University Daily Kansan, April 30, 1982
Page 5
Maranatha
From page 1
therefore commit. In the area of my finances and material possession, my abundance is made available.
The covenant also says that all things operating in the member's life will be watched over and directed to building the Kingdom of God.
Dwall said the statement meant that if any people were was in need, the others should come to his aid.
"In early America, the Church took care of the people," he said.
A MEMBER OFFERED Duvall her car, for example, when he was in the shop a few weeks ago.
DUVALL SAID that he not seen the Covenant itself since November 1880, and that since his group began at KU in September 1880 it would be impossible for such chitches that were included in Bible supplements.
The Covenant also says that God ordained those who were in authority, so to resist them was to resist God's will. The next point stressed obedience because those who were in authority "watch over your souls, as they must give an account."
During one of his talks, Pappas cited a survey by Campus Crusade that questioned college students about their fears. It said that 95 percent of students would never have someone else to love.
Pappas said that only God could give the freedom and freedom from loneliness which people lack.
"You're either serving God or you're serving Satan. Pappas said, "There's no in between."
The Critics
This hardline ideological stance has caused varied reactions among leaders of organized religions in Lawrence, many in response to words and actions of Maranatha members.
"I personally believe it is as much as sect as the "Moonies or any other sect," said Paul Messino, First Presbyterian Church pastor. "I was a supporter of that year ago.
"In the beginning as I dealt with them, I camped groups that had a legal view of the Bills."
BUT MESSINEO and other church leaders said they changed their first impressions of Maranatha after some members of the clergy come to them with questions about Maranatha.
One young woman came to Messina when the Maranatta Church told her God wanted her to be a nun.
The elders said they had two weeks in which to make plans, and six weeks to marry, he said. So far, she has not married him.
far, she has not married him. Duval denied arranging marriages, but
DeeDee Tillman, Manhattan senior at Kansas State University and former Maranatha member, described her experiences with the group.
"To get married, you could never date," DeeDee said.
She said Maranatha members believed God would instruct each man and woman who to help them succeed.
"You give it to the elders, and they pray on it and decide," she said.
She said that one girl had thought God told her to marry two different times, but the elders had
DeeDee was a Maranatha member at Manhattan and Lincoln, Neb., for six months. The Lincoln and Manhattan groups followed the same beliefs, she said.
F RANK TILLMAN, DeeDee's father and professor of industrial engineering at K-State, testified before the State Legislature in favor of a deprogramming bill to allow parents to kidnap children from "cults" in order to deprogram them.
Tillman said his daughter was deprogrammed from Maranatha in one and one-half days.
Tillman, Messina and Rev. Vincent Krise, a Catholic priest at St. Lawrence Center, said Maranatha chose Bible verses to complement its doctrine.
They have an artistic way of taking things out of context. "Tilman" they take a line here from "The Wolf," and the man's name is
DeeDee and her father said money was an important angle to Maranatha.
"If you took the money angle out of them, you wouldn't see them." Tillman said.
Deee said, "They have this saying about giving money if you don't give 10 percent, or probably God is giving it."
"You need to be giving 30 to 40 percent of what you earn."
DeeBee said, "It's a dangerous thing in the set up of the group. The elders are right and you are
REV. PETER CASPARIAN, Episcopal pastor
Revered and highly respected House, had a mild opinion of Marinatha.
"I see Maranatha as a reasonably typical historical movement—a reaction against organized churches," Casparian said.
Right now, he said, Maranatha is in its "first flush of enthusiasm and zealousness, and thinking that they are not going to have the problems an organized church has."
"What I would say is basically a problem to me, is that college students will be exploring a different type of religious experience during their college years," he said.
Campus Crusade could be considered by many to be the type of religious experience because it is inter-ethnic.
He said churches needed to maintain a realistic approach when dealing with students.
Dan Keller, Campus Crusade director, said he thought Maranatha was a Christian organization much like Campus Crusade except Maranatha did not be a church, while Campus Crusade did not.
'Obviously, Maranatha is a Christian organization 'Keller said.
KELLER SAID Maranatha was not a cult.
However, Maranatha leaders do not approve of the beliefs of other churches.
or Die Benis." People from Campus Crusade think Maranatha is fine, but people in Maranatha do not think that people in Campus Crusade and Ichthus are saved."
Orthodox Church. Icthus is another Bible study group that attracts young people. Both encourage participation in local churches.
The different interperipes of the word **Christian** has caused another controversy **Christian** has caused another controversy
Maranatha members believe that Maranatha
"You're not a Christian because you belong to a specific denomination. You'll be like that young girl who spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Bible study, but spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in drunkness."
