to further his control of his followers. And he has!

Wake up and question all things!

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke speak!

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A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...

2009-07-10T22:57:00.019-05:00

If you live in the Selma area, please take a moment to check out the billboard from RADAR13 Ministries' JESUS IS GOD PROJECT™ on Broad Street near the Fire Station. I think it is across from Rose of Sharon Church. Also, check out its twin on J.L. Chestnut Blvd. between Church St. and Tremont. Jesus is GOD!

Let's pray that cult leader Mark Duke and his followers will see it and Jesus will change their hearts!

If you can't see the image above, please click here.

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They's Two (maybe more?) of 'Em!

2009-05-27T23:42:00.011-05:00

Freedom Foundation chairperson, and live-in "spiritual partner" to House of God cult founder and leader Mark Duke; was quoted by the Alabama Baptist newspaper in a recent article as follows:

"Shawn Samuelson, spokeswoman for Freedom Foundation, said Duke was originally a leader in House of God but stepped down when he moved to Selma."

Samuelson's statement that Duke was "originally a leader in the House of God," is a gross understatement if what Mark Duke says is true.

The House of God cult's founding document "The Declaration of a New Covenant" says that Duke "received a vision to restore God's church." It also says that this all happened after Duke met and was mentored by Bob and Edna Stewart, two people the House of God revere as much as the prophets of the Bible. It was Edna Stewart who falsely prophesied that Duke would be the one to restore God's Church. Hardly just a "...leader in the House of God who stepped down when he moved to Selma."

Additionally, in sermons before and after he moved some of his cult followers to Selma, Duke says that they brought the Church to Selma, all the while lying to the people of Selma saying that there was no House of God there.

The article goes on to quote Samuelson saying: "Noting that Duke was out of town until May 15 and could not be reached for comment, Samuelson confirmed she is one of two “spiritual partners” that lives in the house with Duke and his wife. But “we do not have a sexual relationship.”

I don't know why the subject of a sexual relationship came up, but one might assume that the writer(s) asked that question of Samuelson when they discussed Duke having a "spiritual partner," but even I was shocked when I saw Samuelson say that there were two spiritual partners. Perhaps Duke is simply poly-platonic!

Of course all of this leads to even more questions:

1. Why is Duke and his not-so-merry band of followers there in Selma so adamant in trying to distance themselves from the House of God?

2. If Duke took Shawn Samuelson as his spiritual partner when he was a "leader" in the House of God, why did she move to Selma and continue to live with him and his wife Becky, whom God supposedly told him to stay legally married?

3. Why would Duke's "spiritual partner(s)" have to physically live with him?

4. Why would God tell Duke that he should stay "legally" married to his wife Becky in the context of explaining to his followers that he was moving Shawn Samuelson into their family.

5. Are all of Duke's live-in spiritual partners women, or is he bi-platonic too?

WAKE UP SELMA!

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The Alabama Baptist Article Reporting on the April 26th Elkdale Baptist Church Meeting is Available On-Line

2009-05-27T22:51:00.016-05:00

The Alabama Baptist's outstanding article; Faced with ‘cult’ group, Selma churches unite to educate community By Sondra Washington and Jennifer Davis Rash, is available online - you can read it by clicking here. (you can also read the article at www.tinyurl.com/standupforthegospel)

If you do not receive the print version of the Alabama Baptist at your home or office - you are missing a great newspaper, and it's not just for Baptists!

Wake Up Selma!

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How Do You Spell Liar? M-A-R-K-D-U-K-E

2009-05-17T21:08:00.025-05:00

Here is something that is posted on the internet (click here for the source) about identifying some ways to tell if someone is a pathological liar:

They lie about even the smallest things. For example, saying "I brushed my teeth today," when they didn't.

They add exaggerations to every sentence.

They change their story all the time.

They act very defensively when you question their statements.

They believe what they say is true, when everyone else knows it isn't.

Here's an alternate "checklist":

Lies when it is very easy to tell the truth.

Lies to get sympathy, to look beter, to save their butt, etc.

Fools people at first but once they get to know him, no one believes anything they ever say.

May have a personality disorder.

Extremely manipulative.

Has been caught in lies repeatedly.

Never fesses up to the lies.

Is a legend in their own mind.

Does any of this sound familiar? Does the cult leader who is president of the Freedom Foundation come to one's mind?

Last year, when I visited Selma to attend two meetings held by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, I heard Mark Duke make the claim that he never went on the internet. The first time that I heard it, it seemed rather odd; for a corporate executive in our modern day to never have gone on the internet would be highly unusual. The second time I heard Duke say it, I knew his claim was bogus. I had several days before read an electronic message that Duke had sent to a number of his cult followers where he made reference to his surfing the web.

Last week Duke and one of his co-hosts (Ronald Smith) have been on some interesting rants on their RealTalk™ radio program (a lot of [false] doctrine is being pushed through the airwaves by these two, even though the Freedom Foundation doesn't have any doctrinal positions!), and Mark Duke again made this interesting prevarication:

"I never go on the Internet, never have" (you can listen for yourself below)

Really? What about these words straight from Duke's fingers:

"As I read thru the info of Morris Curello. The ministry Paul S. is going after my heart sunk. The millions of dollars, the scams and the prey fo [sic] the simple minded and the poor and elderly. It made me sick. It felt so dark and I continued to read web-site after web-site of horro [sic] stories of this minsitry. There were 3,000 storeis [sic] on the internet involving him. 95 percent negative. The lawsuits and the houses and planes, etc....in this I could feel the dark froces [sic] and powers. In fact both Gwen and I had to put the info down as it was really oppressive just to read." (excerpted from a 2004 electronic mail message sent by House of God cult founder and leader Mark Duke to his followers)

Will the real Mark Duke please stand up!

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke Speak It!
(c) copyright 2009 RealTalk™ and The Freedom Foundation. Used without permission.

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Mark Duke Says Jesus Day should be called Devil Day!

2009-05-01T11:59:00.026-05:00

“…Were' having Jesus day, should call it like Devil day is what they should call it. National Prayer Day, what’s getting done? …and they’re praying all over the country with no faith … Gods not moving, God is not moving, not through those prayers, so why we gonna do that. We not gonna pay homage…”
Mark Duke, President of the Freedom Foundation, April 2007

One wonders whether Mark Duke and his new Church (Selma Community Church) will participate in the Jesus Day festivities on Sunday May 3rd, when many people in Selma gather to honor the Savior. If they do, it would be the height of hypocrisy since he wants to call it Devil Day.

One should also wonder if he will participate in the National Day of Prayer (Thursday May 7th) activities, particularly the prayer times at Selma City Hall.

If anyone sees Duke or his not so merry band of followers at either one of these events, they should remind him or them of his words.

The final part of the audio clip that accompanies this post is very interesting – you will hear Duke again refer to running for mayor of Selma, but listen closely to this short clip. If Selma wants change, they better elect one (Mark Duke): “…you elect this black guy, you’ll get the same thing …this redneck he’s running, the blacks ain’t gonna vote for him anyway. IF HE DON’T WANT A BLACK IN THERE, HE BEST VOTE FOR ME AND JOIN UP!

When I started writing this post, I was going to start it by saying “here is more outrageous statements by Mark Duke,” but the reality is, this type of hate-filled, anti-Christian and racist bile is not outrageous for Duke, it’s typical (and so is the laughter of his followers)!

WAKE UP SELMA!

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke Speak It!

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Mark Duke the Separatist Oppressor for Mayor?

2009-03-16T09:07:00.034-05:00

No Eternal life for Mark Duke?

“You know what I’m gonna do next year. I’m gonna run for mayor. Yeah, that's what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna run God's campaign. How are we going to get this town, unless I have the authority to get people, they don't want to come together. But with authority, they have to come together and they need someone to bring them together… I’m not running to win, I’m running because He told me to run… If I don’t do what God tells me to do, I’m not gonna have eternal life.”
Mark Duke, President of the Freedom Foundation, April 2007

Did Mark Duke run for Selma’s Mayor in 2008 election? No!

Who told a lie here, Mark Duke or God?

Some in Selma, especially some of Selma's pastors will recognize right away that Mark Duke is lying - he told them that he had no intention of ever running for mayor. There will be the others in town who will recognize right away that he lied, because he told them that God told him to run and he didn't.

So, to answer the question: it was Mark Duke that lied. Mark Duke lies all the time. God never lies.

That Mark Duke has constantly lied about what God says is abundantly clear. But what you will hear from the audio clip is Duke's reason for wanting to run for mayor - CONTROL - "How else can we get this town... Unless I have the authority... They don't want to come together... But with authority they have to come together."

Be certain that you understand what Duke means by "they don't want to come together;" he isn't talking about racial reconciliation, he is talking about his Spiritual Rights Movement. He is talking about using authority to bring them [the people of Selma] together under one religious view - his!

In the audio clip that accompanies this post you will hear a lot of outrageous stuff, and if you listen closely, you can discern a lot about Mark Duke’s cultic teachings as well.

You will hear him say that Jesus Christ had eternal life because he did God's will.

WRONG! Jesus is eternal; He is God.

Mark Duke believes and teaches that Jesus is not God.

You will hear Duke talk about one of his members, someone named Jill, who was apparently worried about coming to Selma - Duke tells her that it's not her place to worry about it - to get her mind out of it. This is a main teaching of Duke and the House of God cult - don't use your natural mind, listen to what God is telling you through the "ministry," the House of God's cult leadership.

You will hear Mark Duke's preaching and teaching method on full display - have your Bible and Synonym Finder handy.

When Duke teaches there is always a synonym finder handy to expand on God's word. You'll hear him talk about the word temporal (from 2 Corinthians 4:18), and its synonyms, you will even hear him change the word to temporize and get the synonyms for it too. Literally, within mere seconds, Mark Duke has taken what God really says to us in his Holy Word and turns to other words that have no clear connection with the original meaning or intent or language. This allows Duke to twist God's Word to suit his own devious thoughts and desires.

You will hear Duke talk about Selma's corruption, and how Selma needs someone without an ego; him!

Okay, stop laughing and keep reading:

Duke says what his campaign might be, "You don't even have to pay the mayor... you think that'll get some people's attention... It will get the black folks attention, I know that." (his audience laughs)

I wonder why a mayor not taking a salary would get the attention of the "black folks." What about the white folks, or the Hispanic folks, or the Asian folks, what about all the folks. This is just another example of Mark Duke separating out African-Americans. His sermons are laced with this kind of racist speech.

You will hear Mark Duke say Selma is like the movie gladiator, and call all of the candidates for mayor (James Perkins, Jr., George Evans, Louis Dixon, and John Jowers) "yahoos" and say that "none of them, NONE OF THEM are spirit filled."

I'm sure you will pick out a few other things too.

In closing, let me talk briefly about Religious Oppression:

Mark Duke and his followers speak a lot, particularly on their Selma radio talk show Real Talk™, about Religious Oppression. However, no Christian Church in the Selma area has ever turned Duke or his followers away. And I have never heard any Christian in Selma say that they shouldn't be allowed to worship in any Church. I have said that Church leaders in Selma should not let them be in positions of leadership where they can teach their twisted and aberrant doctrines.

But, Mark Duke and his ilk, particularly his radio partner Ronald Smith, seem to want to take religious oppression to new extremes. In the week leading up to Jubilee and the reenactment of Bloody Sunday, Mark Duke threatened a well-respected local pastor with marches by a group calling themselves the Concerned Citizens of Selma. Ronald Smith (along with several others, including a worker from the Dallas County Court) visited the same pastor urging him to change his mind about me speaking at his Church that coming Sunday evening. Duke and Smith and the Dallas County Court worker also visited a business that same week threatening some of its employees who don't agree with Duke and the Freedom Foundation. On their radio show the next day they made threats of boycotts and going door to door - very scary stuff.

What Mark Duke and Ronald Smith were trying to accomplish was stopping me from worshipping in Selma on Bloody Sunday - RELIGIOUS OPPRESSION PLAIN AND SIMPLE!

All of Mark Duke's and Ronald Smith's talk of unity in Selma is bunk. Mark Duke is a religious separatist that wants everyone to follow his way or else, and both he and Ronald Smith are religious oppressors of the highest order.

Very soon, Selma will hear these two oppressors talk about racial matters, trying to take the light off of themselves - don't fall for it for a minute. They practiced their religious oppression for one reason and one reason alone - they don't want anyone who disagrees with them to have a public voice.

