The Investigation
It’s an amazing pattern in history: people get really upset by Christian freedom! We read about it in Galatians at the outset of the church, and we still see it today. View this video to see why…
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Tagged as featured + Categorized as Xenos Videos
Real issue here is totally skirted. No critical analysis offered for what is / is not a cult. E.g., deceptive recruiting tactics, expected time commitments revealed gradually instead of upfront, group ideology revealed gradually, family disconnection, etc… (p.s. one of the vilified “angry relatives” is the interviewees own mother; poor tact Xenos).
“Lost his home but he’s a happy man?” WHAT!? You’ve “assumed final” and glorified a son losing blood relatives. Someone should really consider what is being displayed here.
But the police fully investigated all those wild stories and dismissed them as “without basis”, so what’s the problem?
I don’t think the video “glorified a son” as much as reported his own words, unless you think he’s lying for some reason.
Since Mr. Smith’s own “blood relatives” won’t give him freedom of religion, I don’t see how the guy has any culpability here, do you? If the “blood relatives” acted more like “blood relatives” instead of Inquisitors from the Dark Ages, perhaps this story would end more amicably!
We’re so much praying for Mrs. Smith, because she’s losing so much, and it’s just so terribly unnecessary. Isn’t there any way to use reason rather than anger to resolve this issue?
It didn’t glorify him; it glorified the situation, as if he’s obviously “won” versus an oppressive regime. Except, this is indeed not the inquisition, and it’s not time for techno music & grayscale when a family is so at odds that the adults feel like they need to picket, regardless of who’s in the right. Tom seems like a nice & reasonable kid (as does all of young Xenos, really). Though Mrs. Smith is not the only person to have ever made a complaint like this – nowhere close. She’s the loudest and unfortunately not so tactful but she has a right to make a fuss.
If a picture is worth a thousand words this video could fill an ocean. I am sicked by the fun, joking attitude of the so called leaders of this organization. Not one day has passed since Tom has left our home, that I have not cried for my son. The tear are from a real love of Thomas, a love his mother, sister, and I have for him. Take religion out of the picture basic humanity would question how anyone could make a joke of the situation. Now add back the fact that the leaders of this group are the very people featured having such a good laugh should make every decent, caring person open their eyes clear their heads and ask how and why this was done. I had to pause the clip over and over to clear the tears from my eyes, my heart filled with sadness for all of you that had a part in making a joke of the situation. The video is filled with how with Christ you can have freedom, I am not sure that this is the freedom God had in mind. This is just a spiteful mockery of the situation. KMCC has told me several times he stresses “Honer thy Father and Mother” could someone please point out to me how being apart of this mockery teaches that? My question is where is the video of Keith’s heavy heart for Thomas and the situation, wait KMCC is to busy hiding behind the freedom Christianity gives you and making jokes. How any adult would be involved with this is shocking, having KMCC in the center has probably brought a tear to God’s eye!
Everyone, feel free to post all you want about my comments I do not care. I have true love for Thomas and would give my life for him at anytime.
I’m one of the “so called leaders…having such a good laugh” during this video. From all I know of the situation, Tom has made and continues to make every effort to restore the broken relationship with his parents. Why won’t his parents answer his calls? Why won’t they meet with a mediator of their choosing to restore the relationship? Our fellowship is deeply concerned with mending these relationships and we pray for all parties involved daily.
It is because of this fellowship that I am able to have a loving relationship with my own parents. I have been encouraged by Keith and others over the years to mend and restore with my Mom and my Dad and it is because of the love of Christ that I am able to do this.
That said, what would the appropriate response to the situation be? Tom, an adult, had a police report filed against him by his own parents for being involved in a church these parents have never even been to even once to see what was actually going on for themselves. You’re right – once the initial absurdity wears off, it’s not funny – it is truly sad. Would anger or depression on Tom’s part be a more acceptable alternative? I’m thankful that Tom is able to have a focus on God and a hope that someday he will be restored with his parents throughout this whole situation.
Here’s a great way to deal with critics of Xenos. I encourage anyone in Xenos to read a book called “Combating Cult Mind Control” by Steven Hassan. This book at minimum broadens ones horizons – it’s objective, pro religion, and academic (despite the fear-mongering title). It has nothing to do with Xenos, but explains in a step by step manner, what it is that might tag a group as controversial and how to identify whether that controversy is founded. If the idea of Xenos being a cult is absurd to you, then great, this book will give you plenty of ammo (non – partisan ammo) to debate with. I know a lot of Xenos kids and the energy is great there – so, I come in peace and wonder if anyone is willing to to read it? Regards,
Do we really need to read yet another book on cults, especially one that basically can probably be summed up like this, “Cults are bad, you should leave your cult if your in one. Fall into the religion, so Christ could have died in vain… ”
i don’t mean this in a mean way, it just gets frustrating for me sometime. I want to read and study the bible with my friends, without being harassed.
