Posted on 01/14/2002 2:14:57 PM PST by truthandlife
From: http://www.religioustolerance.org/fam_love.htm
In 1976, Berg encouraged the women members of the group to engage in "flirty fishing". The term was based on Jesus' injunction "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Women members were urged to go into bars and befriend men. They were expected to seduce potential male converts if necessary to in order to encourage them towards a religious conversion and membership in the organization. The media had a feeding frenzy with this innovative form of evangelism, portraying the COG women as "Hookers for Jesus." In his 1979 annual report, Berg stated that his "FFers" (Flirty Fishers) had "witnessed to over a quarter of a million souls, loved over 25,000 of them and won about 19,000 to the Lord."
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From: http://www.thefamily.org/ourfounder/tribute/trib_21.htm
In 1976, David proposed an unprecedented corollary to the Law of Love: He contended that, in certain circumstances, it would be acceptable for a Christian to have sexual relations with someone in an effort to demonstrate a tangible manifestation of God's Love, thereby helping them to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This doctrine became known as "Flirty Fishing," a term that David adapted from Jesus' admonition to His disciples to "follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). It was practiced by many Family members until 1987, when it was discontinued, largely due to the need to spend more time in other forms of outreach.
In presenting this new approach to soul-saving, David reasoned with his followers:
"Do you really believe that 'to the pure all things are pure' (Titus 1:15), and that 'all things are lawful unto you'? (I Corinthians 6:12).
"Would you do it for Jesus? -- Then why not for others? 'If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food (including sex?), and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body (sex?), what doth it profit?' (James 2:15,16).
"What better way to show them the Love of God than to do your best to supply their desperately hungry needs for love, fellowship, companionship, mental and spiritual communication, and physical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, warmth, affection, a tender loving kiss, a soft warm embrace, the healing touch of your loving hands, the comforting feeling of your body next to theirs -- and yes, even sex if need be!"
"What greater way could you show anyone your love than to give them your all in the bed of love? How much more can you show them the Love of God than to show them His Love to the uttermost through you? How much more love can you show them than this?"
"There's no amount of love that could possibly be illegitimate to try to win a soul! There's no sin in love to begin with, and there's no 'sin' so great that God would condemn you for it when it's done in love, ... because when it's love it can't be sin."
"The only price that's worth it is an immortal undying soul! That's the price we'd even go to bed for!: The salvation of an eternal soul! -- And that is worth it!"
"The greatest need of man is love, so the greatest service to man is love! That's why FFing [Flirty Fishing] is such a service. It is the greatest, most sacrificial service that anyone can possibly give, outside of actually dying, because it is laying your life on the line. You are laying down your life or your wife for love, love of the Lord. Unselfish love! I'm not just talking about fleshly gratification, but for the love of someone, sacrificial love, even risky love, dangerous love!"
"Any price is not too big to pay to save a soul! ... Jesus gave His life, and we should be willing to give ours."
They seem to choose to ignore all the scriptures dealing with sex, marriage, and sexual immorality. They are only interested in those scriptures that they can twist or take out of context to fit their needs.
They equate love with sex, not recognizing the difference between the two, and they also claim that sex is something the body needs. I got some news for them: you can live without sex.
Jesus was referring to bodily NEEDS: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Sex does not fall under that category. Jesus even speaks directly against fornication (which is exactly what this is), but they have chosen to ignore THAT part of the Bible.
I was not addressing whether people have ministered to hookers or porn people in the past. What I am talking about are quasi-religious figures who suggest that there is nothing in the aforementioned professions that is inconsistent with scripture. The '70s group called the Children of God, one of the world's most infamous cults, not only engaged in plural marriage, but encouraged their teenage daughters to become "fishers of men" through a practice known as "flirty fishing" -- which, essentially, was luring (more) horny men into the church.
BTW, re Kellie Everts: she has begun her own church, called something like "The Church of God in Us All" or sumpin.
Quite a few.
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