Here are a few synonyms for oppression - they fit the Freedom Foundation and the House of God cult and maybe even the new Selma Community Church to a tee:

abuse, abusiveness, Affliction, autocracy, brutality, calamity, coercion, compulsion, conquering, control, cruelty, despotism, dictatorship, domination, dullness, extortion, fascism, force, forcibleness, hardness, hardship, harshness, injury, injustice, iron-fist, lassitude, maltreatment, martial law, misery, opposition, overthrowing, persecution, severity, subduing, subjection, suffering, torment, tyranny...

Wake up Selma!

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke Speak It!

Want to listen with your own player or download the clip? CLICK HERE !

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"There's a new day coming to Selma"

2009-03-05T16:50:00.015-06:00

"There's a new day coming to Selma, let me tell you something, if it takes our blood on that bridge again, then they'll get our blood, but we ain't gonna stop - God is with us, he has annointed us, he has called us..."
Mark Duke, President of the Freedom Foundation

Just in time for Jubilee!

Will Selma see a reenactment of historic Bloody Sunday this week, or is the real thing possible?

When I first heard these words from one the House of God's sermons from 2006, I thought they were just outlandish religious rhetoric, but with the actions of cult leader Mark Duke and his followers taking place in Selma this week, One wonders if they might not come to pass at some point.

By the sounds of his RealTalk radio show today, Duke is already encouraging and starting boycotts. And, with real threats of retaliation against those who disagree with him, one might wonder when we will see him attempting to take the streets.

Be aware Selma, be very aware...

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke talk about "blood on the Bridge again"

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"We are not praying to the same God"

2009-03-04T09:19:00.022-06:00

“Please DO NOT pray for us… we are not praying to the same God.”

Finally – words from a House of God cult leader that are ON!

Here is some more:

“I am glad to hear that you won’t be coming back. We aren’t looking for people who are goats and are stiff-necked against God’s plain truth and scripture. We are looking for his sheep… his sheep will know his voice. We are actually asking you not to come back”

These are some really harsh words from a leader of the House of God cult to a young woman who attended some of their meetings with her husband back in 2004.

Who was this House of God leader? Someone that was so important that she would later become the cult leader’s (Mark Duke) “spiritual partner.” Someone so important to the House of God’s main cause (The Spiritual Rights Movement), that she is now the leader of the Freedom Foundation – the chairperson of its board of trustees.

The leader is of course Shawn Samuelson. Back when these vile words were written, she was known as Shawn Durham – she had not yet divorced her husband to become Mark Duke’s spiritual partner and live-in family member with him and his wife with whom he would stay “legally married.”

In any case, what is quoted above is from an email that Shawn Samuelson wrote to a young lady by the name of Renee Windows. Based on the choice and tone of Shawn Samuelson’s vicious and hate-filled words, and telling her that “We are asking you not to come back;” Renee must have done something horrible, something so disturbing so disgusting that they didn’t even want her to come to their church…

What did Renee do that was so bad that this cult leader called her a goat and screamed in type DO NOT pray for us?

Renee questioned the cult’s doctrines and was worried about her husband’s involvement. But, she was to do far worse - she asked her former youth pastor to visit one of the House of God’s cult meetings!

I spoke with Renee Windows, and one of the first things that I asked her was her Christian testimony. She was very honest in her estimation of herself, and she said that she knew she would get to heaven and live eternally with God; not because of anything that she did, but because she had accepted Jesus Christ’s free gift of salvation and was washed by His blood, and she affirmed that Jesus was God. That makes her a Christian and my sister in Christ.

Renee went on to tell me her story regarding the House of God, and spoke very candidly about her marriage to her husband. Like most young couples they struggled, perhaps even more than most (there were even some minor physical altercations) back when she had come face-to-face with this cult. But they hung on and they love each other and are committed to each other. That their marriage survived an onslaught of advice from the cult’s spiritual partners and other leaders for her husband to leave their marriage because she questioned them is great news. Sadly, Satan's work in and through the House of God was effective on other marriages that didn’t fare so well.

Renee’s story would be tedious to write out here, so instead, the text from email exchanges between the cult’s spiritual partners (and another cult member as well) and the Windows can be read by clicking the link below.

While reading email exchanges can be confusing, this is vital information. It allows the words of cult leaders Mark Duke and Shawn Samuelson to speak for them. Read closely and the House of God’s false gospel will be very evident.

There is no better way to shine light on a cult than to see their words and actions in context. You can see for yourself what they say - don't just take my word for it.

The proof is in the pudding...

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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What God Hath Joined Together, Let Not Man Put Asunder (part 2)

2009-02-26T00:37:00.020-06:00

Part 2 of a series.

Have you been guilty of thinking people know more than God?

That’s a question asked by Kay Daigle in one of the lessons from her study, God’s Design for Building Your Marriage, at Bible.org

With regard to marriage and family her question is very relevant to today’s culture. We see the world falling away from a normative biblical family to all sorts of variations; homosexual marriage, polygamy, intentional single parent homes, divorcee single parent homes, multiple partner/parent homes, village mentalities, Marxist deconstruction, etc. And we see some in the Church accepting, and even encouraging these departures as normal. It’s clear that these alternative family structures are wrong from God’s perspective, but we’ve allowed media, government, our friends, and even some Church leaders to tell us otherwise and we have been slowly, but surely, accepting them as normal. Many Christians have been lulled into a view that tolerance of others is better and more desirable than obedience to God. In essence, the answer to Ms. Daigle’s question is in large measure, yes.

With regard to the issue of marriage within the House of God cult, it is clear that at least some of its followers have been guilty of thinking that its leader, Mark Duke, not only speaks for God, but that he knows more than God.

In a previous post I’ve shown from Mark Duke’s own words that he twists Scriptures, in fact the very words of God himself are profaned when what Jesus clearly says about divorce is changed to suit Duke’s twisted view of religious separatism.

Shown below (red text) is a copy of an electronic mail message that Mark Duke, Becky Duke and Shawn Samuelson (then Shawn Durham) sent to some of the followers of the House of God in 2005. Some of the people that Duke, Duke and Samuelson sent this message to represent a veritable who’s who of the House of God and the Freedom Foundation.

-----Original Message-----

From: Mark [mailto:marksduke@REDACTED FOR PRIVACY]

Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 10:15 PM

To: AJ Page; Becca Armstrong; Becky Duke; Carla; Dan Vaughn; Fontella Pappas; Ginger Skelton; Gwen Blackberry; Jason Armstrong; Jason Makaroff; Laura Alyce; Laura Jane; Matt S.; Paige; Shawn; Tressa; Wally; Tommy

Subject: Peace and Unity!!!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,For those of you that were here last night and prayed we wanted you to know God has moved in a great way.

God has dealt with Becky, Shawn and myself in the same way and we justed finished our "official" family meeting and we are eager to tell you how God has spoken and brought us great peace and unity.

He has spoken to us about his will and his will for the cause and the people. We are all three very excited and unified in this.

This comes after much trying of our faith and brokeness since the first of the year. Right now God is saying for Becky and I to stay legally married and to make even greater committments to the cause.

One of those committments is that as we've done so for the last 5 months Shawn will continue to partner with me as a spiritual partner in the cause...doing clinics, running the operations, ministering to the people, ministering to me and even her and Becky partnering with the kids at times and other areas Shawn can help support. Part of thos partnership includes me mentoring Shawn in her calling as one of the leaders in the spiritual rights movement. All 3 of us can see that this is a God-given partnership and it is unique in the sense that God has given Shawn an ability to minister to me in a depth that I haven't had before. Ineed this support as God takes us to the next level.

We all three have talked about becoming more of a family unit which includes God healing some hurt of 16 years between Becky and I. Also, Becky and Shawn coming closer together in how to partner in charity and sacrifice. All of our decussion tonight centered around God and the cause.

We are happy to announce that Shawn is officially moving in with us. She will be living with us full-time and becoming a part of our family. To say the least the 3 kids Duke kids were extremely excited as we sat down and shared with them what God had said.

We are now praying about either Shawn or myself quiting our jobs in December of this year. If I quit Shawn will support the house hold and I will go full-time in the ministry. If Shawn quits I'll provide as Shawn runs the spiritual rights operations.

Tonight Shawn and I are working on training schedules for leadership to include training on Saturdays around clinic appointments. There will be other things we'll get out to you asap.
I can't tell you the incredible peace we have here. There aint no stoppin' us now...we're on the move!!

Being certain of God's voice. The increasing of our faith.... A unity that passeth all understanding and a committment of love and charity toward one another and God's cause and people.

This is a major victory and God has answered our prayers. as God continues to lead and speak to us and/or if anything ever changes down the road we'll let you all be the first to know, but as it stands this is the official word and statement and the settling of God's direction and the preventing of the devil who has been trying to strike, hinder and divide us and God's will.

If anyone asks or questions you on anything related to these issues please feel free to direct them to me or Shawn or you may feel free share with them anything pretaining to this email as appropriate.

Please know we are committed to doing God's will no matter what it looks like.
All three of us tonight were and are ready to make any sacrifice God asks us to make. but it was God that spoke tonight and gave us this clear direction.

Again, let me state that it is time to end the devils distractions, to move forward as a family and as a church.

God bless us all in this great cause. I want to remind you that God said this is the year of jubilee and he is doing just that. It is an honor to walk with each of you toward something we've never seen or had before.

Your brother and sisters,Mark, Becky and Shawn

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Now that you have read the words of Duke, Duke and Samuelson, take a minute to think about what you believe about the institution of marriage. If you are a Christian, take a moment to think about what God says about marriage. Have you been guilty of thinking that people know more than God?

Here's what I think: After studying God’s word on this issue this week, I pray that God would strengthen the Church to be obedient and stand for His eternal truth. As for Duke, Duke and Samuelson; their words are absolute and utter blasphemy!

In this relatively short electronic message, God is mentioned 22 times, but there is not one - not even one – thing stated that matches what God says about marriage.

Duke, Duke and Samuelson say that God spoke to them and told Mark and Becky Duke to stay “legally” married.

WRONG! God commands that a man leave his father and mother and cleave, - to literally be cemented to his wife. Genesis 2:24-25 (KJV) reads as follows: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Obviously, the one true God was not the one speaking to them. If there was any supernatural voice, it wasn’t God’s.

Notice that verse 24 begins with the word therefore - this word is a great prompter to deeper study - go back to the previous verses and see what it is there for...

In the previous verses of Genesis chapter 2, we see God’s creation of man and woman. God literally made woman from the flesh and bone of man. We are designed by God to be together as one. God himself said it best in Matthew 19:4-5.

Duke, Duke and Samuelson then go on to say that Shawn [Samuelson] is Mark Duke's "spiritual partner"

WRONG! If Mark Duke is married to Becky Duke, she is supposed to be his spiritual partner, which is part of what Christian marriage is; a physical AND spiritual bonding. Again, cleaving – cemented forever.

While the message mentions Shawn’s moving in with Duke as his spiritual partner, it doesn’t mention that shortly before this took place, she was a married woman. Mark Duke counseled her young husband to divorce her, and he did. That Duke took advantage of him to take this man’s wife for his own seems, in my opinion, extremely clear.

I like how Kay Daigle uses the illustration of her husband using crazy glue - something permanent - to explain what cleaving is. A comparative illustration of Mark Duke with his wife and Shawn Samuelson with her husband is a bond with soluble glue, something that could be dissolved on a whim.

In any case, none of this is truly of God and for these people to claim that it is, is outrageous. If you believe their words, all of their discussions that night “centered around [sic] God and the cause.” In my view, what really happened was a discussion of how to circumvent God’s clear commands.

One other thing that struck me is the contrast between the end of Genesis 2:25 (And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.) and their statement that “we are committed to doing God’s will no matter what it looks like.” In my view, that they understood their sin and sought to explain it away couldn’t be any clearer. Romans 1:20-24 seems appropriate:

The “cause” mentioned by these leaders of the House of God and the Freedom Foundation (Mark Duke is the founder and president, Becky Duke is a trustee and Shawn Samuelson is chairperson) is of course, the spiritual rights movement. According to the preaching and teaching of Mark Duke, the advance of the spiritual rights movement is the reason that the group moved to Selma. It's the cause for which Duke claims that they are "willing to spill blood on the bridge again."