—Nick Pappas, Maranatha evangelist
is a true Christian church and that most people in
the world may simply go through the
process of worshiping God.
"It's not enough to confess you're a Christian—you are manifesting the Christian life!" Pappas asked. "You're not a Christian because you belong to a specific denomination. You'll be like that young girl who spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Bible study, but spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in drunkenness."
PAPPAS WAS originally a member of the Greek Orthodox Church before his involvement with Maranatha. His wife, Patty, had been a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
Krishe voiced the same concern as Casparian and Messione. He said Maranatha was against
want to reach the unchurched, and yet it seems like they do a very serious job of trying to attract people who do have a church relationship", Krihesa said. "A number of people involved not only become pro-Maranatha, but they also become anti-Catholic."
Maranatha gave anti-Catholic pamphlets written by Keith Green of Last Days Ministries to a young Catholic woman who was becoming involved in Maranatha.
Green, who is not a member of Maranatha,
declined to be interviewed.
In his literature Green wrote, "Mouths that used to speak out boldly against the Church of Rome have been quieted by the times. It no longer is in vogue to speak of the pope as 'the Antichrist' or the Catholic Church as the 'whore of Babylon.'"
Dwall said, "We don't teach Keith Green's writings at all. We don't distribute them."
WHEN REMINDED of the incident, Dvall said that that was an isolated incident and that to his knowledge, it was the only time it had happened.
But Messina asked, "Why is their (Marnarantha's) press printing it up?"
"I think they attack every denomination there is," Messina said.
Caspian said that in the past few months, he was aware of Maranatha's anti-Catholic ideas.
"They see the Roman Church as a symbol of corruption in institutionalized group history." Caspian said. "They're trying to strip 2,500 years of history from the church that the Ace (of the Apostles) had."
Caspian said he had been concerned when he heard the girl. He said it prompted him to write a letter to Green.
IN MARCH, Caspian received a postcard from Green that thanked him for his letter and said, "We are responsible to do what God has told us to . . . and we believe in our hearts that one of these things is to expose Catholicism for what it is and to warn people of its deception."
"One of my problems is that they say they
Pappas clearly expressed his disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church.
"What does it take to become a saint? If you believe the Church in Rome, 400 years after you've died, they'll evaluate your life; and if you're to be on a medal or dashboard, you'll."
KRISEI SAID he did not think Maranatha
reliation and religious belief of other cultures
The Believers
"Anyone who claims to teach another person in a public forum should have credentials to teach," Krishe said. "There is no student at the University of Kansas who would sit in any
classroom under any instructor, that they knew someone had authorized that instructor to
The Epipacist, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian churches all require an undergraduate degree and three years of education, and affirmation by their respective church hierarchy.
Massinee said the Presbyterian Church required proficiency in Greek and Hebrew, the languages of the Bible, and a degree in Old Testament, New Testament or Bible Study.
He said Maranatta's misunderstanding of organography and the deprive structure, reflected its lack of credentiality.
Bill Reginole, administrator at the Marantha Campus Center in Gainesville, Fla., countered this charge, saying pastors such as Duvall went to the intensive intense Bible study course with workbooks.
"They are trained right on the job until they are mature enough." Reginolea said.
HE SAID the length of time for the Bible study varied from person to person.
"It depends on how fast he wants to move and what God's spoken to him about," he said.
Reginaole said Maranatha gave an overview of the history and did not offer a degree for the course.
But Maranatha members are idealistic and enthusiastic about God. One Maranatha member is a Rhodes Scholar.
Several members of the group talked about their beliefs.
'I'm not perfect, but I hope to attain it,' said Chris Alexander, Fontana, Kani, sophomore.
"I was walking around hurt from past relationships, . . . during that time God draws man to repentance. He showed me that I was living a life without God.
*Marnaranth is called to the college campus.*
*People like yourself and myself will be world*
*changing.*
Kurt Richter, Lawrenceville, N.J., senior.
sooks like an enthusiastic about his faith.
"Now I know him. He's reality in my life." You say he knows anybody on the man. You've got to humble you to him.
"My desire is to be the best person I can be. I needed healing from the touch of God."
Messina told Maratha members seemed to be insulted, but the sincerity reminded him of Lauren's past.
"Linus said it doesn't make any difference what you believe as long as you're sincere." Messine said. "Linus is always waiting for the Great Pumpkin.
"Sincerity is not really the criteria for one's belief."
But Tilman said, "It's like carbon monoxide. You don't know you're in it, till it gets you out."
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