Referred to by outsiders as “Two by Twos,” this is a group that doesn’t name itself, doesn’t publicize its existence, generally meets in homes, and considers itself to be following the Lord Jesus Christ by imitating His ways and restoring/continuing His church according to their interpretation. On this last point, they are wrong.
Why are they wrong? Because the “Two by Twos” are all about religion and form, which depend, not on Jesus Christ and His faith, but on indoctrination and self-righteousness. How could it be otherwise, when they believe that Jesus Christ isn’t Almighty God Who saves them, but a role model for them to follow and attain Heaven by their own efforts?
“Two by Twos” were so named because their ministers typically travel in pairs, visiting members and living on the road with no permanent dwelling of their own and possessing little. Their preaching and sacrificial example are meant to inspire faith and bring salvation to their members who observe these things. But it is only by the living faith of Jesus Christ that one is saved, and the ministers of the Two by Twos don’t have His faith. How can they when they deny He is God?
“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 ESV).
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 KJV).
The Two by Twos are secretive because they are fearful. They’re not walking in the faith or love of God.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18 MKJV).
If any among them honestly questions their teachings, bringing up valid points from the Scriptures, they are disfellowshipped. We have met such people. If anyone doesn’t agree with the Two by Twos error, they are considered lost and without the false hope Two by Twos have in their ministers and “unorganization.”
But the Two by Twos have been lied to by their overseers about their organizational status, as you’ll hear below in what’s related from wHaT tHe LoRd HaS dOnE wItH mE. They do not meet the standards of Christ (The True Marks of a Cult – see Government Registrations), and what’s worse, present themselves as if they do while knowing full well they don’t. This the Lord especially hates.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. Thus, also you outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28 EMTV).
Some incidents and encounters with Two by Twos (present and former):
Particle – Apostles of They Know Not Whom
They are called “Two By Twos” by the secular world. Two women came to our country home in Prince Albert in 1976, looking for proselytes. They would say they were preaching the Gospel. One was the elder, the other, her disciple. They called themselves apostles.
These people claim they have no formal structure and that they have not been registered with the government as a church or religious organization. However, if one were to look on the net under “Christian Conventions” in the US or “Assemblies of Christians” in Canada, as well as for incorporation in other countries of the world, one would find that they were indeed registered with governments. In Alberta, they have been titled “Alberta Society of Christian Assemblies.”
Visiting with the two women for two hours or more, we talked to them about the Lord. He was foreign to them, nothing more than a great man, not the Son of God and Very God Himself. Their thing, as with most religious, Christian organizations, is works and doctrine, not knowing that the works and doctrine should point to, and come from, Him.
The younger woman was confronted by a prophecy Marilyn had for her, that she was to seek after the Lord with all her heart, and doing so, she would find Him, as He promised. There were other things that were said but I don’t recall what they were.
Particle – A Fearful “Two-by-Two”
In August of 2000, Paul and I paid a visit to the Helena Library, where we found a biography of Billy Graham called, A Prophet with Honor. We decided to ask several people their opinion of Billy Graham and had some interesting discussions. It is marvelous how much people are willing to express if you don’t argue with them.
One discussion of interest (if one could call it a “discussion”) was with a visibly religious woman who turned out to be a “Two-by-Two,” a sect founded by William Irvine, which this group denies, claiming it began in apostolic times. The woman was intimidated by our simply approaching her and seeking her opinion, though she was approached by two – Paul and me.
The woman was defensive, self-righteous, fearful, and ignorant. She was very reluctant to say anything about Billy Graham but when coaxed some, softly denounced him. It was not long, however, before she ended the conversation, visibly shaken that we should approach her so, though we didn’t argue or counter anything she said. I suppose it’s fine for them to approach others two to one but when the “shoe rests on the other foot,” their attitudes quickly change. This is not the first time we’ve had visits with these people, and it wouldn’t be the last.
Particle – The Terror of the Two by Two’s
Coming back from Calgary in May of 2003, Paul and I stopped at High River, AB to meet Greg Parsons who supplied Harvest Haven with colloidal silver. Greg was a veteran Greyhound bus driver but he was more than that. We learned that he had the distinction and honor of having exposed deception of a religious organization, of which he, his parents, and others of his family had been members in good standing for many years. The religious organization, which claims to not be an organization, is known by outsiders as “Two by Two’s.”
I don’t recall how the Parsons/Two by Two conflict began, but Greg ended up taking the organization to court and successfully exposing the secret which their elders were holding from their people. They had always claimed to have no name or registration with the government, which he proved was not so. They were incorporated in Alberta as the Alberta Society of Christian Assemblies. I expect money and covetousness were issues, as they usually are.
Greg told us that bringing this fact to light resulted in the exodus of tens of thousands of disillusioned members from the group, including his parents.
[END]So many people professing faith and believing to be God’s chosen wander in darkness of religion and their own righteousness.
I attended a midweek house meeting with perhaps 10 people or so, the majority women, and their conduct was one of affected humility – a sad and dismal exercise. It seemed each one was expected to stand up, take a Bible passage and relate to the others how the passage was meaningful to them personally the past week or so. They all spoke in quiet tones, the same way, in the same spirit, briefly, in programmed fashion.
They had their “hymn book” they sang from that was passed out to each of them and retrieved at the end of the meeting. They came in punctually and left as quickly as the meeting ended, no visiting, no fellowship; they had done their duty and were off till Sunday services.
I’ve tried talking to some members, but if they weren’t ministers, they counted themselves incapable of explaining their beliefs. “Talk to our ministers. That’s what we have them for. They’ll explain things much better than we can to you.”
These are people with no oil of their own, no understanding of even their own religion, much less the things of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Men wear ordinary clothing while the women have long hair in buns, long dresses, and long sleeves, as with certain sects of Mennonites.
There’s the fellowship of the saints in the Lord and the “followship” of proselytes in the flesh. Did William Irvine create or envisage such a thing? I know the Lord didn’t.
Victor Hafichuk