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Welcome to
Make Straight Paths!
This web site is dedicated to the glory of God. It was
created to lift up the truth as revealed in the Bible, and to compare
and contrast various doctrines that are held by the Family with Bible passages that expound
on the same topics. It examines a number of Family-specific Scripture interpretations to ascertain whether the Family has valid interpretations.
What are you looking for?
What's this site about?
I would like some general information about the
Family.
Does this site attack David Berg?
I am a current member of the Family. Why should I
read this material?
I'm thinking about joining the Family. What
do they believe?
I used to belong to the Family. Sometimes I'm
still confused about what to believe.
What is the most important error
in the Family?
I want to know if the Family explanation
of a particular verse is correct.
What are the most recently posted pages about?
What about spirit helpers?
What about the keys of the kingdom?
What about sex?
How does the Family see salvation?
What is sin?
Can I insist that God answer my prayer?
How can I find God's will?
What is 'living by faith'?
What is daily life like in
the Family?
What is a "ML" or a "GN"? I don't understand
Family terminology.
I can't find the page I was reading
before.
I want to ask you something.
Who is behind this site?
How did Family leadership react to this site?
How should we study the Bible?
Does the Family misuse the Bible?
Can you recommend some other resources?
Some suggestions
If you are new
to the Family and want to know general information, read 'Who
is the Family', then perhaps the article on
Wikipedia.
If you are thinking about joining the Family, or you know someone who
is, you should start with
What Potential Members Should Know.
Make Straight Paths does not give an extended history of the
Family, as other ex-member sites provide such
details, in particular
the
page on exFamily. A brief overview of the studies on this site is given on the 'Topical
Studies' page. Please note that most of the studies published here
assume some prior understanding of Family beliefs, both general and
specific. This will be addressed in the future.
If you are a
current member of the Family, please read the
Introductory Letter specifically addressed to you.
All the studies posted on this site are listed on
the left side of this screen. It is recommended to begin with the first
few studies under 'The Bible': 'The Word of
God', 'The Standard', 'Unity
of Doctrine' and 'New
Revelations'. Thereafter, it is best to start with the first study
listed under each topic: 'Keys', 'Spirit
Helpers', 'Galatians 5', 'Where
is God?', 'Salvation' and 'Commanding
God'. Please note that if you disagree with the biblical
interpretation posted here, the authors welcome
feedback of any kind. The issue here is not whether or not this web
site has a better Bible interpretation than the Family but rather what
the Bible actually says. Each person is responsible to study and
understand biblical principles for him or herself, and this site is an
attempt to add some balance to various Family interpretations. If you
have a specific verse you want to look up, you could try the
Scripture Index. If your verse is not
there, contact us and we'll add it to our
'to-do' list!
Disclaimer
This web site does not attempt to provide a well-rounded theology,
exposition or explanation of all the verses cited. In time, the authors
intend to expand the site that it may act as a mini commentary on
selected verses or topics. However, that is an immense job, and the
result will inevitably remain rather narrow compared to the depth of
treatment that the Bible deserves. Therefore, it should be noted that
the purpose of this web site is to examine the doctrines of The Family,
specifically for current and ex-members. All studies should be seen in
that light. The question that initiated most pages was not, "What is the
message of the book of Hebrews?" or "How does the Bible develop an
evangelical theme through the Old and New Testaments?" but rather, "The
Family believes, teaches and practises a certain doctrine. Is this
doctrine correct, according to the Bible?"
The result of this approach is that although the authors believe that
their analysis is correct, they are also well aware that there are
volumes that can and should be written on each topic, in order to
present a well rounded thorough teaching that is applicable to all
Christians in all situations. Therefore, if you feel that a particular
study is lacking in some regard, please bear in mind that the purpose of
this site is narrow, in that it is designed to examine Family doctrines,
and then, if you wish, contact us.
What's New?
The Two Builders. This
familiar story is presented to children in pictures, songs,
flannelgraphs, devotions, and Sunday school story times week after week
after week. In fact, this story is so well-known, that it hardly seems
possible to misinterpret it. Family children know the story well, and
anyone who has spent any time teaching children in the Family probably
has the catchy jingle permanently stuck in their head: “The wise man
built his house upon the rock… but the house on the sand went splat!”
However, a close examination of this parable reveals some rather
startling applications, and highlights an important principle of Bible
study
Who should read the
studies published here?
This site has been created specifically for three groups
of people:
-
Current Family members, regardless of status or
position who wish to take an honest look at ‘those doctrines’ in the
light of the Bible. Your faith is founded on the Bible. You know you
have salvation because of what the Bible says. You know the Bible is
the truth of God and contains the mind and heart of God. You are
unafraid to study what the Bible says about the Family doctrines
because you know that if those doctrines are right, they will stand.
Faith is built on the Bible, so studying the Bible can never shake
your faith. Anything that crumbles and falls after reading the Bible
cannot be true. Are you willing to study the Bible? Please also read
the introductory letter written to
you.
-
Former members who want to find peace in the Word.
You love the Lord, you love the Bible. Sometimes, however, you are
confused. You may have been in the Family for many years and Family
interpretations that were ingrained in you pop up from time to time,
or even constantly. Some of these doctrines seem so logical, and
easy to accept. Are they true? You want peace in your heart. You
want the Word you can stand on, to justify to yourself or to others
why you do or do not believe certain things. You want the truth that
sets you free from the confusion that sometimes besieges you. There
is an introductory letter
written to you.
-
Prospective members who wish to compare specific
Family doctrines with the Bible before making the decision whether
or not to join the Family. You love the Lord, perhaps you are
recently born again and are filled with zeal to serve the Lord.
Perhaps you are tired of the complacency and spiritual lethargy you
have found in mainstream Christianity. Your ultimate desire is to
serve the Lord in truth. You have no wish to live for the world, you
don’t want to live a self-centred existence, you want to give your
life for Jesus. Yet you also know that Jesus Himself warned us not
to be deceived. Many of the Family doctrines appear appealing,
logical and convincing. What does the Bible actually say about those
doctrines? Note that the decision to join or not to join the Family
is yours and yours alone. Neither we nor Family members can take that
from you. The purpose of this site is to examine the beliefs you
would be expected to hold to in the perfect light of the Bible. You
can get an overall view of the main differences between the Family
and other churches in the page
What
Potential Members Should Know. It's a good place to start.
No personal attacks
The articles published on this site will not contain
personal attacks on any person in the Family, including past or present
leadership. The focus here is the Bible, not who is to blame, or what
should be done to them. We are all accountable before God to follow Him
in truth, and these articles are dedicated to lift up the truth. If you
wish to read accounts of ex-members’ personal experiences in the Family,
you could try one of the other sites. However, the Bible says that if
you believe someone is doing the wrong thing, “you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted”. (Gal. 6:1 NKJ) The articles published here are
written with that principle in mind. Having said that, there are places
on this site where reference to Family leadership is unavoidable,
usually as the authors or propagators of a particular teaching. For the
most part, past and present leadership publicly have taken full
responsibility for the teachings they disseminate. They do not always
take responsibility for their followers' application of those teachings,
but they do stand behind the teachings themselves. Therefore, no offence
should be taken if a page on this site names David Berg as the author of
a particular doctrine, even if the study concludes that the doctrine is
unbiblical.
© 2007 Make Straight Paths |
