For those of you living in NZ you will be very aware of what is happening around a church called Destiny.
They have had a history with the press in the last few years, with their political activism, church creeds and now their new 'city of God'.
Destiny church is run by a self proclaimed Bishop Brian Tamaki. I call him self proclaimed because most people who become bishops are made so within a church structure that is affiliated with a larger global structure (think Anglican and Catholic). They also are appointed by those higher up in the church whereas Brian was ordained by his own people as Bishop when there was no church structure to actually require this title. He was not appointed by anyone higher up, therefore he is self appointed.
He was also part of a movement to start a Destiny political party (that fell flat) and was a huge part of protesting the 'anti-smacking' bill that seemed to split NZ down the middle. The media managed to portray him, unfairly I might add, as a abuse loving crazy who wanted the right to beat his children. They went too far, but this is how a majority of us first heard about Destiny.
Now Brian wants to start a 'city of God' in the small area of Wiri in NZ. Here the church members will live, breed, educate their children and have a purely 'Christian environment'.
This is causing no end of debate around NZ churches as to whether Brian has gone to far into the realms of a cult sect of the church or if we should support what he is doing for God.
Because I can, I am adding my two cents worth.
I am so worried about this new development that I have done considerable research on it. I have been in contact with people who work with identifying cults, I have read numerous news reports on Destiny, I have talked to people who know Brian personally and his ideals. I have also talked to people who use to be in Destiny and have left for whatever reasons. I wanted to be informed, not just by what the media would tell me, and what I have learned has worried me no end.
The idea of a 'city of God' is based on ideas out of the OT of Jerusalem; Brian is trying to create the New Jerusalem that is talked about in Revelation. He is trying to create an environment that's only purpose is to worship God. While this may sound appealing, there are many flaws to this.
Firstly, in Revelation we are told that Jesus will establish the New Jerusalem, not Brian or any other human, and his attempt to create one now has issues not only of his view of himself but also of a over-realized eschatology (someone who thinks that the Kingdom of God should be here in full now) and this places the power in the hands of Brian, not of God.
It also means that the children and adults will have no outside teaching or influence to help shape and challenge their thinking. They will be taught Destiny theology, Destiny doctrine and Destiny school syllabus. This will mean no accountability with other churches or developing of theology in conversation with others. This is not good! It means that if something horrendously wrong is taught then no one has a chance to take Brian aside and talk about it with him. It means that children may grow up with a distorted view of the Bible because they have had no one else to listen to apart from Brian.
Lastly, and this is my biggest concern, in order to be part of the 'city of God' his followers must first sell their houses and land and move to Wiri. Now Destiny is already well known for asking for lots of money from it's congregants and, as my cult expert friend says, when a church asks its people to sell their land, move to the churches land and (possibly) give their savings to the church then this should set off warning bells. It means if people want to leave they have no where to go and funds to do it with. They have been isolated from their communities. ANY church that isolates people is not preaching the gospel of love and community that Jesus gave.
So is it a cult? I don't know but it certainly has me worried and I am not afraid of saying that if you are part of this, please think pray and ask people outside of Destiny what they think of it all. I think Christians get so scared of judging others that we are too afraid to speak out when we see something that is actually potentially dangerous.
Brian may be a good dude, he may have changed lives, but what he is doing is dangerous and, frankly, cannot be backed up by a full reading of Scripture. It is too reminiscent of other religious cults that cut themselves off from society to leave me feeling comfortable with it.
Below is the latest article on Brian, have a read and fell free to comment.
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