Personally I don’t know how this could keep going on. I have a dream that one day, I can read the bible with my friends and not be bombarded with allegations of being in a cult. All of this is really evidence that the deceiver is working hard on people, in society today. My mom has claimed numerous times that there is so much evidence and horror stories. Yet we have only ever seen a few of them, on her site. Most importantly, there is no evidence for any of the allegations. Nothing has ever been proved, or even has any substantial evidence. The fact that poeple that can believe were a cult because of these unfounded, unproved, “farytails” with no evidence is sad.
i think i just found out what my new blog is about.
I’d be willing to check out the book, but just as a curiousity. As a part of Xenos Christian fellowship I don’t feel that I’m in the business of combating cult mind control. In this fellowship I’m free to make my own choices, as Tom is, like everyone else that freely attends.
First I do appreciate that you folks answer me.
I’m not sure that Xenos is a cult and also I acknowledge that the word ‘cult’ is rude, and not fitting of the many great folks who attend. But, there are still certain trappings in a group that are often invisible and it’s at least worth assessing with info from a third party. This book is particularly good, and it’s not meant to dissuade anyone from pursuing their faith (the title is unfortunate though – darn marketing folks).
Hey Tom, I’ve chatted over email with your mom and see how this could be pretty crazy for you, cause, well, I’m sure you know, your mom is an epic spaz… lol, and, from watching the videos of you, well, you seem pretty rational and level headed. I’m starting to feel a little invasive so I’ll just end with “please read that book, it’s probably different from the rest”, “you might find that Xenos is perfectly fine”, and “I support all people in their quest for spirituality and only ask that they trust their gut during the bad times”.
Sry to post so much – just one more thing about Hassan’s book. It’s non-denominational. Meaning, it’s applicable to any faith. It’s even secular in a way, but sort of in an AA (alcoholics anonymous – in case anyone’s read the blue book) way where the faith element is left up to the individual and not commented upon very much. It’s more of a social studies book but from a passionately religious guy. OK I’m done yacking…
hey concerned, please don’t think i was telling you to stop posting. Im happy your here. i thinks its awesome.
I think i may have been a little to hasty to assume your intentions. I just get frustrated sometimes when everyone thinks they have some perfect simple solution. and i think i interpreted you suggesting as your way of trying to fix the problem. But i will admit i think i made a hasty judgment about your intentions.
but please stay and chat we love talking and sharing out beliefs with people.
Well, I sorta came on heavy at first so no worries (didn’t think you were trying to shoo me off anyway). We’re cool!
Hey Concerned – I like the dialogue that’s going on here. Do you live in the area? I think the best way to make a judgment about our fellowship is to come out and check out a meeting for yourself. If you’re willing, come on out for a Saturday night central teaching – the next meeting is 2/28.
Great to see some reasonable dialog at work here.
Concerned, I don’t know if you’re a Christian or not, but Tom’s faith and practices are certainly rock-solid Christian, according to any of the national Christian leaders and churches who know us — and that runs in the thousands. We’ve been repeatedly cited as a godly model of a good Christian church by Seminaries & national surveys (see “Breakout Churches”, by the Dean of Southern Baptist Seminary, where he puts Xenos in the top 12 Christian U.S. churches). Locally we’re endorsed by the Chapel & its consortium, of which we’re members. “Cults” arise when people raise someone else’s authority above the Bible.
All our teachings and materials are open and available for anyone’s examination, so feel free to take a look and see if there’s anything we’re teaching out of line. We would welcome such feedback. But Christians have always done pretty well in churches that limit their discussions to the Bible, which we do.
But this controversy was merely a series of insults and scare-words like “Cult!” and “Mind Control!”. Nobody specified what wrongs were perpetrated, if any. And after all the inquiries, nobody has yet found anything wrong in our practices or teachings. (Please join the discussion about this at Issues at Stake.)
I think it’s perfectly legitimate to laugh about the police investigation and the mayor’s involvement. I hope they never do something like that with any other Christian church. That’s the whole point of the video. It’s patently absurd, and they shouldn’t become tools for punishment used by someone disgruntled with a church.
Nobody mentioned a word about the Smith family or their problems. It was all about the police & the city. People would never have found out about the Smith family had they not made such a public affair of themselves, calling the newspaper, etc.
So it isn’t about the Smiths. But it is about the police. Someone tried to hurt Tom and disgrace him, but it didn’t work. So what? It wasn’t supposed to turn out that way? He’s supposed to be crushed? I hope not.
