Monday, February 27, 2012

An excerpt from the Standards of the Bible Missionary Church, 1959.  It's no wonder I, as a child, didn't understand why it was wrong to do anything at all that was enjoyable, and why many young people who rebelled against the complete suppression of personality were chastised. 

"The formal professor of religion does not wish to expose himself to the burning experience
of holiness. Holiness has always been a rebuke to worldly pride. Women who profess religion and
still cut their hair, wear jewelry and dress immodestly along with people who watch television
and attend such worldly places of amusement as the dance, the show, the race track, rodeos,
skating rinks, ball games and bowling alleys may all be at ease in a cold formal atmosphere. But
let the Holy Ghost descend in mighty power, with blessings for the saints and conviction for
sinners and their hearts will be pricked and condemned before God. Jesus had His greatest trouble
from cold professors of religion, so did Paul and so do true people of God today. A spirit of
complacency cannot exist simultaneously with a burning experience of holiness. "Woe unto them
that call evil good, and .good evil; that out darkness for fight, and light for darkness; that put bitter
for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight!" (Isa. 5:20-21)"
http://reocities.com/Athens/Olympus/1802/submissions/barker_reasons.htm

This link is to a document online written by Bob Barker, outlining his reasons for leaving the Bible Missionary Church.  It gives a detailed account of Mr. Barker's discontent with the BMC changing from its original teachings. 

A link to a PDF document that outlines Bible Missionary Church standards:

http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyctr/books/1601-1700/HDM1683.pdf

Bible Missionary Church Rules & Standards

Bible Missionary Rules

Example from the Bible Missionary Rules link above: 
"Standards" are a primary focal point of the BMC. The term "standards" has become an in-sect labele that is applied to a large number of restrictions on activities, styles of dress, and types of entertainment. Examples of restrictions include members not being allowed to watch television or movies, attend sporting events, visit amusement parks, listen to secular music, or wear jewelry (including wedding bands).[2] Female members are not allowed to wear pants, makeup, or nail polish, and they are expected to wear long dresses. Further, women are typically not allowed to cut, trim, perm, highlight, or color their hair. Another prime concern is with "modesty," with all members being prohibited from wearing sleeves that allow the elbow to show or any form of clothing that allows the knees to show. Women are expected to wear pantyhose anytime they are seen in public. Male members are prohibited from growing their hair longer than their shirt collar. The BMC also has restrictions on activities that can be performed on Sunday, with working, shopping, eating at restaurants, taking leisurely drives, etc. strictly prohibited. The BMC prohibits use of the internet in the home for its members.
This comment was made to wasabiblemissionary's blog "Ever A Bible Missionary?".  Since the blog page appears to be abandoned, I'm hoping she won't mind my borrowing the comment to help others.  "My Parents joined the Bible Missionary Church in 1955 and I was born in 1956. For the next eighteen years I was in church twice on Sunday and on Wednesdays. However my parents had a problem because we were a military family and whenever we moved to a new place we had to start a new church. We started a church in El Paso, and The Phillipines, and then I guess they got tired. When we moved to Vista Califormnia they started going to the Wesleyen Church and later back to The Nazarenes. I have a great deal of respect for the love and devotion of these people but they definitely have the wrong idea about Grace and Works."
This post was taken from a Blog Page called "Ever A Bible Missionary" by wasabiblemissionary.  The site appears to have been abandoned, so I am borrowing her experience.  I hope wasabiblemissionary will be ok with me borrowing her post to help anyone who was, like me, an innocent victim of the Bible Missionary Church in the 1950's and 1960's  "Hello -Have you ever been a member of the Bible Missionary Church? I was. I was thrown into that denomination as a 13 year old. I never knew what my father was getting me in to - but he had already been involved in that church since I was about 7 years old and I had lived with my mother.  He gained custody of me and my siblings - oh my. My life was forever changed! I was afraid! There were some wonderful people in that church - but my father was someone to be feared! We were to NEVER make a mistake! I guess if I had grown up in that denomination, it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but NO! I was born and almost completely raised in the WORLD (as dad would put it!).  
I FEARED God - literally! I thought that if I did not go down to the altar and ask God to forgive me EVERY time there was an altar call - that God would cast me off as he did Satan and I would burn forever in hell! Wow! I was brainwashed that once I asked God for forgiveness, I had to live a "perfect" christian life or I would backslide and go to hell! Then I would have to be sanctified and I would never sin again! Can you belive it!  I wore long dresses with long sleeves and high collars - Little House on the Prairie! Showing an elbow was a "sin". My sister and I used to laugh at that!  After looking back on the past, I realize that the church was a cult. They judge everyone - if you don't look like them you are a sinner. It is so sad! It took me a while - but I know I didn't have to go through all of that to gain God's love. He loves me unconditionally! I don't have to beg God to save my soul! All I had to do was ask, believe and confess! So simple!"

Bible Missionary Church Experiences

I was 5 years old in 1958 when my Mother joined the Bible Missionary Church.  We stayed in the church until I was around 15 years old, and those 10 years were a nightmare!!  My older sister was the most affected, as we had had a "normal" life before BMC.  My younger sister was so young that she was able to be "molded" easier.  My older sister and I were affected psychologically from the experiences we had as a result of being a part of what I can only call a "cult".  It was not unusual for a service to turn into a revival that lasted for hours or days. Numerous altar calls, with approaches by the "elders" to ask if we had any sins to confess, were very scary. A result of this experience was that I could not go into a church without feeling panic attacks upon hearing certain phrasing, or being approached in a certain way. The Bible Missionary Church did a number on me and my family, and I am glad to see there is someone else out there who can understand the damage done.