One of the favourite tricks played by all cults on their followers is to twist scriptures as per their convenience. Then they follow that twisting with incessant teaching bombardments on their folks. In the process, they ensure that there are no question and answer sessions. One of their key doctrines is about Hating Family? Gross Misinterpretation by TPM
In this post, we discuss a verse which TPM have twisted it beyond recognition for establishing the exclusiveness of their Ministers.
If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26
TPM Pastors claim themselves to be “Apostles”. They have this overwhelming desire to be above others and hence they have become self-proclaimed apostles. One of the key verses they take to quote their superiority is Luke 14:26.
When we study scriptures, we need to follow the rules of hermeneutics to avoid any pitfalls. One of the key rules of hermeneutics is to Let Scripture Interpret Scripture. Click here to know the basic rules of hermeneutics.
But before we do that, we need to let our reader know that the above scripture passage is what applies to ALL DISCIPLES. Ignorant TPM Pastors have made a great assumption that Disciple = Apostle. This is a cardinal mistake. A “Disciple” is any follower of Jesus Christ. We all are called to be a disciple.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matt 28:14
But an Apostle is someone who is called out for duty and is specially SEND for that purpose. The Meaning of the Word Apostle is “To Be Send“. God willing, we will come up with an apostle series later on.
Therefore, we can conclude that ALL Apostles are Disciples, But not ALL Disciples are Apostles. As the Passage in Luke applies to ALL Disciples, it should be applicable to all true Christians reading this passage.
Let Scripture Interpret Scripture
God has been merciful to put in Four gospel books in our Bible so that we do not err while understanding the passages from them. The above passage in Luke 14:26 needs to be verified against similar passages in the other gospels. We should fear taking out scriptures in isolation as many cults including TPM does.
Let us see what those parallel passages tell us.
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Matt 10:37
To know parallel passages of Gospels, we can do a google search and get the results. There are also bibles which help us get these passages.
Click Here to see all parallel passages aligning with this passage.
Reading the Parallel passages, we can easily understand that Jesus is talking about comparative love and not about any hating as explained by TPM.
Why did Luke put in HATE instead of COMPARATIVE LOVE as mentioned in Matthew?
To understand this, we again need to apply the same rule of hermeneutics Let Scripture Interpret Scripture. Therefore now let us turn to look at how the Bible tells us about another incident where comparative love is evident.
“And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
1 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren”
Gen 29:30-31
Please pay attention to the highlighted texts in the above scripture passage. In the first verse(30), it mentions a higher comparative love for Rachel than for Leah. But in the second verse (31) the same comparative love is worded as hate. It’s quite easy for us to understand that Jacob loved Rachel More than Leah which is considered as “Hate” in the next verse. This same pattern is followed in the Gospels where Matthew is telling about Comparative Love and Luke uses the word “Hate”. Therefore, let us understand that the word “Hate” is interchangeable with the reverse order of “love more than” phrase when it comes to comparative love.
So in simple terms, ALL DISCIPLES should have higher love towards Jesus when considered with other members of one’s family. God does not want you to be confused with these kinds of scripture twists perfected by TPM Ministers. Beware of such deceptions used at you.
Let us follow the Lord and his Apostles as we see in the Bible. Don’t be Deceived by any erroneous doctrines.
When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”
John 19:26-27
In the above passage, we can see the love and concern for his mother, even though he was GOD incarnate.
“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
1 Tim 5:8
Paul Calls TPM Ministers as worse than an infidel. Why would you want to be following their erroneous ways?
We know of Parents of TPM Ministers in very bad conditions because they are not funded by their progeny. Somehow the mission has been successful in deluding parents into accepting their fate. Unfortunately, they think that working for a human organization is working for GOD.
Hear the Truth and Follow. Question wrong teachings and Study your Bibles before you accept any nonsense coming from the pulpit.
God Bless you.
Dear Admin…Wonderful article !
TPM stresses so much on their clergy to hate their parents and not even pray for them. If a clergy prays for his family it will become a curse prayer (as often quoted by former Chief Clergy TU Thomas)
My father is old now and his eldest son (my eldest brother) is a TPM minister. My father waits in desperation to speak to his son but most of the time he never attends the call, if he attends he will say that I am busy, which he truly is considering TPMs packed meeting schedules, long queues by laity for giving their tithes and home visiting for collection.
On reading this article one verse came to my mind….
Matthew :19:5
And said, For this cause shall a man LEAVE father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
My question is…Does TPM force the newly wedded grooms to LEAVE their parents and stay seperately ? NO… because the scripture doesn’t demand that a man should leave his parents but shows the importance of wife in the life of a married man.
They have one scale for their white clad entrants and another for the laity. If a believer boy doesn’t look after his parents he will be admonished by the white clads but what about themselves when it comes to caring for their parents ???
@ Liberated
“My question is…Does TPM force the newly wedded grooms to LEAVE their parents and stay seperately ? NO… because the scripture doesn’t demand that a man should leave his parents but shows the importance of wife in the life of a married man.
They have one scale for their white clad entrants and another for the laity. If a believer boy doesn’t look after his parents he will be admonished by the white clads but what about themselves when it comes to caring for their parents ???”
Well said! Leave does not mean literally leave the parents. I wish I had this revelation before I joined the white-clad!
Thanks Admin & all of you who have contributed articles to this site! Like any TPM believer, I was originally skeptical of this site but after reading some of these articles, I can see how blind I was!
He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “ All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ ; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God ), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:6-13 NKJV