Potter's House a cult?

My exact position on the Potter's House

(I will be adding info to this page when I can - it is a bit rushed atm)

My exact position on the Potter's House

While many speculate about exactly who I am or why I do what I do, here is an exact report of my thoughts on CFM and why I will never ever return. My heart is not to simply write people off as many other ex-CFMer's do on the internet, but to help. Almost, 90% of people I once knew in CFM have left, and most unsuccessfully. My heart is to show people both in and out of CFM exactly where it is off base, the bad fruit that results from it's unbiblical teachings and the remedy for it. My hope is for reform within CFM, or for people to exit smoothly. Many people who leave CFM go straight back into the world, which is usually taught as proof that CFM is of God, due to the falling away rate of those who leave. Some even stay in CFM out of fear of backsliding, because they have seen others leave unsuccessfully, and are told that if they leave, they too will backslide. The graveyard of of ex CFMer's including Wayman's former right hand men is a testament used by CFM to put the fear of God in others not to leave or be a rebel. Hopefully, this site can help people leave being grounded on the pure scriptures, and not on some pastor, denomination, guru, or some other thing that causes co-dependency as thrives on making people co-dependent on leaders, and the fellowship. Another concern is that break away groups many times keep the basic errors of CFM and don't deal with the errors, and thus repeat the errors of CFM, however usually on a minor scale.

The current state of Christianity is a mess and the Potter's House has made certain stands against current trends within Pentecostalism such as the Promise Keepers, Toronto Blessing, Pensacola, etc. People like Benny Hinn, and Joel Osten are, rightfully, mocked in CFM and called out as false teachers and prophets. But CFM has its own issues that are usually totally taboo to speak about. One of the issues in Australia was that almost all of the other Pentecostal churches ran with the Toronto/Pensacola crowd. This automatically made CFM seem valid, as it had rejected obvious deception. But just because CFM didn't howl like a dog or run about like a chicken, it does not indicate that CFM is doctrinally correct. CFM has several false doctrines it has enforced, but it usually points to some other weirder more wacky church, to avoid its own self examination.

CFM was very good at exposing false doctrines and teachers. Credit is given where credit is due. If you get someone "locked in" a Potter's House, they probably won't go for Benny Hinn, or Copeland, but unfortunately will swallow other harmful doctrines like tithing, headship doctrine, generational curses, being placed in a church, and false healing teachings. If fact, people who leave CFM and continue in Church, tend towards a reformed belief, which is probably due to the hatred of the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches by people like Washer and MacArthur.

I did many studies backing up the doctrines of CFM (I ran pottersclub.com for many years), and most of it is biblical; the Trinity, healing, tongues, etc, and some things were extraordinarily correct, only reinforcing to me at the time that CFM was God's vessel for His church in the last days. When I first got saved, it was a supernatural experience, and God clearly told me to go to Lismore NSW, and not long after, I was in CFM. So I knew God had put me there, and still to this day believe he did, but when everything turned sour and the Pastor lied many dozens of times, I had no guide as to what to do, as many who had left had done so unsuccessfully. Because initially I knew God spoke to me to go to Lismore and not long after I was in CFM, I guess that is why I wouldn't leave the church so flippantly like others around me who may have been saved at a concert or on the streets, I believed God had "placed" me there. God put me there, but God also caused me to exit from there.

The "pattern"

Usually the pattern consists of many factors, at times being just the big 3, evangelism, discipleship, and church planting; at other times, a church being modeled and patterned off Prescott, or other "mother" churches. There is probably no christian on earth that would disagree with the big 3, but usually, this is also used to brow beat people who do anything outside of the big 3. I have had a strong desire to enter into bible translation work for many years, but this was generally seen as a stupid hobby by CFM. Anything outside of the general street evangelizing, church planting and supporting new churches, and doing concerts dramas etc, was seen as a waste of time. So if you wanted to do anything outside the box, you were usually rebuked, or given another task. This sounds harmless, but if you are "locked in" to a Potter's House, and told that God "placed" you there, and basically if you leave you will probably backslide and then go to hell eventually, and told CFM is the only really true church, then if you have other visions or plans, they are stifled by the doctrines of men.

Tithing

While in CFM I gave a lot of money. I was encouraged to tithe from the outset, and never really flinched from it. Tithing is only for Israel, and never once for the gentiles.

Headship

Pastors in CFM are usually respected like royalty, or at least expect to be. The headship doctrine taught by John Bevere is a basic aberration within the Pentecostal movement, as well as several other movements. Cults like Bethel in Redding CA have this false teaching, but simply call it "honor" teaching and focus on the "blessings" of it, whereas most Pentecostal groups warn negative aspects of "touching God's anointed." Sure, we shouldn't treat leaders poorly, but in no way are we to be 100% submissive to a leader especially when they are out of line or in sin. The concept of headship is straight out of the Old Testament. Kings demanded respect. In the New Testament Jesus, who is the King of Kings, came down humbled Himself, taking on the form of a man, He got a towel and washed the disciples feet. He served them. Jesus said:

Matthew 20:25-27

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Matthew 23:8-11

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren*. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Peter said:

1 Peter 5:2-4

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

It is common within Church circles for people to ask "who is your pastor?" or, "who are you submitted to?" Nowadays I tell people that Jesus is the great shepherd, and I don't need a pastor to run my life, but Jesus and His words run my life. This usually offends 90% of people I meet, who usually are stuck in a denomination style church with a headship structure. In CFM, people are told that if you don't have headship, you are a rebel. Sermons after sermon show multiple examples of David and Saul, Absalom and David, and submission to kings. But think for a minute. Are pastors kings? Are they to be submitted to like David was? CFM would pride itself as being a New Testament church, but look at this PURE legalism at work here. The phrase "touch God's anointed" is usually sprouted to anyone who questions headship. In CFM I personally found most had rejected using this term, but the practice still existed. After all, to literally "touch" God's anointed meant to actually kill him.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

This verse is usually quoted lavishly by headship concerning those who have left, but it is completely out of context.

*Note in Matthew 23 - ye are all brethren! Thus Wayman, Payne, Warner, etc are brethren, and can be treated exactly like all other brethren. In CFM usually people usually have tiers of authority. Wayman at the top, followed by a board he has put in power (and claims to be accountable to), then national leaders, then state and territory leaders, then area leaders, then local pastors, then people in the church, evangelists, worship leaders, ushers, greeters etc. CFM has rank and a pecking order. Each level has a new level of authority and submission. Many times this authority goes to the head of leaders. In secular society, it can easily be pointed out that human nature can oftentimes change when people are in authority or in submission to authority. Some police officers become a law unto themselves, abusing power, and refusing to be a public servant. So too, many CFM leaders have guru status and are regarded as Moses or David.

CFM teaches that you must submit unconditionally to your pastor. Although many deny this, as I did until I found out the hard way, it is fact. CFM teach 100% submission to headship, or you are a rebel. To be in "rebellion" with the pastor is to come against God Himself.

An unhealthy church usually has the pastor as the untouchable guru, and also enforcers for the guru, who protect others from gossip, rumour, false (or true) accusation, and any type of criticism aganisnt the guru pastor, bully anyone who opposes into submission, and make vital decisions about who is a "rebel" or not. The enforcers are usually they type who will listen to hours of gossip and trivia about church issues, but will go back to the pastor with the information, giving estimations about how saved people are, or who needs to be disciplined.

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