In my opinion, that any Christian Church would allow these people to teach from their pulpit, or be in any position that would allow them to lead people away from the truth is very troubling.

Wake up Selma!

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What God Hath Joined Together, Let Not Man Put Asunder (part 1)

2009-02-20T00:32:00.019-06:00

Part 1 of a series.

One of the most insidious things about Mark Duke and the House of God is their teachings on the issues of marriage and divorce.

When I set out to address Duke’s error-filled preaching and teaching on these subjects several weeks ago, I thought it would be relatively easy; simply because his teachings are so clearly wrong.

But, when I re-listened to portions of Mark Duke’s sermons and re-read some of the information that has been given to me by people caught up in his web of deceitful dealings on these issues, I quickly realized that this is a huge task, especially when the goal is to help Duke’s followers see just how spiritually deceitful he has been to them.

Thankfully, God’s Word speaks to us clearly about what Christians face when dealing with false teachers and prophets like Mark Duke:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

Scripture also tells us how we are to deal with these evil and demonic forces (click here to read Ephesians 6:13-20).

Before reading any further, please join me in prayer for Mark Duke and the House of God; that through the Holy Spirit they would come to understand the errors of their teaching and come to repentance; not bowing before any man, but before a just and Holy God, asking Jesus for forgiveness for the hurt and destruction they have caused to families who have trusted them. Let’s also pray that they don’t cause any more hurt and destruction.

“And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time” Ephesians 6:19a (The Message)

The audio clip included with this post starts with Mark Duke talking about what Jesus said was acceptable in divorce in a Jewish society. As usual, Duke quickly turns from what Scripture clearly and plainly says and twists it to suit his own views and purposes.

I have provided below the text of Matthew 19:3-9, which is part of the Scripture Duke twists in the audio. As an aside, the Gospel of Mark (10:2-12) also speaks of Jesus’ teachings on marriage and divorce, but Matthew 19:3 includes the words “for every cause,” which is vital in understanding Duke’s bad teaching.

Matthew 19:3-9 (KJV)
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (bold text added for emphasis)

As Duke correctly notes in his sermon, Jesus here is talking about divorce in the Jewish society, so let’s take a quick and factual look at the view of divorce from the Jewish Society of Jesus’ day to see just how far Duke deviates from the Truth:

In verse 3, we see the Pharisees attempting to push Jesus into a controversy with some of the rabbinic schools, asking the loaded question: “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” This may seem minor, but on the issue of divorce it was vital. Almost all of Jewish thought on the matter of divorce at the time revolved on two basic views [schools of thought]: that of the Jewish Scholar Shammai, and Jewish religious leader Hillel the Elder.

In a religiously legal sense, divorce was a privilege only for Israel, not the gentile world, and the legal grounds for divorce was an important and hotly contested issue between the two schools. The school of Shammai’s teachings departed from the literal meaning of Deuteronomy 24:1, which gave an acceptable reason for a man to divorce a woman, namely; uncleanness (nakedness), to say that only sexual sin (adultery) was grounds for divorce. In fact, this school taught that even with a wife as ruinous as Ahab’s (Jezebel), a divorce would not be legal if adultery was not involved. It is important to know that this school didn’t see this principle as set in stone, but rather as opinion and good counsel.

Hillel’s School on the other hand was very strict and dogmatic in its approach, teaching that a woman must be divorced for any matter of shame. Moral blame made divorce a duty.

Additionally, the setting is important to the context; this all took place in Judea, which was under the rule of Herod, who previously had John the Baptist arrested for proclaiming that Herod’s sexual dalliances with his brother’s wife was unlawful. That the Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to run counter to the ruling legal authority as well as the religious is obvious.

Now that we have an understanding of the context and setting of “Jewish society,” let’s take a look at what Jesus has to say in response to the Pharisees tempting.

First and foremost, Jesus completely avoided the Pharisee’s tempting words “for every cause,” and went directly to the original and highest of all authorities - His creation of man and woman, and the institution of marriage as a Holy bond that joins a man and a woman into one flesh.

When asked why Moses permitted a man to give a divorce decree, Jesus pointed out the human condition – the hardening of our hearts to God’s unchanging Truth. Moses permitted divorce in response to Israel’s spiritual condition. Jesus says that there is only one scripturally acceptable reason for divorce – fornication, sexual immorality - adultery. He doesn’t make it a requirement, as does the School of Hillel; and He doesn’t offer it simply as an option as does the School of Shammai.

In Verse 9, Jesus says whoever divorces for a reason other than fornication [adultery] and remarries commits adultery; because in God’s eyes, the marriage is still in full effect. In marriage we are separated from what was our closest possible link to another human being (our mothers and fathers), and joined to be even closer (as one flesh) with our wives or husbands.

Accordingly, anyone who divorces for any reason other than adultery, is biblically wrong – that’s what Jesus said.

Mark Duke doesn’t accept what Jesus says though, and quickly twists His words by adding things other than adultery as excuses for divorce.

According to Mark Duke, “God said to Israel, ‘I’m gonna give you a divorce decree’ unfaithfulness is not just about physical sexuality. Unfaithfulness and adultery in a marriage is turning from God’s will and His Word – THAT MY FRIENDS, GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO NULLIFY THAT MARRIAGE!”

WRONG! The words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 19 are extremely clear, and Mark Duke is lying to his followers.

To be fair, the Greek word; porneia (por-ni'-ah), from which fornication (KJV) (immorality, (NASB), sexual unfaithfulness (NIV), sexual immorality (ESV), whoredom (YLT), sexual relations (NCV) is translated has the possibility of being translated in an obscure metaphysical sense as worship of idols, or idolatry for eating the food sacrificed to idols. But NOT in the context of Matthew chapter 19. Here it means only sexual immorality such as illicit sexual intercourse, fornication, homosexuality, and lesbianism, intercourse with animals, sexual intercourse with close relatives; or sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman. - ADULTERY.

Duke continues on in his sermon to claim that “There is so much Scripture here that has to be given and received deeper, there are so many things that go beyond the letter. God’s people are so mixed up …How can we figure out what God is saying? …The only way we are gonna know, is for God to speak directly, from Him, not from mans mind and thoughts …God can speak to man directly, and you can measure that by the fruits.”

What Duke should really be saying here is that people in the House of God are so mixed up. Duke's followers are allowing him to speak in place of God rather than allowing God’s Word speak to them and as a result they have been led far, far astray...

Duke is correct that God can speak to man directly and you can measure that by Christian fruit. Of course, we must test what we believe God is telling us. If what we believe God is telling us does not match with His Word (the Bible) we must reject it as not being from God.

In my opinion, the god that is speaking directly to Duke about marriage and divorce is not the true Holy God, but rather another god, a false god - and you can measure the fruit: a multitude of divorces and destroyed families in the House of God because of the lies of false teachers. This is putrid, morally rotten fruit.

In my opinion there are many reasons why Mark Duke twists Scripture to teach his followers to divorce spouses who don’t agree with his gospel, but first and foremost is control. He claims that the House of God has a 100% success rate with marriages he has performed, but his teaching on divorce has resulted in a large number of divorces amongst his followers, particularly women whose husbands questioned Duke’s authority. Of course he claims that those marriages came to the House of God with deep troubles.

There are very serious questions to ask of themselves for the women who have participated in these divorces. My prayer is that they will listen to the evidence presented with a mind desiring to please God…

No matter how Duke fusses or whines, God’s word is clear. Any man (or woman) who divorces except for the cause of sexual sin – adultery - did not really divorce at all in the eyes of the only one who really matters – A GOD WHO LOVES MARRIAGE AND HATES THE SIN OF DIVORCE.

At the very end of the audio clip, Mark Duke asks the question “are you suffering.” If you are suffering, ask God to release you from your commitments that bind you to Mark Duke and the House of God, He will be faithful to deliver you from his hand.

To the Christian Pastors, leaders and lay people of Selma, Alabama and Parker, Colorado I ask: how long will you suffer Mark’ Duke’s profane abuse of God’s design for human creation and the sacred institution of marriage before you stand for truth?

Lord Jesus I beg you use me for just that………

Click the play button above to hear Mark Duke contradict God's Word on Marriage and Divorce

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According to Mark Duke, If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Laura Vaughn - You're OFF!!

2009-02-03T14:38:00.027-06:00

The first audio clip in this post contains the voice of House of God member Laura Vaughn paying homage to her spiritual leader, Mark Duke. Mrs. Vaughn has been the children’s minister for the House of God and she is the wife of current House of God pastor, Dan Vaughn.

In the clip Mrs. Vaughn compares Mark Duke to the Apostle Paul and Stephen, Christianity’s first true martyr. She also states that Mark [Duke] “personifies that prophet deliverer that represents the Lord.”

The second audio clip included with this post contains the voice of Mark Duke preaching to the House of God. This preaching happens in the same service, just prior to Laura Vaughn’s comparison of Duke to Stephen.

In his preaching Mark Duke claims “that this is about your soul, because without this you will not last, you will not live forever. You have to be willing to lay it all down, the things that you’re attached to; you have to be willing to move on. The “this” that Duke is talking about is his teachings, the gospel of the House of God. Some of the “things” that his followers might be attached to include husbands, family and friends who don’t agree with Duke’s gospel.

Duke quotes parts of 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, verses 1 through 11 from the King James Bible (KJV), but when he gets to verse 11, he twists it to be about him. Here is what verse 11 says: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Here is what Duke says: “…I thought as a child, but when that love came, I became a man… and I died, for my lord.” Duke then follows his Scripture twisting with a very strange prayer where he talks about Jesus being tempted by the Devil and being ministered to by angels, and him [Mark Duke] stating that he died on the floor of the school where the House of God was having its service that very morning and that two angels who had ministered to him. He also prays that God would live forever with no turning back.

Please listen to both of the audio clips and examine closely what is being said.

Here is my view:

First: Mrs. Vaughn, [speaking of Mark Duke] says that she thought about Stephen, “about how the Lord brought him so far …how he was able to speak for the Lord even in the midst of great persecution …and even at his death he was able to do that”

WRONG. The mention of Stephen in the Bible starts in the book of Acts, chapter 6. What we know is that Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Mrs. Vaughn has it partially correct when she speaks of Stephen, he indeed did speak for the Lord under great persecution. Chapter 7 of Acts tells of Stephen speaking for God in his passionate sermon to the Jews. But at his death, Stephen did not speak for God, he spoke to God.

Acts 7:59-60 (KJV)
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (emphasis added)

The words “calling upon” in verse 59 come from the Greek word, epikaleō, which is better translated in this context as “prayed” (as it is in some modern translations, such as the NIV). Stephen is literally “calling upon” Jesus Christ in prayer. Stephen would not have called upon a mere man as he was being stoned to death, and as a religious Jew Stephen would not have prayed to anyone other than the one true God. Notice also that Stephen is asking the Lord Jesus to not hold the sin of those stoning him against them. Jesus Christ has the sole responsibility to judge our sin.

I point these things out for two main reasons; one, in Mark Duke's false religion, Jesus is not God, He is only a man. Two, the House of God exclusively uses the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. The KJV is a favorite Bible translation of many people, but it is generally not the best translation. Some of the modern translations are much more accurate than the KJV. The link to Biblegateway.com that is provided below provides many different translations (including the KJV); and is a great tool for studying and understanding Scripture.

Mark Duke certainly appears to be a man filled with faith, but one must ask; what faith? Stephen was a Christian, a believer in and follower of the Carpenter - Jesus of Nazareth. He was a man who worshipped Jesus as God. Mark Duke is not someone who worships Jesus Christ as God, and as a result he is not a Christian in the sense of the historic and orthodox Christian faith. Comparing Mark Duke to Stephen as a man of faith is wrong.

In more than one verse we see Stephen spoken of as a man who was filled with the Holy Ghost or Spirit. It has been long held by the Christian Church that only Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and have the spiritual gifts of God, and it is Jesus Christ who sends the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Comparing Mark Duke to Stephen as a man filled with the Holy Spirit is wrong.

Second: Laura Vaughn compares Mark Duke with the Apostle Paul.

WRONG. That the Apostle Paul believed, followed and paid the ultimate price as a martyr for Jesus Christ is undeniable. There are many who deny Jesus Christ as Mark Duke does, but it would be impossible for them to use the Apostle Paul’s words correctly and in context to do it. Suffice it to say, Mark Duke is not anything like the Apostle Paul.

