Shunning

 Another of the key cult-like traits is the shunning. The Bible has a pattern for disfellowshipping a church brother or sister when necessary. There are rare and infrequent situations where disfellowshipping a brother or sister in your church cannot be avoided, but it should only be done when absolutely necessary and in the most extreme circumstances. The Bible indicates a clear direction for how to do this, as documented in Wellspring’s key book of doctrine, the Christian Life book, in the chapter of Church Discipline, and it is also detailed well by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17. However, these teachings were corrupted by both Chris Otis and Norman II and by others who turned this teaching into a strategic initiative to get rid of unwanted people, people they did not like, and people they had become paranoid or suspicious of. The Scriptural pattern for church discipline was completely abandoned in favor of the new Wellspring corruption. The goal was not concern for that church member or for the larger church, but the fulfillment of an ulterior motive. There is no check and balance on abuse in this area at Wellspring. The elders are all under NDA’s and nervously kept under the Otis’ watchful eyes to make sure they are all aligned. If any elder expresses concern about this, their position on the board is terminated or they are asked to resign.  

 Once someone is asked to leave the church or is coerced into leaving or is so disgusted with the hypocrisy that they do not know what else to do – everything changes!  The new Wellspring policy is a clever window-dressing of the same old “doctrine” of shunning, but very cult-like.  In some elder-chosed cases, will not completely cut most people off now. A text from time to time is permitted in most situations, perhaps even an occasional get together with a close family member that “is not too bad.” 

 But the shunning and the hypocritical disfellowshipping continues!  People are strongly encouraged or coerced to not invite family and friends to attend family weddings or funerals (memorial services).  People are disinvited from parties, permanently separated from friends, disinvited from family birthday parties and holidays, and even planned vacations are cancelled or rescheduled without the “not-a-Wellspring-Christian” person or family.  The ungodly, unscriptural shunning continues.  Of course it does – Elder Chris Otis was and is the champion of this “doctrine” and he believes himself to be “never wrong.” 

The shunning, the division, the strife, the excommunication and spiritual execution of once-loved brothers and sisters in Christ - this has grown exponentially under the Chris Otis era. When you look backwards, you see that as Elder Chris Otis’ influence and authority expanded at Lakeview and later Wellspring, so did the shunnning, disfellowshipping, strife, separations, and excommunications grow. It was a key piece of his doctrinal gospel - that’s why it was a growing threat and a growing focus of teaching in the 2010’s and into the 2020’s.

 What is amazing is the years of Communion – breaking bread with fellow brothers and sisters of Wellspring and hugging one another and reminding each other of our pledge to love each other and to look out for one another. But I guess that was just another farce – just more window-dressing. These false brothers and sisters will have to answer to the Lord for all the times they sinned against the body of Christ and played Elder Chris Otis’ game of factions and divisions in the church – separating and ostracizing people and driving them away.  And all to the applause of the people…

 When one sheep goes straying, the “shepherds” are not concerned for that one “departing sheep” or what happens to him or her, but just keeping Corporate Wellspring going – that’s all the matters. Keep the schedule going; keep the music playing; keep the money flowing in, and most importantly of all: KEEP UP APPEARANCES AT ALL COSTS! 

 “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” 

Matthew 10:26