I’m glad Tom’s able to laugh about the police and shrug it off, aren’t you? He never made fun of his family or laughed at them, not once.
And let’s recall that God Himself infuses the Christian’s spirit with joy when getting publicly persecuted like this. See James 1:2, or consider 1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials…” Thus, when Peter & John were publicly humiliated by the officials, “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Acts 5:41 (NASB)
The attempt to publicly shame Tom’s faith & his friends does not resolve issues. It is, however, persecution. They claim it isn’t persecution, but what is it? They’ve never talked with us, and they won’t talk with Tom. Every one of their complaints were only raised with high public officials, the police, newspapers, and the public. It’s a punishing thing, not an honest attempt to resolve any problems — after all, what can the mayor, police, or public do? Outlaw Xenos? What’s the point?
In fact, if Tom’s parents would only stop dealing with him publicly and deal with their issues privately like most families do, they could start resolving issues. This public-shame approach isn’t working. We aren’t ashamed of anything, and we’re all full of joy.
It’s time to end these public attacks and take this family’s issues back to personal discussions between parents and son, where it belongs.
Mr. Smith, Tom wants to talk. Can you please pick up the phone when he calls? This is, I think, the pressing issue.
This guy calling himself concerned is Investigating Xenos and trashing me to my son. You may want to ask him which side he is on. He works with Rick Ross and got Xenos listed there.
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. Best of luck.
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That’s cool. Note: I was the fellow who went by “Concerned”
Mrs. Smith,
The things is, we have no fear about people checking us out. We welcome it. We post all comments that come through and reply to them as well. We publicly and honestly provide our websites, our teachings, our meeting place, and invite any and all to come check out our meetings. They don’t even have to tell us what meeting or what day they are coming so if they want to try and catch us in an unsuspecting moment, they can do so.
We realize there are those reading here that may not be “friends.” Frankly, that is what we are trying to encourage! We’re saying, “Let’s talk. Let us answer your questions.”
Most people use a screen name to protect their identity to a degree. If “Concerned” wanted to come incognito to check us out, that’s fine. I’m not sure how much he’s going to appreciate you publicly giving his real name, but he’s probably computer-savvy enough to know his IP address can be tracked, anyway.
Please, I encourage you, set up a meeting with some kind of counselor or mediator to begin repairing your relationship with Tom. I’m sure there are many neutral priests, pastors, and secular counselors that would be happy to sit down with your whole family to begin this process. It will be difficult at first due to the high level of emotion involved, I’m sure, but the results would be so rewarding and healing.
And Concerned, no worries on our part. Keep on investigating, and we’ll do our best to answer all your questions.
Concerned:
I haven’t really addressed this issue as a whole. I hope I can clarify some things for you. I realize that you might think this video is odd but let me try and put it in perspective for you.
I did get kicked out of my house, whether my parents choose to admit it or not. Since that day, they have chosen not to call or communicate with me. I have reached out to them. I think it is apparent they kicked me out, and ended the communication. A few days later I got a call from the police station saying I am being investigated by the police. As you know from the movie, it was my parents who filed it.
The whole situation is absurd and should have been over with a long time ago. If my parents would just pick up the phone and talk to me when I call, everything could start getting worked out. The situation is so bizarre and everyone knows it. The video just shows how odd it is.
I understand people are getting hurt and this is hard. But they’re getting hurt because they want to get hurt. If my parents want the hurt to go away, all they have to do is pick up the phone and talk to me when I call. For lack of a better word, it’s like a temper tantrum thrown by my mom.
I’m sorry she’s decided to start throwing mud at you, also.
When someone accuses a church of cannibalism (later retracted) and things like “general cavorting while in the stupor of their drinks,” or similarly worded, ridiculous-sounding absurdity, the reaction of those accused is going to include humor.
This is not to say that it should be the constant reaction- i.e. think of a person who gets hysterical with laughter- that might be an appropriate reaction momentarily but soon they regain control of their faculties and are able to sensibly address the situation.
I think this video pokes fun (in an appropriate way) not at Mrs. Smith, but at the idea that her son Tom is “emotionally disturbed.”
I find the grayscale and techno music incredibly appropriate, because they take the idea that this “police report” is just SO serious, and makes light of it conversely.
By the same token, if the police report IS such a serious thing and Xenos is “a cult” then isn’t the most appropriate sound track techno trance music accompanied by grainy grayscale video?
No one is laughing at the fact that Tom’s parents won’t talk to him. Unfortunately they seem to believe that making incredible accusations against Xenos is more important than restoring their relationship with their son.