One of the main purposes of this study was to convince prospective members that the Assembly was superior to other churches because it followed the New Testament pattern, and that the only way to reach spiritual perfection was through a church with this vision. This is how the Assembly was able to recruit Christians from the college campuses who were already attending other churches. Before new people ever visited an Assembly meeting, they had already been indoctrinated in what to expect. "Getting Hooked" is a young couple's story of how the Four Anchors study brought them into the Assembly from a Baptist church.
In addition to setting the stage for elitism, the Four Anchors begins the process of redefining the meaning of salvation. It is based on two verses in the book of Acts:
Acts 27:29 about the Apostle Paul's shipwreck, "Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern [of the ship]..."
Acts 2:42 about the practices of the early church, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
These verses are taken out of context and put together to create the image that the early church used these four practices as anchors to prevent them from making shipwreck of their faith. The passage taken in context does not teach this. The next verses go on to say that many miraculous signs were done, the believers had all their possessions in common, and they met together every day in the temple. Are these also anchors of the soul? No, this passage is historical. It is simply describing what went on in the early church.
The big problem with this twisting of the Scriptures is that it directs the new person's attention away from the true anchor of faith, which is the assurance of what God has done for them in Christ, to what they must do to follow him. The new message is that becoming a disciple is the only thing that will anchor their soul. This initial indoctrination is then reinforced as new people "come into fellowship" and constantly hear these themes expounded.
People who have left the Assembly would be helped by another look at the Four Anchors study through the new eyes of grace.
Editor, 12/22/05 Reading this story brought something into focus. Cults like the Moonies get people in who otherwise would not join the group by inducing them to a free retreat where they have an experience of mystical manipulation brought about by love bombing, sleep deprivation, not a moment of free time in which to think, and complete immersion in the high emotion of the group. I always thought at least the Assembly didn't recruit unwilling members by manipulation--we were all there willingly except the children. But your story shows how guilt was the manipulation! Guilt was the bait into the trap (and it was what kept the trap shut).
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