Paul spoke boldly for the true Jesus Christ of Scripture and carried the true gospel to the world. Mark Duke denies Jesus is God and spreads a false gospel. To paraphrase Paul’s words in Galatians 1:7; Mark Duke’s gospel isn’t good news at all – it is perverted spirituality. In a word, comparing Mark Duke to the Apostle Paul is, wrong.

Of course Paul was the greatest missionary of all times, and his behavior prior to his conversion, particularly his persecution of the first Christians is often used by cults to label those who speak against them. Mark Duke and his sycophants are very typical in that regard.

Both Mark Duke and his lawyer, Julian McPhillips, have publicly labeled me that way. Mark Duke has said it on his RealTalk radio programs, even reading from one of Julian McPhillips bizarre letters that implores me to “not let yourself become a pharasitical [sic.] persecutor of the freedom Foundation the way Saul of Tarsus was of the early Christians, before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, whereupon his name later changed to Paul.” This is typical cult rhetoric.

I’m not telling readers what I think Mark Duke believes about Jesus Christ and the gospel, I’m telling them what Mark Duke says that he believes about Jesus Christ and the gospel. There is a huge difference between the two, and any reasonable person can see through this cult's labeling of detractors and dissenters.

Third: Laura Vaughn says that “Mark [Duke] personifies that prophet deliverer that’s also been sent that represents the Lord. He’s just brought those words of truth that are bringing us out of a place of misery…”

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Mark Duke denies that the Lord Jesus Christ is God. As a result he cannot represent the Lord. From a spiritual perspective, Mark Duke cannot bring words of truth. As someone who has listened to many hours of Mark Duke’s preaching, I can hardly describe how “off” Laura Vaughn is with her comments calling Mark Duke a “prophet deliverer;” and it shows how deep and dangerous his spiritual deception is. Guess who some of the heroes of the Bible Mark Duke preaches as prophet deliverers: Moses, Joseph, Jeremiah, Jesus. That’s right; Jesus. In the eyes of the House of God, Laura Vaughn describes Mark Duke just as they would Jesus! No small wonder that Mark Duke tells his followers that he’s "been like a god to them." (click here to listen to Mark Duke's blasphemous claim)

Please don’t simply accept what I say as truth; listen to the audio clips and open your Bible to compare what is being taught by Mark Duke and the House of God with what God says in Scripture.

If you don’t have a Bible handy, you can read one online at Bible Gateway™ by Clicking Here.

If you are a follower of or a sympathizer with Mark Duke and the House of God, I encourage you to follow the example of Stephen, call upon Jesus today. He is the only one who can truly offer you redemption and the forgiveness of sin.

He who has ears…..

Clip #1 Laura Vaughn - Click the Play Button above to hear it.

Clip #2 Mark Duke - Click the Play Button above to hear it.

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Nothing Need Go To Waste

2009-02-01T18:31:00.011-06:00

Following is a reprint of an article by Patrick (Pat) Knapp, that ran in the 1998 Cultic Studies Journal published by the International Cultic Studies Association (known then as the American Family Foundation).

As you can see from the article, Pat Knapp was involved with and eventually left a Bible-based cult.

Pat has been helpful to at least one person who has left the House of God. As such, he has an understanding of the dynamics of Mark Duke's and the House of God's deceptive spiritual practices. He is a good resource for those who are contemplating leaving the House of God or the Freedom Foundation. He would also be a good resource for those who have already left but are still looking for someone to speak with who understands their situation and needs.

Pat can be contacted by email at the address show at the end of his article.

A printable PDF of the following article is available by clicking here.

A special thank you to Pat Knapp for allowing me to post this information here:

This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1998, Volume 15, Number 2, pages 120-129. Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write.
The following article is a modified transcription of one of several testimonials presented at a cult recovery conference at Denver Seminary in the summer of 1995.

Nothing Need Go to Waste
Patrick J. Knapp
Denver, Colorado

I would like to thank AFF (American Family Foundation) and Denver Seminary for asking me to share with you what I’ve been through, including some of the more significant factors that have contributed to my healing from a very cultic group. My hope is that at least some of what I share will be encouraging and helpful to many of you.

Looking back, I realize the roots of my cultic experience can be found within the family in which I was raised. I didn’t enter into and remain in an abusive religious system for 13 years out of some sort of existential vacuum. Patterns of sinful beliefs and behaviors within my family contributed significantly to my eventual involvement in a *Bible-based cult.

Despite the overuse and frequent abuse of the term dysfunctional, I can now see that much of my understanding of recovery lies within the context of this term, as long as it is properly defined. For clarity, I define a dysfunctional family as one that exhibits significant, highly consistent patterns of sinful beliefs and corresponding behaviors that interfere with healthy, biblical, interpersonal relationships and with one’s relationship to the discovery of Truth.
As a child, I was very comfortable in my highly dysfunctional family of origin. My dad was an alcoholic; my mother was a classic enabler; my younger brother was the family scapegoat. During the turbulent 1960s, my brother went off into alcohol and drugs. I was the family hero-very popular, a high school tennis star, and the first in the family to go away to college.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I had been raised in an environment of very nominal Christianity. I hadn’t accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord until immediately after high school. Unfortunately, I was not properly discipled, and had only a minimal and overly idealistic perspective of what comprised the Christian life.

My entrance into college at CU (University of Colorado) here in Denver was non-eventful, consisting mostly of high, and unfulfilled, expectations. In my need to find real personal growth in my Christian walk, I transferred to a Christian college. I became profoundly disillusioned with what I saw there-it seemed cheap, easy, and not much different behaviorally from what I had found at CU. Again, I found myself floating, without meaningful roots or a clear sense of direction.

Joining the Group

My entry into what quickly would become a Bible-based cult came by way of an invitation from a college friend. At first, the group seemed very solid; the members appeared passionate about their beliefs and their walk with the Jesus of the Bible. The leader, had been a Southern Baptist minister, a teacher at Wheaton College, and also had been associated with India’s leading Christian evangelist. He had come from India, with a background in Zoroastrianism. He was a convert to Christianity.

For the first two years I was in the group, things seemed to go very well. The group grew rapidly, and I found a lot of encouragement and support from the many young people who comprised the congregation. As I recall, the oldest person in the group (with the exception of the leader and his wife) was perhaps 30 years old; nearly all other members were of college age.
But then the “bump in the road” came. The leader felt that God had revealed to him that he had never truly been married to the woman he was married to, because they were not married “in the spirit.” He claimed that God had revealed that he was, in fact, “already married” to another woman in the group who was legally married to someone else. This woman was nearly 30 years his junior. Needless to say, this issue caused a split in the group. I decided to continue with the leader, and I dragged my protesting new spouse to follow my lead.

Damaging Doctrines
Looking back, I see there were two significant issues. One issue was the group’s beliefs. At the theological core of these beliefs were two non-negotiable, highly damaging doctrines. There was a false belief concerning the nature of spiritual authority. There was also a very unorthodox view of spirituality. As with Dave’s [David Clark] experience, the use of Watchmen Nee material was extensive and influential. The group used a particular book by Watchman Nee, Spiritual Authority. This book proposed an extremely hierarchical, oppressive, and controlling form of leadership. The group’s view of spirituality was highly anti-intellectual and esoteric, allowing for nearly unlimited “direction by the Holy Spirit,” contingent only upon the will of the leader. This view is characterized clearly in a book that was promoted heavily in the group, Rees Howells: Intercessor, by Norman Grubb. An allegorical hermeneutic was standard fare, and frequently resulted in convoluted interpretations of the Bible.

The second significant issue revolved around the very dysfunctional behavior that was encouraged. Looking back, I realize that we were frequently encouraged to follow what is sometimes known as the five rules of a dysfunctional family: don’t think, don’t talk, don’t feel, don’t trust, and don’t do anything but pretend that those in authority are always correct. Within the group, pretending became an art form.

In terms of my own behavior, my hero role in my family of origin helped to draw me in to the group, because at this time I perceived the leader to be very much the underdog. I wanted to come in as the knight in shining armor to help in the turbulent times and to contribute my perceived great wisdom to this now ailing group. The leader served as the strong father figure I didn’t have growing up, and he and I went for many long walks. We spent sometimes two or three hours just walking around the neighborhood, talking about relationships and talking about many questions I had about life in general. These times I spent with the leader met some very real needs for me. Looking back though, despite the help I received, I had essentially traded my dysfunctional family system (from my family of origin) for another dysfunctional system that had religious verbiage.

Increasing Aberrance
During the next 11 years following its internal split, the group became much more aberrant. We had many heavy, all-night “counseling” sessions. We viewed people outside the group with a lot of we/they isolationism. We were forbidden to have any contact with our parents, other relatives, or previously close friends who were not a part of the group. Our family lived here locally, but we were encouraged to hang up on them when they called, to return the letters they sent unopened, and to return presents they sent for the kids. While a few in the group were allowed some limited contact with parents, mostly for financial reasons, we were allowed none.
Over time, expectations for compliance from group members and financial contributions to the abusive and controlling leader increased. The leader encouraged us to remain as dependent little children, waiting upon him. He often used a wheel analogy: He was the hub and we, as the spokes, were rightfully dependent upon him. He repeatedly told us that without him we would fall apart, spiritually and emotionally; and, according to him, that was God’s design. He said he didn’t particularly like this role, but that was simply the way God had structured it.
This group exhibited many other indications of aberrant or cultic beliefs and practices. When I returned from Germany (I was in the military for part of the time my wife and I were in the group), the leader had decided what kind of job I would have. Keep in mind, I had managed to get through an undergraduate degree program at a Christian college, and I had been employed as a counselor while in the military. But the leader had decided that God’s desire for me was to be a truck driver. The story about that is illustrative of some of the thinking in the group. But it is a rather long story, so I won’t tell it. [Doug Groothuis encourages Patrick to tell the story.] ...OK, I will tell it in abbreviated form.

Illuminating Anecdote
Immediately following my return from Germany-in fact the following day-a truck-driving job had been set up for me at EFD Express, which was a much smaller version of UPS. Despite how unsuited I was for the work, I managed to do the job for two years, although I had great difficulty. Anyone who has spent much time with me knows I have both a very poor sense of direction and an extreme tendency to become tunnel-visioned when I’m performing a task. Because I was required to perform this work at a fast pace, it had become a rather hazardous venture. I kept running into things. At first, they were small, relatively insignificant things; but on my last day of work, the situation abruptly changed.

I was wheeling around in the back parking area of a new car lot on South Colorado Boulevard here in Denver in my step van. I was performing hard for God and for the group. As I wheeled around a corner, suddenly I looked up and saw a gas pump floating off in the distance. Flames began rushing around the sides of my truck. I had run over a gas pump and I was sitting there disbelieving, stunned. “This can’t be happening, Lord!” I finally got my senses about me and pulled away from the spewing gas.

The particularly interesting and significant part to all this-as I said, this was my last day on the job-was in the response of the group. You see, it wasn’t, “Oh! What a horrible ordeal for you!” Instead, it was, “Well, it just goes to show that you had never truly accepted God’s plan for you, and the leader’s vision for you to be a truck driver, and that’s why this took place.” I was told, “Those flames were like the flames of Hell coming up around you because you hadn’t sufficiently submitted to God’s ordained head over you.” Looking back, it felt like one victimization on top of another. I wasn’t allowed any expression of my real feelings. It was one of those times to just knuckle under, submit to the leader and bury my real feelings.

Many other examples could serve to illustrate where the group was coming from. There was the repressed and controlled manipulation of relationships. All relationships had to be funneled in one form or fashion through the group and ultimately through the leader. There was the firm control of any information that could threaten the leader. For example, while I was in the military, I had started a graduate program in counseling through UNC (University of Northern Colorado). Looking back, however, I realize that because this held the potential for information that would prove damaging to the leader, he forbade my continuing education in this field. I dropped out of school.

Leaving the Group
We had the “Truth,” and that Truth would surely die without us. When we expressed thoughts of leaving the group, we were repeatedly told we could expect some sort of impending doom because of our spiritual rebellion. It seemed almost as if an emotional/spiritual time bomb had been planted on the members; if anyone left, it seemed inevitable that it would discharge. We were conditioned to believe this, and in most cases, our expectations appeared to come true. Members who left seemed inevitably to have extreme difficulties with their attempts to hold on to their marriages, find new churches to associate with, and keep their employment.

