The Way

[Guest]

Is anyone familiar with a home fellowship movement called "The Way?"

http://www.theway.org/

Wasn't there a Bible translation in the 70's called that?

[Guest]

Well, Matt Slick at CARM says they're a "cult". Here's an article.


http://www.carm.org/list/way.htm

"<b>From CARM</b> Origins: According to Wierwille, in 1942 God audibly spoke to him and told him that he would interpret the Bible in a new way and that he would teach it according to the principles of the early church. But it wasn't until 1957 that Wierwille resigned his pastorate in the United Church of Christ.
He developed a radio program and began to preach his new doctrines fervently. Many began to follow. Of course, Wierwille's aberrant theology is taught. "

Hmmm. Sounds familiar.

[Guest]

Yikes. Check out This Wikipedia article Pretty bad theology.

[Guest]

The Way International is definitely a cult. I knew someone who was taken in by them while attending college. His parents were so concerned they had "deprogrammers" basically kidnap him to get him out. He heard voices in his head, had a demonic false gift of tongues and ended up in a mental hospital for a time. I haven't heard anything about him in a long time, but I think he seems to have never fully recovered from his "The Way International experience."

Blessings,
Lazarus43

[_Rick_C]

"The Way" is, and always has been, headquartered about 16 miles from where I live in Shelby County, Ohio.

Years and years ago (early 70's)...I went to some of their meetings in New Knoxville, Ohio (once at their headquarters), in their coffee houses of which they had many back then, Bible-study meetings in homes (nowadays they call that "house church"), concerts (with some really good sounding bands), and to their annual big national meeting which was held in the county fairgrounds...three doors away from my house.

I got "witnessed" to by a guy named Steve Unrein, who, I don't know why I have always remembered his name but...I understand he is still in the organization, high up in the hierarchy (I was told about 10 years ago by someone, I think). I was a backslidden teenage "hippy" at this time, though all the real hippies moved to San Fransisco, lol. I was about, like, 14 or 15 maybe.

I grew up in a Pentecostal church and knew enough about the Bible to ask Steve (Unrein) stuff. The Way is not trinitarian...we talked about it and they spoke of it often (against it) in meetings. They were also antinomian and taught that, "I trust in God I won't get cancer from smoking cigarettes." Pre-marital sex was somehwhat discouraged but they taught that, "If it is real love..."God is love" (misusing 1 John).

I got saved just before I turned 19 and JPUSA (Jesus People USA, out of Chicago, the Resurrection Band, those folks)...They came to Sidney, Ohio (my town, where the fairgrounds are) to preach the gospel to The Way. I found out about them coming, met them, and joined in with them. They stayed at a local church...a group of about 15 of them came.

I still have pictures of them and have thought about sending them to JPUSA (when I get a printer that can do that). I emailed one JPUSA and they didn't know the people I met offhand.

Anyway, we street preached the old-fashioned way on a corner, met people individually and talked (like Ray Comfort does) and the JPUSA's put on plays with wild costumes & stuff. I don't recall anyone getting saved...but some of them listened, a little. We weren't permitted to enter the fairgrounds.

I understand Victor Paul Wierwille, The Way's founder, who I sort of heard once (I was far away after I got saved)...I heard he said he would rise from the dead on the third day. And, um, when he didn't, The Way lost a whole lot of its members.....

I used to have an article on this. People around town say he said that....I have met a couple people who grew up with him.

Anyway, back in the 80's The Way was all over the U.S. I was in the service and moved around a lot, seeing their bumperstickers on cars: everywhere I went.

After Wierwille died, I never hear a thing about them or from them. Locals say its dwindled to a pretty small group. I don't know if their theology has changed or improved in any way (like how the Worldwide Church of God became "orthodox").

But there for a few years when I was a kid...The Way was really happnin around here. My parents allowed me to go to their stuff, giving me the choice to "leave church" at age 13...which I did. My Dad would always ask what the Bible lesson or topic was about and we talked. He knew they were wrong and was so patient with me in all of this (Dad is with Jesus right now), Amen!

I think some of the people were on their way to getting saved or maybe they were and just didn't have good teaching yet. (I know some people joined The Way and probably got saved...only to leave for a better "church" later, usually soon). I feel many of them were just searching outside of the normal church, like I was......

One thing impressed me from this Steve Unrein guy. He said he got off of drugs through Jesus and didn't do them any more (though he smoked cigs and said he trusted God on not getting cancer). I was doing drugs not long after this time and always remembered what Steve said. Maybe I should try to look him up?

I don't know if this helps much, In Jesus,
Rick

[_Rick_C]

Derek,

Briefly looking over your wikipedia link...I remember I was sort of involved for a while. Well, I was really interested (and now recall I had learned details from their theology back then).

I only went to one meeting at the New Knoxville, Ohio "center." At the time they were building new buildings and we had "church" in what looked like two house trailers fused together. Yes, that was what it was, I think.

They had their own songs, like JWs. I think one guy might have spoken in tongues...which wouldn't have been strange to me growing up in a Pentecostal church that did it a LOT, lol.

Anyway, the songs were kind of Pentecostal sounding...but they lacked something and were "odd." And when the guy who was leading the singing spoke in tongues (or maybe I was afraid he might, I can't remember if he did for sure)...it was all just like creepy...real, REAL CREEPY! I think I left to go to sit in the car but it was locked and it was winter time, cold. So I came back in and hid in the back and wanted it to hurry up & get over (I hitched a ride there).....

I thought, "This ain't for me!"....so I quit going to The Way. Dad had said enough to convince me they weren't quite right. I don't know how to explain it...it was just odd & there was an evil feeling. The home meetings were fun (free food for a kid) but they were kind of weird also, now that I think of it. Everyone just sat there and didn't say much till the teaching started. I remember I would start asking stuff and talking about the Bible. Once, I think they kind of told ("asked") me to be quiet, lol.

I'll try to see if I can find (and verify) that Wierwille actually said he would rise from the dead. Of course, it would be hush-hush if he really did. My Mom might know about it because a guy I used to work with said it was in the paper (I didn't live in Ohio at the time). Might be a rumor, "small towns"...you never know, lol

In The Real WAY (JESUS)...who's grave is: empty!
Rick

[_Rick_C]

Darin,

I lived in Houstron, TX (well, "Stinka" Pasadena) from '81-'83. At that time there were The Way bumperstickers on LOTS of cars in the greater Houston area. They were bright green with black letters. Anyway, God bless you (all).............Rick

P.S. The Living Bible was once called "The Way".....back in the day, lol

[Guest]

My mom and dad had "the way" living bible- i was always thought the pictures of the hippies were cool. the intros to the various books were interesting. mom and dad werent hippies (far from it) so i am not sure why they had "the way."

TK