Berg was evil. He had no real love. For his own wife, or for his kids. He raped his daughters. His root was truly evil.
Now in the early days MANY PEOPLE JOINED WHO WERE ALREADY SAVED. Berg had INTELLECTUAL STRATEGY to put good people to work, and using their talents.
Remember he said at Huntington Beach, "I had given up on myself, and was just pushing my kids forward." So he pushed his kids forward, and at least Hosea, Faith, and Aaron had to have had some sincerity. And a lot of gifted youth who pretty much already believed in Jesus, got caught up in what seemed an exciting move of God. And people who were really strung out on drugs got help. And that was good. BUT BERG WAS IN THE BACKGROUND. And he didn't start taking control until years later. That is when things crossed the line.
And as Don Lattin put in his book, IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE YOU WERE TO BERG OR HIS FAMILY. Some people out in the far flung fields took longer to be corrupted. I know people who even ignored the letters, and hid out when leaders came to their area. So they still had sincere hearts and were from sincerity winning souls. Some people said they won souls but then lost the conviction to try to get people to join.
But I think there is so much information out about all that went wrong, that it is pretty much without excuse to be in there. Some people just have a good thing going. But it isn't about Jesus anymore.
But the root(Berg)was always evil. And it took a long time for the rotten root to kill off the branches and leaves and fruit. But there is no more real fruit. People in there are part of a dead and dying tree.
BUT WE CAN SALVAGE WHAT WAS GOOD. ourselves. The Word speaks for itself. But you have to get the RIGHT SPIRIT BACK WITH YOUR WORD KNOWLEDGE. Otherwise it is Nothing.
Then if you managed to learn any skills like computer, languages, cooking, printing, culture, that is good. But as far as the true spirit of Jesus. No. The SOURCE WAS ROTTEN TO THE CORE. We were contaminated.
But sometimes it takes time, and you get out and run into true Christians, then you start getting back to Jesus. IT IS A HARD ROAD BACK IN A WAY. But if you are SINCERE, REALLY SINCERE,you will find your way back.
We need to pray for Jim. I know how it feels to have your kid stolen from you and then returned to you damaged. Heartbreaking, and it makes you very very angry. It can almost push you over the edge of sanity. So it is not easy.
We need to pray for one another.
> There is no need to fight the TF...but I believe we have to
> descerne what was bad and what was good or still is...!
> It's true we don't have to fight against it.
> God will do that.
> But there is no use in looking for any "good" in the
> cult.
> It's an evil tree that has born horrible evil fruit.
> It needs to be hewn down and cast into the fire.
> I'm sure that God intends to do just that.