Finally, in early January of 1984, my wife and I received information about some of the so-called counseling the leader had been doing that we knew could not be justified biblically. This knowledge became the proverbial straw for us.

About 90 percent certain that the information given to us was accurate, I confronted the leader about what we had learned. I recall verbatim his response to me: “I knew when I entered this ministry I’d be accused of such things. If I tell you that what you’ve been told is false, you’ll call me a liar. If I tell you it’s true, you’ll leave anyway. So believe what you will.” In effect, he pleaded the Fifth Amendment. Looking back, I realize it was obvious to me then that he had been caught previously in this sin and had rehearsed this response many times before. I knew without a doubt that what we had been told was true, and that same day, my wife and I parted company with the group.

Recovering
The recovery process seemed overwhelming. We had a great number of immediate needs. We had four children by this time. We had gigantic financial concerns and social issues to address, such as getting back in touch with friends and relatives outside of the group. And I had many unanswered questions: Who was I now? Where did I fit into life? Questions about the sovereignty of God were looming, threatening to undo me. My emotions were running rampant. I was very angry. Furthermore, I didn’t know how to deal with the intensity of my resentment. I seriously needed direction and support.

Fortunately, even though we found ourselves floating, we sought help. We were living near a Baptist church, and we knew that one of the group’s ex-members was attending there. It was extremely hard, but we started regularly attending the church. While we were out of our old group, the group’s influence was far from out of us. We spent much of our time during the first few years unjustly criticizing the sermons and the lack of staff and member availability, and anything that was a perceived threat to our autonomy.

It was here we met Alan Myatt, the director of Shield of Faith (a counter cult lay organization of the Baptist church), and his wife Kathy, who herself came out of a very abusive, controlling, Bible-based cult. I soon found I needed to rethink both my behavior patterns and my beliefs. I needed to relearn how to trust religious authority figures. I needed a tighter, healthier set of personal boundaries. I had become accustomed to stuffing most of my feelings, allowing only acceptable ones to surface, and I needed to grow up emotionally. I needed to learn how to use good, biblically oriented patterns of critical-thinking skills. Most of all, I had become accustomed to pretending I was living a wonderful, satisfying, victorious life-a pretense far from reality.
God chose four spheres of influence within a particular time frame to meet those needs, and the timing itself was a key element. For me to seek professional counseling was unthinkable at that time, though it was highly recommended. Counseling? I still had in my mind a false vision of what counseling was. It meant exposing myself to verbal coercion; it meant having things imposed on me that simply hurt and didn’t help. It was a couple of years after I got out of the group before I was ready for any formal counseling.

Meanwhile, I did work with some of the cognitive issues. Alan had suggested several outstanding books on the subject of spiritual authority and spirituality, and these books had a great deal of influence and impact on me. Books such as Being Human, by R. Macaulay and Jerome Barrs, and Sheep and Shepherds, by Barrs, together with articles by Ron Enroth, helped immensely. I started to attend school again (not immediately here at Denver Seminary). School helped me to start rethinking my experience. I started to write down what I had been through, which helped me verbalize and identify both what had actually happened to me and my part in it. Writing was very helpful, because it allowed me a safe emotional distance from which to work on the issues of false beliefs. I also listened to many tapes about various cults and received some academic tutorial assistance while attending this seminary.

As I mentioned, counseling eventually entered the picture. Much of my counseling centered on my extremely dysfunctional behavior, which I was later to find stemmed ultimately from ““family of origin”” issues. In the course of my recovery, I sought professional individual counseling, and I joined an ex-member support group for two years. I was involved with a group here locally with Sharon Hilderbrandt (a local Christian counselor). I found it extremely helpful to hear other people tell their stories. After two years as a member, I moved on to being a co-facilitator and facilitator of support and recovery groups, where I worked with people out of the Boston Church of Christ and other similar aberrant and cultic groups.

Looking back, I’ve realized that the greatest need people initially have coming out of a cultic group is to be listened to. No matter how long it takes, no matter how often they tell their story, being carefully, empathetically listened to is essential!

I also went through marital counseling, where I learned how to fight constructively with my spouse, and in general, how to communicate effectively. Such things simply were not necessary in my previous group because everything was siphoned through the leader. Marital counseling really helped me learn the true nature of biblically defined growth and how to identify unhealthy forms of dependency.

The third sphere of influence in my recovery, in addition to the cognitive work and counseling, concerned the development of safe and healthy interpersonal relationships. There were those who not only modeled what genuine Christian spirituality looks like, but in many ways were mentors-people such as Alan Myatt, Gordon Lewis, Sharon Hilderbrandt, Robert K. McGregor Wright, and most recently, Doug Groothuis. Each has contributed much to my recovery, and I greatly appreciate them all. There were also peers and other ex-members who could understand and who did much to help identify both what happened to me and my part in it.

The fourth sphere of influence pertained to the process of giving back what has been so richly given to me. This giving back occurred in my personal involvement in counter-cult work that helped to cement the mixed pieces I had previously gathered. I spent four years with Alan, as an understudy of sorts in Shield of Faith. I tagged along with Alan, listening, questioning, learning more about cult dynamics and beliefs, and contributing wherever I could.
During the four years following that internship, 1988 to 1992, I directed the Shield of Faith organization and worked along with 30 other volunteers. The organization worked extensively in educational, evangelistic, and counseling activities. We were able to help many find various levels of information and healing. I have much to be grateful for!

Summary
To summarize, what have I learned? I’ve learned some important lessons about truck driving and my respective limitations-I’m not suited to be a truck driver! [Laughter] On the serious side, during the past 12 years of healing, I’ve found a kaleidoscope of issues and a tremendous diversity of ways and means of addressing recovery needs. I’ve learned a great deal about myself. At times I was, indeed, a victim. At other times, I was a sinful contributor to a very sick system. Both the system and I were interacting, and both were very real. I had found a codependent, systematic, dysfunctional fit.

While I certainly was morally culpable for my contributions to the unhealthy and unbiblical systems in which I was involved, I also now believe that within God’s providence and design, nothing goes to waste. This perspective, however, was not something I came to early on in my recovery. At first, I could feel only anger; I couldn’t see that God was involved in any way, shape, or form. Only after considerable reflection, after God’s ways and means had been redefined, after I personally repented for my contribution to this sinful system could I see many of these experiences from a truly biblical frame of reference and begin to accept any value in this religiously abusive experience.

Finally, I’ve become convinced that God’s desire and control over all the past and future events of my life combined to produce a particular outcome to bring Him glory and to give me some much-needed preparation for following Him with passion, both now and for eternity. There are no chance events in God’s universe. My involvement in this cultic group was not some sort of bad dream come true, nor mere blunder on my part, but rather His preparation. This doesn’t mean that people who contributed to my abuse are not culpable; they certainly were and are. This also does not mean that to a lesser degree I was not culpable; I certainly was. What it does mean is that God is sovereign and fully capable of using all things to bring about His desired ends.

Notes
*By “Bible-based,” I mean that the Bible was erroneously drawn from, for the purpose of control and manipulation, not that the Bible promotes or encourages such behaviors and beliefs as those outlined in the group in which I was involved.

------------------------

Patrick Knapp M.A. Philosophy of Religion, Denver Seminary. Pat’s initial interest in cult recovery stems from his own involvement in a bible-based group (1970-1984). His recovery came as a result of individual and marriage counseling, in addition to several years of work in and facilitating support groups for ex-members. He became director of a counter-cult organization (Shield of Faith) where he was heavily involved in the education and counseling with ex-members and their families. His M.A. thesis (Fall 2000) was titled: “The Place of Mind-Control in the Cult Recovery Process.”

He has been accepted into a doctrinal program, Marriage and Family Counseling (Professional Track), at Gordon Conwell in Charlotte, NC. He is currently working on a book manuscript for publication which examines various models of cult recovery and defends a Family Systems perspective, informed by a Christian world-view. His E-mail address: Pat.Knapp@Comcast.net

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According to Mark Duke, If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Matt Skelton - You're OFF!!

2009-01-18T22:11:00.029-06:00

In the audio clip on this post, House of God cult and Freedom Foundation member, Matt Skelton, is affirming and teaching Mark Duke's and the House of God's warped view of Jesus Christ.

The short audio clip (one minute, nineteen seconds) contains so much Scripture twisting that it was almost hard to know where to begin. I’m sure you can imagine how much blasphemy and error is contained in the nearly 2-hour lesson. Skelton is really “off.”

First: Skelton claims that "you really don't know where you're at until the test comes, and that goes for everybody, including me… it even included Jesus."

Wrong. Jesus knew exactly why he had come to the world, and his purpose was not to be "tested" by God the Father, but rather to give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind, so that anyone who believes in Him (as God), admits that they are a sinner and accepts Him as Savior can have eternal life with Him (John 3:16).

Second: Skelton makes the statement that Jesus did not “overcome” sin because He was God, but rather that He had God's Word.

Wrong. Jesus didn't "have" God's Word, He is God's Word (John 1:1). That Jesus needed to overcome [His] sin is completely counter to any reasonable understanding of biblical Christian belief. On the cross, Jesus became sin and through His resurrection completely conquered it for our benefit. We can overcome sin only through Jesus Christ's shed blood.

Third: Skelton claims that we can overcome sin just like Jesus, and that’s the difference – the difference in true Christian doctrine and the House of God’s error filled doctrine – “and that’s the power, that’s the thing that we need.”

Wrong. We don’t need to know that we can overcome just like Jesus. That’s NOT the power that we have as Christians. The way that humans overcome sin is to properly relate to God the way that He told us to - through Himself as the Lord Jesus Christ. Only through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ can we be forgiven of our sins.

Fourth: Skelton states that some Churches or doctrines “they’ll try to make it where Jesus was God, and then that justifies our sin, because He was God, only he could be pure, only He could go without sinning...” (emphsis added to express Skelton's sarcastic tone)

Wrong. There is no recognized Christian Church, denomination or doctrine that says, or even implies for that matter, that Jesus Christ is God as an excuse to sin, and to suggest it to bolster Duke’s warped dogma is just plain absurd.

That we can be pure like Jesus as is implied by Skelton’s teaching means that Jesus is not who He said He is. His clear words to us in 1 John Chapter 1, verses 8-10 put some bright and particular light on this part of Skelton’s false teaching:

1 John 1:8-10 (KJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

From a biblical viewpoint, Jesus “forgives” our sin, He doesn’t give us power to “overcome” it in the sense that the House of God falsely teaches.

Fifth: Skelton quotes part of Titus 2:12: "we should live soberly, righteous and Godly in this present world," and claims that this is their standard. In other words, if fully achieved, this will be salvation.

Wrong. While Chapter 2 of the book of Titus certainly speaks of salvation – in fact it identifies Jesus Christ AS salvation – the portion of verse 12 that Skelton quotes IS NOT a requirement for salvation, but rather an indication of how we should live because we have salvation.

I will give him credit though, he says that they are not there yet – and he’s right, not by billions upon billions upon billions of country miles.

Titus 2:11-15 (KJV)
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Note verse 13 – could it be any clearer that Scripture is identifying Jesus as God?

Please know that the “and” between the words great God and Jesus Christ is not suggesting two separate beings (or that Jesus is God the Father). Contemporary translations (such as the New American standard Bible – NASB, more properly show the end of verse 13 as reading our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

For reference, here are verses 11-15 of Titus Chapter 2 from the NASB:

Titus 2:11-15 (NASB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

One thing is for sure, Matt Skelton’s long-time association with and discipleship by Mark Duke is evident. He can take one small part of Scripture completely out of context and twist it to suit the error filled doctrine of Duke and the House of God.

Matt Skelton’s connection with Mark Duke is long, all the way back to his teen years. Duke even says that if “I ever had to go to war with somebody, I’d go with Matt.” That Duke does view his spiritual rights movement as a war, and perhaps not just spiritual in nature – is very important to understand. Duke even claims that the House of God and the Freedom Foundation (the integral parts of the spiritual rights movements) “may have to give their blood on the bridge again.”

People in Selma who read this blog will probably recognize Matt Skelton’s name. He is one of the two Selma police officers spoken of in the article Outside Agitators recently published in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Report (available in print and online). According to sources in Selma, a third member of the Freedom Foundation was recently hired and sworn in by the Selma Police Department. The SPLC article also talks about Duke’s connection with an "influential local judge.” (emphasis mine).

Perhaps this is why so many of the people in the Selma area are afraid to use their real names on internet forums (such as Topix) related to the House of God and the Freedom Foundation.

