There can be very little doubt that religion and religious movements continue to be powerful forces that can have a profound influence upon their communities and especially their members. There are thousands of sects and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them. Some sects have become targets with critics accusing them of a wide variety of spiritual and even worldly aberrations. HOPCC certainly seems to fall in this latter category.
There are many sites that contain serious criticism of the House of Prayer Christian Churches. A number of critics say that they speak from personal experience because they have been members of the church. One of the main complaints is that the church apparently often requires members to donate all their worldly belongings to the church. In some cases members were even required to quit their regular jobs in order to be more useful to the church.
A number of critics are of the opinion that the House of Prayer recruit young people under false pretensions and then separate them from their families. This seems to be the case especially when the parents of such young people start to question the involvement of their children with the sect. Parents say their children show behavioural changes and they avoid their own loved ones.
Disgruntled critics have, in some instances, tried to lay formal complaints but they have not had much success. The position of the authorities is that they cannot investigate allegations unless a crime has been committed. Donating personal possessions to a church, for example, is the right of every adult. They also point out that every citizen is free to follow the religion of his or her choice and to associate with anybody they please.
Officials from the House of Prayer Church maintain that the church is nothing else but a spiritual home for those that long for revival and that want to worship with others that share their norms and values. The church expects its members to attend services and prayer meetings and they have a strong focus on missionary work.
The church is quite clear on one matter however. They unequivocally state that the staff and students at their seminary are expected to lead austere lives that are free from worldly matters and thoughts. Instead, they are to strive towards spiritual growth and they have to pour all their energies into the missions of the church. Some may argue that such a policy means getting rid of all their material possessions.
Meanwhile, critics continue to attack the House of Prayer Christian Church on a variety of websites. In fact, some of the comments are downright nasty, vitriolic even. Reading some of the comments may lead one to believe that the church is wholly evil. However, balanced individuals know that there are always more than one side to a story and it may be best to discard the most vicious of the attacks on the church.
The House of Prayer certainly has many detractors but it has not become the subject of official investigations or even civil suits. People have the right to join any church they choose and they similarly have the right to resign their membership. These rights are enshrined in the constitution and if the church should infringe upon those rights then there may be a case for official interest.
There are many sites that contain serious criticism of the House of Prayer Christian Churches. A number of critics say that they speak from personal experience because they have been members of the church. One of the main complaints is that the church apparently often requires members to donate all their worldly belongings to the church. In some cases members were even required to quit their regular jobs in order to be more useful to the church.
A number of critics are of the opinion that the House of Prayer recruit young people under false pretensions and then separate them from their families. This seems to be the case especially when the parents of such young people start to question the involvement of their children with the sect. Parents say their children show behavioural changes and they avoid their own loved ones.
Disgruntled critics have, in some instances, tried to lay formal complaints but they have not had much success. The position of the authorities is that they cannot investigate allegations unless a crime has been committed. Donating personal possessions to a church, for example, is the right of every adult. They also point out that every citizen is free to follow the religion of his or her choice and to associate with anybody they please.
Officials from the House of Prayer Church maintain that the church is nothing else but a spiritual home for those that long for revival and that want to worship with others that share their norms and values. The church expects its members to attend services and prayer meetings and they have a strong focus on missionary work.
The church is quite clear on one matter however. They unequivocally state that the staff and students at their seminary are expected to lead austere lives that are free from worldly matters and thoughts. Instead, they are to strive towards spiritual growth and they have to pour all their energies into the missions of the church. Some may argue that such a policy means getting rid of all their material possessions.
Meanwhile, critics continue to attack the House of Prayer Christian Church on a variety of websites. In fact, some of the comments are downright nasty, vitriolic even. Reading some of the comments may lead one to believe that the church is wholly evil. However, balanced individuals know that there are always more than one side to a story and it may be best to discard the most vicious of the attacks on the church.
The House of Prayer certainly has many detractors but it has not become the subject of official investigations or even civil suits. People have the right to join any church they choose and they similarly have the right to resign their membership. These rights are enshrined in the constitution and if the church should infringe upon those rights then there may be a case for official interest.
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