How are the people of Highlands Christian Fellowship / NSW?

[guest]

i see it looked like it had a bible verse that I wanted to come back and look at again

[BreakFree]

Here's some classic gaslighting from Tim at today's meeting. It sounds like shunning and cutting off ex members has been raised and Tim is trying to shut it down and reframe maintaining family relationships as disobeying God. I hope the congregation can see through this crap and see it for what it is.


Quote by Tim Maurice- HCF- 13 October 2024

“Do you understand the difference between -here’s another question – do you understand the difference -not connected necessarily although it is- do you know the difference between cutting someone off and obeying the Holy Spirit? so I am talking about when family members leave and so on – or friends and so on – and leave and break fellowship and so on. Because one of the most provocative things you can get- so I’ll say ‘oh you know so how are you getting on with such and such?’ and they go – the first line is ‘oh we’re not cutting them off’. So immediately I know that there’s a flaming sword in front of me, in other words, get out of my face. Because whoever said cutting off is what we are doing? Whoever said that? That’s creating a straw man that you can then destroy. You know the straw man argument, you create something that’s so obviously wrong that you can prove that it’s wrong. We’re not cutting people off, but my question to everyone is always the same question: are you prepared to obey the holy spirit absolutely in relation to your sanctification from the very obvious uncleanness of what has taken place? Are you prepared to or aren’t you? That’s the only question. If you say yes, then well obey the holy spirit. And if you’re saying well ‘the holy spirit is in my head, then good luck, you’ve just condemned yourself, right. That is the only question. And if you can say the holy sprit is sanctifying me to go and talk this way or spend- be at this kind of event, then it’s on your head. But then it becomes a very dangerous game to play. That is why it brings you under judgement, so I’d leave those things alone. But can we get clear, we don’t use that term cutting off. And I don’t want to hear it again please. Because it’s just- all it is, is someone blindfolding me and smashing me in the face. So that’s the accusation of Satan, can we just dispense with that? Are you prepared to submit to the Holy Spirit- to the lordship of the Sprit- in relation to these matters? If you’re not, then you know he’s not Lord. That’s the real issue though.”

lets talk about the elephant in your family Tim? How about a certain Niece who's been excommunicated

[guest]

Well spotted BF. We should be looking at the fruit of what Tim does, not what he says. What he said in that excerpt was a complicated mess, but the reality is that he does cut people off. He might use different terminology, but it's the same thing.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" ESV - Mt 7:15–16

And straw man arguments?!? The biggest straw man arguments come from within the CF presbytery and concern people who leave the CF. They are false and misleading stories that paint people to be "unclean," as Tim calls it. I know many people who have left BCF. I was there when they left. I know the stories that were said (by members of the presbytery) immediately following their departure. Now, in the years after leaving, I've spoken with many who've left. They were horrified by what was being said about them behind their back! So Tim speaking about straw man arguments makes me sick!

That excerpt is disappointing to read but not unexpected. At least, there's a positive to this - good on those who said they wouldn't be "cutting them off".

[guest]

We’re not telling you to cut people off, we're saying you should follow the Holy Spirit, who wants you to cut people off.

[Guest2]

We’re not telling you to cut people off, we're saying you should follow the Holy Spirit, who wants you to cut people off.

I'm unsure if this is a post of sarcasm or one to defend what Tim is saying. But just in case, and to be clear...

If a leader is lying and spreading rumours about people who've left to make them appear "unclean" to the remaining CF congregation, that is NOT the Holy Spirit. That's another spirit. But it can be difficult to pick, especially if you're accustomed (and required) to believe every "word" that comes from the mouth of a church leader. Tim can be persuasive and eloquent with words, but that doesn't make him God's messenger. We all need to discern and search the scripture for OURSELVES to ensure that what we're taught is true. Sometimes, this means going and asking someone from a different church. Leaders should welcome this and provide a safe space for church members to challenge their views. If you must say "yes" and agree with everything a church leader says, that's a huge red flag. But sadly, that's what xCF teaches.

I also challenge the notion that the Holy Spirit automatically wants people to disassociate with ones who've decided to go elsewhere or are even "unclean". That's not what Jesus did or taught. For example, many of the people Jesus healed were, in fact, unclean (leprosy, dead people, etc.). Jesus came to save the lost, no matter their state or status. Think about Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well, or the fact that Jesus called a Tax collector to be one of His 12 disciples (Matthew). What is the message of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? The four gospels are full of these accounts, and the letters continually remind us of what Jesus did and taught.

The outcome (fruit) of the CF message is that people often do the opposite of what Jesus taught. People who Jesus loves end up being despised. Rather than fulfilling the great commission, people end up stuck in the one place where (apparently) God has "Called them to be". Rather than celebrating success with a fellow believer who attends another church, they look down on them as if they're a second-class Christian.

It's good to look at these things and reflect on our attitudes. What "spirit" we are of?

[guest]

Very well said!

[Faith Hopegood]

I haven't met this Tim Maurice person but he doesn't sound like a very nice person at all.

Typical of everything cultish and Christian Fellowship, they change the meaning and definition of nearly everything and twist every scripture to suit their own controlling agenda. And that agenda is not to lead people to Christ, it is not to spread the Gospel to the world, but rather it is to completely and 100% control every person under their sphere of influence.

Basically shunning is shunning. You can put lipstick on a pig and call it a supermodel, but at its essential being, it is still just a pig.

Same with shunning. Tim Maurice and Vic Hall and their type may well have changed the description of shunning to "being led by the Holy Spirit" or "we are not meeting with our family for Christmas as we would rather fellowship with our church family at a picnic". It still doesn't change the fact that it is shunning.