Check back soon for more information on Duke’s and the Freedom Foundation’s apparent influence with a local judge and other political leaders in Selma in and Dallas County, Alabama.

As a closing, Christians, when it comes to Skelton’s, Duke's and the House of God's teaching about Jesus and salvation, we should take God’s instruction from verse 15 of Titus Chapter 2 seriously, and do exactly what it says.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man (including Mark Duke and his cohorts) despise (or disregard) thee. Stand for Truth.

Click the Play Button above to hear House of God and Freedom Foundation member Matt Skelton, speaking about Jesus "overcoming" and not being God.

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Hot & Cold - Lukewarm - More MLK Trash Talk

2009-01-16T14:26:00.009-06:00

Hot and Cold - Mark Duke talks about his disdain for Martin Luther King.

To be fair, in this clip from a sermon preached by Mark Duke to the Dukites, he does say he had "so admired Dr. King as a civil rights leader." But, Duke couldn't stop there - no, he has to point out just how bad Dr. King was. Duke went on to preach that he "so disrespected him as a Baptist minister."

Duke claims again that Dr. King wasn't preaching spiritual rights because King wasn't living it. And in Duke's and the Dukite's eyes that is vital because spiritual rights are so important - "we don't need a civil rights movement, we need a spiritual rights movement." is what Duke preaches.

Since Duke and the Dukites put such stock in their spiritual rights movement and it is Duke who has been called by God to restore the Church and bring the spiritual rights movement - even to the point of giving their "blood on the bridge again," why would the House of God and the Freedom Foundation be honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Seems to me that would be offensive to God. What blatant hypocisy!

There are some other little tidbits in this clip...

Duke makes the statement "either it's the whole truth or not, you can't compromise on one thing and be strong in another..." Sounds good, but to borrow a dukism; they ain't living it!

Duke seems especially fond of using Jeremiah 23, or at least some derivation of it. (Jer 23:11 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.(KJV)) In my opinion he ought to find a mirror and keep reading - particularly verses 12-15.

The end is best - but he says it wrong... it should be, they've been DUKED, that's what the Devil did, he DUKED them!

Click the Play Button above to listen

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Mark Duke Ain't Got No Trailer Park White Trash?

2009-01-15T20:34:00.017-06:00

"We're Not Trailer Park White Trash!"

At least that's what Mark Duke says about his followers (Dukites)at the House of God, and remember according to Duke these people don't have to live with the poor because it would lower their standards.

Here is another outrageous audio clip where Duke tells you who the Dukites are - "we got doctors, engineers, we've got intellectuals who can argue doctrine, we're not just a bunch of people who are brainless who will follow anybody."

Mark Duke is right in one respect, the Dukites are not just brainless people who will follow anybody. They are just normal folks who are following a false teacher, preacher and prophet - him.

The ending is best - "Chapter 3, thus enters a seperation of God's people from God..."

Duke of course is referring to Chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis when sin enters the world, which for Duke is very appropriate. You gotta know that Duke is not really preaching anything new - it's the same old lie. FOLLOW ME AND YOU WILL BECOME LIKE GOD! He has convinced his followers that Jesus isn't God - he's just a man and we can be just like Jesus.

He then goes further to say "We see the seperation occuring over and over and over."

Could the seperation we see over and over and over be the families that have been torn apart by Duke's warped views and Scripture twisting?

Click the Play Button above to listen

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If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Mark Duke - You're OFF!!

2009-01-09T11:28:00.025-06:00

“The ministry would not be an offense – did you hear that? That the ministry would not be an offense – did you hear that? The standard is that the ministry would not be an offense and when you’re ministering to somebody, you’ve got to live it! Its offensive to God, Paul said let there be no hypocrisy among you…”

So starts seven minutes of some extremely offensive and very eye-opening preaching to the House of God by the reverend Mark Duke.

Duke’s words here are very instructive, and he should heed them himself – the sermon from which this clip was taken again shows, among other things, Duke’s disdain for the way Martin Luther King “wasn’t living it,” in essence not practicing what he preached. Why weren’t they preaching what Malcolm X was preaching – because Martin Luther King and them (other civilrights leaders?) "weren’t living it?”

Duke wonders out loud why he didn’t learn what he should have in seminary. He comes to the conclusion that he wasn't taught it because “nobody was living it.”

Then there is the outright attack on the son of a well-known and respected civil rights leader who according to Duke “He has that lust runnin!” Of course Duke preached to him and “separated him out.”

If he has it right, this man must have been been pretty impressed with Duke; because according to Duke’s wife (Becky) who was in the congregation, the man called Duke "16 FRIGGIN TIMES!"

Maybe Mark Duke’s preaching to this man really did separate him out, because according to Duke’s spiritual partner (Shawn) who was also in the congregation said he didn't call after Duke seperated him out. Listen closely to this part of the clip; you’ll hear the congregation laughing at Duke’s tale of correction. This begs the question: why would these people find this funny?

While Duke's words in this clip show an utter lack of respect for other people, particularly the gentleman whom he names from the pulipit; it also shows an almost complete misunderstanding of Scripture - all in a short six minutes and forty-nine seconds! The full sermon is a real doozy!

Listen very closely to the end of the clip where he tells one of his followers that she can’t communicate with her old friends and family: “You cannot, you CANNOT communion with the old. You cannot communion, I want God to talk to you about that. In the old system (everybody but Duke’s religion) we’re gonna hang out with old relatives and old friends and they’re enemies – they’re enemies. You need to see clear that’s that old system you’re in. And I can see that clearly."

NOTICE CAREFULLY THE MANIPULATIVE WORDS HERE: Mark Duke wants God to talk with her about what Mark Duke is teaching.

This is very subtle, but very powerful.

Again, the sermon that this comes from is full of words teaching his followers that they need to separate themselves from those who don’t follow the reverend Duke and the House of God.

The sermon is also full of Duke's and the House of God's blatant hypocrisy. How about Duke going on and on about someone supposedly kissing and hugging on someone in Church, and then turning to his wife (to whom God told him to stay legally married) to ask a question, and then turning immediately to his live-in spiritual partner (yeah, God told him to do that too) to ask another! Wow, Wow, Wow! There will be more coming on Duke's disregard of God's word on marriage - come back soon.

When you listen to this clip, be patient with the pauses. I just pull them out of the sermon as is, I don't edit them.

Click the Play Button above to listen

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Is Jesus God - results of the recent poll

2009-01-09T11:23:00.025-06:00

92 people responded to the poll Question: Is Jesus God?

Here are the results -

ANSWER 1: No. Jesus was a great man. (3 votes)
ANSWER 2: No. Jesus was only a good prophet. (3 votes)
ANSWER 3: No Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene. (1 vote)
ANSWER 4: Yes, Jesus was a God, but not a man. (1 vote)
ANSWER 5: No, Jesus was not a great man or a great prophet, He was just like us. (1 vote)
ANSWER 6: Yes, Jesus is God the Father. (14 votes)
ANSWER 7: Yes, Jesus is God and He is a man too. A child born of a virgin like no other. (69 votes)

Of course, we don't determine who Jesus is based on a poll, but rather on the Holy Scriptures, the Bible - the most reliable documents of all time.

That Jesus of Nazareth is a real historical person is beyond dispute, but what people believe about Jesus being God in the flesh is a different matter. From shortly after the era of the apostles and disciples there were some people who were writing books that said that Jesus was a man but not God. There were some who said that Jesus was God and not a man.

But what does the New Testament – the most reliable historical documents, especially on this subject, say about Jesus of Nazareth. This is where we need to look for the truth, and the New Testament speaks undeniably and clearly – Jesus is God AND Jesus is man!

The world today is able to verify these claims and to see from the history of the true Church that it has always believed that Jesus Christ is God and man.

Following is my input on each of the answers to the poll questions:

ANSWERS 1 & 2: The responses to these answers are similar: Jesus could not have been a good man. Good men do not claim to be God when they are not, and Jesus did claim to be God. Likewise, Jesus could not have been a good prophet. Good prophets cannot lie, and Jesus would fall into the category of a liar since He claimed to be God.

For those who say that Jesus was only a good man; let me propose a scenario for you:

You are sitting on your porch watching your children play in the yard when a man comes down the street. You know who the man is and you have seen him in your town before. This man comes up to your children and tells them that he is God, and unless they follow him, they will spend eternity in hell. You know that this man is not God and that he is lying to your children.

Question: would you get off your porch and go tell the man how good he is, or would you be running to protect your children from this liar? Obviously, you would do what you could to protect your children because this is certainly not a "good" man. Why would you look at Jesus any differently?

So you know, this is exactly what Mark Duke and the House of God are preaching - Jesus is not God, merely a good man, who was “on” and could overcome sin, and we can be just like him and be totally sin free. This is error. Through a proper relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be free of the sins we commit, we cannot however be free from our sin nature.

Get off the porch to protect your community from false teachers.

ANSWER 3: There is no reliable evidence that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene, or any other woman for that matter.

ANSWER 4: Scripture is very clear about this. Jesus was God and man. While Christianity is the only religion that has as its main theme the humiliation and torture and death of its God, it is the only religion who's God truly understands the struggles of humanity. Christianity is truly God’s religion.

As I said above, that Jesus of Nazareth was a real, historical person is beyond dispute. For those who believe that Jesus was only God, I offer these verses of Scripture that are clear and straight forward.

1 John 4:1-21: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (KJV)

John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (KJV)

II Jn 1:7: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (KJV)

ANSWER 5: The testimony of the early Church and other reliable sources outside of the Church verify that the fact that Jesus was different than any other man who had come into the world.

ANSWER 6: Jesus is not God the Father. Following is a brief teaching about this issue from Robert M. Bowman’s 8-part outline study series on the Biblical Basis for the Trinity. Rob is the Executive Director of the Institute for Religious Research, and has been ministry friend of mine for many years. No one has helped me understand the important and core Christian doctrine of the Trinity better than Rob. I am currently using his book (co-authored by Ed Komoszewski) Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, in 7-week course I am teaching in Birmingham, AL. This is a book that you should buy, read and pass on to others.

Jesus is not God the Father *
1. Is. 9:6: “Father of eternity” means eternal; compare other names formed with word “father”: Abialbon, “father of strength” = strong (2 Sam. 23:31); Abiasaph, “father of gathering” = gatherer (Ex. 6:24); Abigail, a woman’s name (!), “father of exultation” = exulting (1 Chron. 2:16).
2. John 10:30
a. Jesus did not say, “I am the Father,” nor did he say, “the Son and the Father are one person.”
b. The first person plural esmen (“we are”) implies two persons.
c. The neuter word for “one” (hen) is used, implying essential unity but not personal unity.
d. John 10:30 in context is a strong affirmation of Christ’s deity, but does not mean that he is the Father.
3. John 5:43: Jesus’ coming in his Father’s name means not that he was the Father because he had the Father’s name, but that, while others come in their own name (or their own authority), Jesus does not; he comes in his Father’s name (on his Father’s authority).
4. John 8:19; 16:3: Ignorance of Jesus is indeed ignorance of the Father, but that does not prove that Jesus is the one he calls “My Father.”
5. John 14:6-11
a. Jesus and the Father are one being, not one person.
b. Jesus said, “I am in the Father,” not “I am the Father.”
c. The statement, “the Father is in me,” does not mean Jesus is the Father; compare John 14:20; 17:21-23.
6. John 14:18: An older adult brother can care for his younger siblings, thus preventing them from being “orphans,” without being their father.
7. Colossians 2:9: Does not mean that Jesus is the Father, or that Jesus is an incarnation of the Father; rather, since “Godhead” (theotês) means Deity, the state of being God, the nature of God, Jesus is fully God, but not the only person who is God. “The Godhead” here does not = the Father (note that Jesus is in the Father, John 10:38; 14:10, 11; 17:21), but the nature of the Father. See II.B.3.(see link below
8. The Father and the Son are both involved in various activities: raising Jesus (Gal. 1:1; John 2:19-22), raising the dead (John 5:21); 6:39-40, 44, 54, 1 Cor. 6:14), answering prayer (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23), sending the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7), drawing people to Jesus (John 6:44; 12:32), etc. These common works do prove that the two persons are both God, but not that Jesus is the Father.

To view the full 8-part series, The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity by Rob Bowman, CLICK HERE

ANSWER 7: You got it right!

