Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

21
When They Exclude You
1986
JESUS CULT — REV STANTON’S KINGDOM. That was us —
according to a pamphlet that started to have a wide private
circulation! This virulent little job carried allegations of heavy
shepherding, deprived kids, infallible authority, legalism, empire
building, world-hatred, recruitment and even forced labour.
The authors twisted the truth until it was barely recognisable,
and Noel in particular came under vicious personal
attack.
Sadly, there was a ready market for sensational rumours,
half-truths, and lies. What gave this pamphlet more credibility
was that it was written by two ex-members, supposedly
with ‘inside knowledge’. But as Stanley Jebb had pointed out
in Renewal, few churches would want to be judged by those
who left them. The views of these brothers were particularly
distorted. One elder who had left us received a copy and tore
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