*© Copyright 2008 by the Institute for Religious Research, all rights reserved.

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COMMENTS TURNED ON

2009-01-08T16:28:00.005-06:00

I have set the blog to now accept comments:

I may or may not read your comment. If there is something that you think that I absolutely need to see, please send an email instead to: wewillfindthetruth@gmail.com.

Please be polite and logical.

I don't care if you use your real name or not. I reserve the right to delete a comment.

Any message that can be considered illegal, such as threats of violence directed at any person or group WILL IMMEDIATELY BE REPORTED TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES.

You may leave a comment, or read comments left by others by clicking the comment link at the end of each post.

The Ark of Mark - This Boat Won't Float!

2009-01-07T19:21:00.020-06:00

In the audio clip provided below, Mark Duke is talking about God telling him that He was going to build the ark in Colorado and gather the people together before judgement and destruction came (the ark, likened to a church - Duke's House of God). He was going to build "a place where the people should be doing great and could be safe, a place where you shouldn't have to worry about the the child molester, a place where you shouldn't have to be worried about the child molester being your leader! "

Okay, I'll agree with Duke on the child molester part, but he loses me with says next....

"I always said, I asked John Lewis one day, You all knew that Martin Luther King was sleeping around, why didn't anybody say it? Corretta King knew it, why didn't Corretta stand up?"

Wow! How does Mark Duke make the leap from God building an ark in Colorado; a place where you don't have to worry about child molesters, a place where you don't have to worry about child molesters being your leader, to making the outrageous claim that he asked John Lewis about Martin Luther King sleeping around, and then suggesting that his wife knew about it but didn't take a stand.

I wonder how John Lewis answered Duke's question?

There is more where this came from - check back soon......

Click the Play Button above to listen

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Shhhh - Selma's Not Supposed To Know!

2009-01-07T10:28:00.022-06:00

“It is an honor to host this tribute to Dr. King and to honor his vision. We have worked hard to bring a variety of people from the community together to be a part of the program. We want to provide a special night for the entire community to celebrate, recognize and appreciate the work that Dr. King did during his life, as well as the work that continues in our community today,” said Mark Duke, Freedom Foundation President. *

It's very interesting, but not very surprising that the Freedom Foundation has tributes to Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's not very surprising because there are many groups all over the world that want to be associated with and use Dr. King's good name - especially when it can provide good fund raising possibilities. For the Freedom Foundation it could provide "huge fundraising on a national level." At least that's what Mark Duke said about the Freedom Foundation wanting to name his Tepper's Building after MLK - but this is not information that he wanted Selma to know.

It's very interesting because Duke is constantly telling his followers to avoid everything in the old system (Churches, families, and individuals who don't accept his "pure gospel"). There's much, much more that Duke has said about this issue - check back soon to hear what they really think about the late Dr. King.

Have a listen Selma.....

Click the Play Button above to listen

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Real Lives, Real Hurt

2009-01-06T00:53:00.014-06:00

Following is part of a message that I received today from a mom with a daughter involved in the House of God and the Freedom Foundation.

I have edited this dear lady's message to remove her daughters names. The members of the House of God and Freedom Foundation who see this will know exactly who is being spoken of. Please pray with me that the daughter who is being spoken of will realize that her mom and sisters are heartbroken without her in their lives, and that no one has forgotten her:

My heart is crying today, this is harder than I had imagined, I had to go through her things that the girls did not toss out. Oh that hurts every time.

Then there are the picture albums, all of the other’s wedding photos, and the list goes on and on... my heart hurts, please pray for me, and for the others that suffer the same loss as they look at pictures, and have an end to the memories.

One of her sister’s got so angry one day, she said it is worse than her being dead, if she were dead we would have memories; this way she has taken our memories away and stolen those that we could have. Alas it is so! This was after one of my other daughters wrote to her sister and said it is as if you were dead, but we cannot grieve your loss for you are still out there somewhere; she gave NO response.

When her first baby was born, the other five girls had gone away together; all six of them had been putting money into a savings account for years to be able to go away together.

When they could not handle it, they came home. One of them called me to come get her, she could not take it anymore, and she was so hurting. The rest were staying, sticking it out, I had the babies. I got home with the one daughter who called me and a few short hours later the other four were on the doorstep crying - none of them could handle it. Their sister had a baby and they weren't allowed to be involved. How do you hurt for yourself and your kids?

I am not the only one, there are so many out there in the same boat, not all in House of God or the Freedom Foundation, they were in Peoples Temple and countless others, I have to speak out about all of this then don't I, especially if it keeps ONE family together?

Oh the hard places that the Lord calls us to follow. Woe is me, he said, I am undone. I don't think Isaiah quite meant it the way that I feel at this moment, but I say it the same...

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Psalm 35:17 (KJV)

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Will The Poor Lower Your Standards?

2009-01-06T00:16:00.013-06:00

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? James 2:1-7 (KJV)

Mark Duke says sometimes we feel better if we live with the poor people, then he turns right around and tells his followers that it actually lowers their standard to live with the poor people.

Of what standard is Duke speaking?

According to a recent story in the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report [winter 2008]. Duke "...owns one of the grandest mansions in Old Town, a neighborhood where 13 historic homes have been purchased and occupied in recent months by members of the Freedom Foundation." The area of Colorado where the Freedom Foundation started as an outreach of the House of God is one of the more affluent areas of the country. Duke recently had a home in Castle Rock, CO (an extremely affluent suburb of Denver) listed on the real estate market for more than a million dollars. Does Mark Duke consider himself above the poor because they can't meet his standard?

The answer to God's question in James 2:7 is YES; Mark Duke and the House of God do blaspheme that worthy name by which we (the rich and the poor) are called.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (Proverbs 15:2).

Click the play button to hear it pour forth....

Click the Play Button above to listen

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It's Bob! No, It's Edna! What Does It Matter? It's All A Lie!

2009-01-05T23:00:00.028-06:00

According to a story told to the "sisters" by Mark Duke, God changed his life in one night. God changed the course of his life in one meeting. It was a meeting in the slums of Atlanta, where this white guy went to a black meeting. It was where he got the gospel.

When he got ready to leave, he said he was scared to death; he got his coat, and right when he got his hand on the doorknob, this lady – “thank God for a sister” – said “oh brother Mark it was a pleasure to have you with us tonight, and we would like to know, would you like to say something before you leave tonight, because we were honored to have you here.”

Among other things that Mark Duke said in response were the words “I want what you got, and I need what you got.”

In essence, this was the introduction of Mark Duke to the “Spiritual Rights Movement,” which supposedly began under the leadership of Bob and Edna Stewart of Atlanta, Georgia. It was the moment that led to Duke’s founding of the House of God.

Sounds good so far, but there is one teensy-weensy little problem (actually, it’s a huge insurmountable problem) – It doesn’t match the story that Duke had already told his followers about this seminal moment in his spiritual transformation!

The “Sister’s Rally” where Duke weaves his story about Edna Stewart took place in June 2006.

When the House of God was officially founded in November 2002, it issued a Declaration of a New Covenant, and that document (click here to view it) says that it was Bob Stewart, not Edna Stewart who asked Duke if he had anything to say.

I know that this seems like a small knit-picking insignificant point, but this is huge – it’s the most important moment in the history of the world – it’s the point where God is calling Mark Duke to restore the Church, to get the pure gospel to the people, to bring forth a new thing that will reconcile them to God – and he can’t get the story right???

So you know, Edna Stewart was, according to Duke and the House of God, a prophetess that prophesied about Mark Duke being the one would restore the Church. If she did prophesy this about Mark Duke, she was a false prophet in every sense. A true prophet would never claim that a man who doesn't believe that Jesus is God was called to restore His Church.

Click the Play Button above to listen

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I've Been Like A God To You!

2009-01-05T19:43:00.010-06:00

During one of The House of God's "Sisters Rallies" Mark Duke made the incredible claim that "I've been like a God to you"!

I know there are some that would say that I took that little snippet out of a full sermon and it's out of context, but what context would make something like this acceptable? The only way it would be correct is if Mark Duke said it and then turned right around and told the sisters that it was wrong to say it.

I've heard House of God and Freedom Foundation members claim that their movement is not about one man (Mark Duke), but throughout every sermon I have heard Mark Duke preach it's Mark, Mark, Mark and and more of Mark.

Mark Duke's incredible claim of being like a God to his followers is very subtle, and in my mind very dangerous.

Have a listen for yourself....

Click the Play Button above to listen

Here is a quote from Deborah Layton's book Seductive Poison* (page 286 - she is talking about her experience of testifying before a congressional hearing arranged by Congressman Leo Ryan):

I could see from their furtive glances that many of them were dubious. I imagined they were relieved that their daughters would never get themselves into such a ludicrous situation. I caught someone’s eye and smiled. But I felt defensive. I wanted to scream that it could happen to anyone’s child.

Please join me in praying that the one and only God of Scripture will open the eyes of the "daughters" - young and old - who are involved in Mark Duke's false spirituality.

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An Epilogue - People Do Not knowingly Join Cults

2009-01-05T17:16:00.023-06:00

I have had several people ask me about the book Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton and the audio clip from one of my earlier posts (A Cult? Are you sure? Yes - it's a Different Jesus and a Different Gospel and Ohh So Much More....12/28/2008).

The audio clip of Ms. Layton from the PBS Documentary DVD, Jonestown The Life and Death of Peoples Temple is part of the epilogue of her courageous and insightful book.

I recommend the PBS DVD, but know that there is some very adult language and the subject matter is of course gruesome - you will hear the voice of Jim Jones encouraging mothers to kill their own children. It is horrific.

Printed below is the opening of the epilogue of the book. If you haven't read this book, you need to now. If your local library doesn't have this book it, beg them to get it.

Seductive Poison is available inexpensively as a paperback. You can order it from Amazon.com using this link: CLICK HERE

The audio clip is also provided below.

Click the Play Button above to hear Deborah Layton - "Nobody Joins a Cult" audio clip from the PBS Documentary DVD - Jonestown: Life and Death of Peoples Temple
(c) copyright 2007 WGBH Educational Foundation and Firelight Media

From the Book Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple, by Deborah Layton*:

Epilogue

Looking back, there a few things I have come to learn. People do not knowingly join “cults” that will ultimately destroy and kill them. People join self-help groups, churches, political movements, college campus dinner socials, and the like, in an effort to be a part of something larger than themselves. It is mostly the innocent and the naïve who find themselves entrapped. In their openhearted endeavor to find meaning in their lives, they walk blindly into the promise of ultimate answers and a higher purpose. It is usually only gradually that a group turns into or reveals itself as a cult, becomes malignant, but by then it is often too late.

I hope my book will give my daughter some answers about how I got caught and how the Jonestown tragedy happened. I hope it will provide clues about the workings of a cult and shed light on the darkness of deceit. There are essential warning signs early on. Our alarm signals ought to go off as soon as someone tells us their way is the only right way.

When our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment, and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.

If there is any lesson to be learned it is that an ideal can never be brought about by fear, abuse, and the threat of retribution. When family and friends are used as a weapon in order to force us to stay in an organization, something has gone terribly wrong. If I, as a young woman, had had someone explain to me that cults are and how indoctrination works, my story might not have been the same.

*An Anchor Book published by Doubleday a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, New York, New York. (c) Copyright 1998 by Deborah Layton

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Let It Run Rev. Let It Run - More on Selma's Suckers

2009-01-02T11:13:00.024-06:00

"Let It Crawl Rev. Let it Crawl" - More of the Reverend Mark Duke's interesting words about Selma's Suckers!

Without stopping to take a breath, Mark Duke twists his favorite Flip Wilson joke about the Black Church that needs money into a severe scolding of a Selma Church for preaching the gospel gain and that they are getting fat off the people!

There are many things wrong in this portion of the Reverend Duke's sermon - listen carefully.....

listen how Mark Duke believes that the Devil "comes in and brings that measurement, that judgement of the world that gets things outta order in the Church."

Listen how Mark Duke twists the Flip Wilson joke about the black Baptist Church into his disdain for a black Church in Selma and its pastor - the most progressive preacher in Selma, Alabama - a preacher who wears $300 tailored suits! Mark Duke supposedly heard that from the African-American lady of whom he is speaking - but it's him that is preaching it with fire from the pulpit of the House of God and the Freedom Foundation.

Listen to the disgust in his voice as he preaches from his pulpit about the people who are going to Brown Chapel - the middle to upper class African-Americans "while their community is going to hell around them."

Mark Duke tells his followers that nobody is telling the Flip Wilson joke from the pulpit! And for good reason; the joke is old, and so are it's racist connotations! Why would any sensible pastor, black or white, be preaching that old tired stereotype and racist trash from the pulpit. But that's not what the Reverend Duke thinks - he says "nobody is telling that joke from the pulpit, what they're telling from the pulpit is get your money out, get your credit card out, God loves ya and He's gonna bless ya - they're preaching the gospel gain and they're gettin fat off the people is what their doin - and they're a bunch of suckers, they're a bunch of suckers!"

To give the Mark Duke his due, he did mention a Church outside of Selma in this clip - Heritage Christian Center, a large multi-cultural Church in the Denver area.

I'm not sure that I completely understand what Mark Duke is talking about at the beginning of the clip, but that the Devil "comes in and brings that measurement, that judgment of the world that gets things outa order in the Church" seems pretty telling to me....

Click the Play Button above to hear more of Mark Duke outrageous preachings to The House of God and the Freedom Foundation about Selma's Suckers. From sermon recorded 9/24/2006.

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Selma's Suckers - The Blacks Have The Same Crappy Gospel As The Whites!

2009-01-01T21:55:00.031-06:00

Listen to the Reverend Mark Duke as he claims that the people of Selma, and African-American Churches in particular, have "never ever never ever never never heard anyone preaching what he's preaching."

If that were the case, Selma would be blessed!

But sadly, it's not true, from the very start of the Christian Church, its people have heard the false Jesus' and the false gospels that Mark Duke and others of his ilk have preached.

Did you know that every book of the New Testament with the exception of one - Philemon - warns of false messiahs, false prophets and false teachers?

God is not surprised by the false teachings and blasphemy of preachers like Mark Duke, and he has prepared a way for us to counter their false spiritual claims - read your Bible and know the Truth. Prepare yourself, and do not be afraid to Speak the Truth in Love!

Listen closely to the clip and you will soon realize that Mark Duke is talking about black people in Selma as being "suckers who get wet and get stuck." In context, at the start of the clip, where he says "We talked and it all adds up," he is preaching about a conversation he had with an African- American lady in Selma regarding her Church and its pastor.

Mark Duke also tells his followers who their biggest enemy is going to be - the Church and its ministers! Why would Mark Duke tell his followers that their biggest enemy would be the Church and its ministers? Perhaps it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What Mark Duke and the House of God are preaching is exactly what the Church is supposed to stand against.

The Church should be the biggest enemy of Mark Duke's false Jesus and gospel!

Click the Play Button above to hear Mark Duke preaching to The House of God and the freedom Foundation about Selma's Suckers. From sermon recorded 9/24/2006.

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Who is this Jesus Mark Duke Teaches and Preaches? A Different Jesus From the Bible, That's Who!

2008-12-29T18:42:00.017-06:00

What does Mark Duke and the House of God really teach about Jesus Christ, and why does it matter?

Click the Play Button above to hear Mark Duke preaching to The House of God and the Freedom Foundation about Jesus and God the Father and faith. From sermon recorded 2/20/2004.

Click the Play Button above to hear House of God and Freedom Foundation member Matt Skelton, speaking about Jesus "overcoming" and not being God. From sermon recorded 12/12/2006.

Analysis and commentary coming soon...

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A Cult? Are you sure? Yes - it's a Different Jesus and a Different Gospel and Ohh So Much More....

2008-12-28T23:25:00.012-06:00

I have, and will continue to publicly claim that the House of God is a cult. But what is a cult? Below are concise and professionally accepted definitions of cults. And yes, Mark Duke's church, the House of God, is a cult. Mark Duke and its leaders proclaim a different Jesus and gospel from the biblically orthodox and historical Christian Faith.

Additionally, this group falls in line, to some degree, with each of the ten traits listed below. Evidence of connection with these traits will be discussed in future posts.

Click the Play Button above to hear Deborah Layton - "Nobody Joins a Cult" audio clip from the PBS Documentary DVD - Jonestown: Life and Death of Peoples Temple
© copyright 2007 WGBH Educational Foundation and Firelight Media

The following general definitions related to cults are excerpted from the book, The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality, © copyright 2007 by Watchman Fellowship, Inc.:

The term cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which is found in English and agrarian terms such as cultivation and the word culture. The root is also used in a religious context to refer to any system of belief and worship. In a Christian context, the word is used to denote an inauthentic alternative to the Christian faith. That usage can probably be traced to the early twentieth-century with Ernst Troeltsch’s The Social Teaching of the Christian Church, in which he defined a cult as a mystical religion that appeals to the intelligentsia.

The term cult has also evolved in the work of psychologists, sociologists, and anthropologists, who frequently use the word to describe religious structure or belief patterns with meanings (usually non-pejorative) unique to their disciplines.

Another usage for the word cult is found in the secular cult-awareness movement – sometimes referred to as the anti-cult movement. The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA – formerly the American Family Foundation) of Bonita Springs, Florida, is an interdisciplinary network of academicians, professionals, former group members, and families who study and educate the public about religious groups and cults.

Specifically, they provide information about social-psychological influence and control, authoritarianism, and zealotry found in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. They use the word cult within the context of the following ten traits:

1. Submission to Leadership - Leaders tend to exert absolute control, frequently portraying themselves as prophets of God (or even God Himself). Such individuals demand submission even if changes or conflicts occur in ideology or behavior.

2. Polarized Worldview – Cults usually view the outside world through a paradigm of existential conflict, in which the group must be isolated from the hostile and contaminated world outside.

3. Emphasizing Emotion Over Thought – Emotions, intuitions, and mystical insights are typically given priority over rational conclusions.

4. Emotional Manipulation – Cult leaders frequently manipulate group and interpersonal dynamics to influence responses. (This type of manipulation may be very subtle and take the form of questions or suggestions that evoke emotional responses such as fear, guilt or a false sense of obligation designed to trigger compliance with the leaders’ desires.)

5. Denigration of Critical Thinking – Some cults characterize any independent thought as selfish and rational use of intellect as evil.

6. Restrictive Soteriology – Salvation, enlightenment, or fulfillment can only be realized in the group.

7. Situational Ethics – Any action or behavior is justifiable as long as it furthers the group’s goals. The group (or leader) determines absolute truth, which then supersedes all outside juridical laws.

8. Preeminence of the Group – The group’s concerns typically supersede an individual’s goals, needs aspirations, and concerns. Tremendous pressure is exerted upon individual members to conform to the norms of the group.

9. Condemnations of Apostates and Critics – Members are frequently allowed no contact with former members or critics of the group. This prohibition is often even levied against members who make critical comments of the group or its leaders.

10. Isolation from Nonmembers – Contact with nonmembers, even family, is frequently restricted to proselytic encounters.

Some Christian Definitions:

Cult: In addition to the usages mentioned above, mainstream Christians often define a cult as a group who presents an inauthentic form of Christianity that seriously deviates from the essential doctrines of classical Christianity. In most cases, the group in question claims to be Christian or compatible with Christianity but the organization’s aberrant beliefs concerning central doctrines of the faith result in the group be classified as unorthodox or cultic. In this sense, the term cult primarily has a doctrinal or theological meaning and could be used to describe pseudo-Christian groups or forms of counterfeit Christianity. Most often, Watchman Fellowship uses this theological meaning when using the word cult.

For almost 30-years at Watchman Fellowship, we have used the following “mathematical formula” to identify four patterns often evident in the cults in terms of theological deviation:

1. Addition – Pseudo-Christian groups often add to Scripture, either by introducing additional works to the canon of Scripture (e.g., the Book of Mormon), receiving additional “revelations” from God (e.g., the apocalyptic revelations of the Branch Davidians’ David Koresh), or declaring that the Bible cannot be understood apart from the indispensable literature or teaching of the group (e.g., the reliance of Jehovah’s Witnesses upon literature from the Watchtower Society). See Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18

2. Subtraction - Pseudo-Christian groups subtract from the humanity of Christ (e.g., the Gnostic heresy) or the deity of Jesus Christ, either through an Arian denial of His deity (e.g., the Jehovah’s Witnesses) or by claiming that all humans are either gods or united with God (e.g., New Age devotees who attempt to achieve Christ-consciousness). See 2 Corinthians 11:3-4.

3. Multiplication - Pseudo-Christian groups multiply the requirements for salvation, teaching that Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross and resurrection is not sufficient. Good works, law keeping and earning favor are also required for one to receive eternal life – rather than salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone (e.g., the sabbatarian groups who require observance of Jewish Sabbaths, dietary laws, tithing, etc., as preconditions for receiving eternal life). See Galatians 1:6-8; 2:16.

4. Division - Pseudo-Christian groups often divide their followers’ loyalties by teaching that one cannot be loyal to God without being loyal to their leader, group, or organization. This characteristics, sometimes called the “only true church syndrome,” leads followers to believe that there is no salvation outside of that organization or leader. This creates another “mediator between God and men” besides Jesus. This condition often results in the worst kind of spiritual abuse, as followers feel they must stay and endure whatever the group demands because there is no salvation elsewhere. See 1Timothy 2:5.

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The Main Thing - Exposing Mark Duke and the House of God

2008-12-28T21:02:00.009-06:00

Hello, my name is Allan McConnell, and this is the first of many posts related to the cultic doctrines and practices of a church known as the House of God (Parker, Colorado and Selma, Alabama), its founder Mark S. Duke and other leaders.

The "Spiritual Rights Movement," the House of God's bizarre effort to recreate the United States Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's from a spiritual perspective and its ancillary organization the Freedom Foundation will also be discussed.

The main purpose of this blog is to expose the true teachings of the House of God, thereby encouraging Christians to respond to its spiritual error and abuse by speaking the Truth in Love.

My prayer is that concerned individuals and family members will see the need and develop the desire to get their loved ones free from the spiritual danger that exists with this group.

Initially, I am not allowing readers to post responses that will be shown publicly, but I may revise that policy as time goes on. I will however, accept and respond to comments - both pro and con - sent to me at WeWillFindtheTruth@gmail.com.

You can easily share this blog entry with others by clicking on the email link (envelope icon) below.

Free From the House of God and the Parker Community Church

Mark Duke's "BLACK THURSDAY"

Don't Miss WeTV's Secret Lives of Women: Cults

Recommended Reading - "The Gathering Place" by Becca Anderson

The Alabama Baptist Prints Investgative Report on The Freedom Foundation, The House of God (a.k.a. Parker Community Church and Selma Community Church)

Mark Duke Speaks Beyond the Grave?

Are They Really Listening?

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...

They's Two (maybe more?) of 'Em!

The Alabama Baptist Article Reporting on the April 26th Elkdale Baptist Church Meeting is Available On-Line

How Do You Spell Liar? M-A-R-K-D-U-K-E

Mark Duke Says Jesus Day should be called Devil Day!

Mark Duke the Separatist Oppressor for Mayor?

"There's a new day coming to Selma"

"We are not praying to the same God"

What God Hath Joined Together, Let Not Man Put Asunder (part 2)

What God Hath Joined Together, Let Not Man Put Asunder (part 1)

According to Mark Duke, If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Laura Vaughn - You're OFF!!

Nothing Need Go To Waste

According to Mark Duke, If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Matt Skelton - You're OFF!!

Hot & Cold - Lukewarm - More MLK Trash Talk

Mark Duke Ain't Got No Trailer Park White Trash?

If You Know Someone Is Off, Tell Them... Mark Duke - You're OFF!!

Is Jesus God - results of the recent poll

COMMENTS TURNED ON

The Ark of Mark - This Boat Won't Float!

Shhhh - Selma's Not Supposed To Know!

Real Lives, Real Hurt

Will The Poor Lower Your Standards?

It's Bob! No, It's Edna! What Does It Matter? It's All A Lie!

I've Been Like A God To You!

An Epilogue - People Do Not knowingly Join Cults

Let It Run Rev. Let It Run - More on Selma's Suckers

Selma's Suckers - The Blacks Have The Same Crappy Gospel As The Whites!

Who is this Jesus Mark Duke Teaches and Preaches? A Different Jesus From the Bible, That's Who!

A Cult? Are you sure? Yes - it's a Different Jesus and a Different Gospel and Ohh So Much More....

The Main Thing - Exposing Mark Duke and the House of God