Wednesday night while hanging out at work two ladies came into the store to make a return. I’d seen them many times before and knew they were regular customers. By all appearances they didn’t look poor, but they didn’t look rich either. Just taken care of.
They showed me a photo and asked if I knew who it was. I looked carefully, recognized him but didn’t know who he was and told them such. So they showed it to Faith (Not her real name) she said she didn’t know who it was either then asked, “o.k. who is he?”
They said he was Jesus Christ come again. OK? They then began telling us that his new name is Lightning Amen, because Jesus will come with lightening, something, something, amen. They went on to tell how we should not bear children, and if we have children they should not marry anyone but Christ. That we should not support the war in Iraq, should not eat meat or wear leather belts or shoes.
And that if we truly want to be happy we should give away all, and I mean ALL personal belongings and walk out of our home with nothing but our clothes on our backs and nothing on our feet.That’s right completely barefoot. And of course everything will be provided for us when we stop for the night.They told us of some of their travels and how they would lug things around all day only for it to be there when they stopped for the night.
These women having been following this man for over 20 years. Their faith is so strong. So strong, that they “no longer fear the devil, because he, (Lightning) put the fear of him (Lightning, not Him as in Christ) in them and the devil holds no power over them.
When they were gone I looked at Faith and stated, “that was worth sticking around for. But if Christ is on earth, why are we still here?”
As we all know when Christ comes the lion will lay down with the lamb and eat grass. True. But if he really is Christ on Earth why are they still here? When Christ comes again it will be to take us to heaven, not to save those here on Earth. There time to be saved will have passed them by.
These women have such a strong faith in a false prophet, only because they can see him. They claim they have witnessed him performing miracles, but it’s not possible. The devil is just deceiving them.
The devil is deceitful in all things and gets the most satisfaction in leading us to believe in a false prophet. If these women can believe with such unerring faith in a lie, can you say the same about your faith in the true Jesus Christ that came and died for us?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” john 3:16 KJV
Here are a few links to this group, and the many others there are in this world:
Christ Family: The leader Lightening Amen claims he is an incarnation of Christ.
The ragged band of members, who wear long white robes and adopt the surname Christ, keep guardedly to themselves as they smoke “God’s tranquilizer” — marijuana — and beg for food. They shun sex, leather and underwear and follow a leader known as Jesus Christ Lightening Amen.Christ Family, Lightening Amen; Amen claims to be the incarnation of Jesus. Followers dress in robes, no shoes, practice vegetarianism.
They also believe Hemet is heaven on earth. That's funny.
knitterykate says:
Strange, but eerie. Maybe they better read their Bibles and figure a few things out rather than go by the words of a man.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Laufenweg says:
really kinda sad! and creepy.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Becky says:
I went to college in Waverly. I can just imagine what people aroudn there must have been thinking when they came through….
April 20th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Hotrodhanna says:
Yep. Definitely believing a lie. It’s amazing after seeing the end of groups like the Branch Davidians, and Heaven’s Gate that people would still believe so strongly in men like that. Creepy. I think it’s hilarious that they think ‘Hemet is Heaven’.
April 20th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Bethany says:
Just clicked over from SAJ’s site to say hello, I like the new digs.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
knitterykate says:
Someone once asked me where my mother lived. I told them Hemet but they thought I said she was in Heaven!!!
April 21st, 2007 at 1:12 am
oopsy Daisy says:
I had to laugh at those 2 gals. Like I would give up my stuff to follow some man around. LOL Ain’t gonna happen!
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Joyful says:
I know of these people, they are drug addicts and also allow Lighting Amen to have sex with their minor children (daughters), it is disgusting. They are very dangerous people, and have nothing to do with God or peace. People come before animals. These people also shun the Bible. I know this all first hand, so very unfortunately for me, I was a child of a member for many years, Praise God, I am completely free of that insantiy now.
I hope I didn’t offend you with what I wrote. I’ll be posing more as I find information just because it’s so interesting. It’s like getting a new book and having it just kind of suck you into the story. We all want to know what happens next.
April 26th, 2007 at 2:03 am
jjpaul says:
This is so weird, I had an encounter with these two woman today. They claimed they were following Christ incarnate and showed me a picture of him, as they said ,”Lightening, Amen”. They seemed very genuine to begin with and talked about Christ very openly. But as soon as they spoke of Christ incarnate and the second coming was here, I realized I was speaking to cult members. Their faith is so huge, but so unbiblically based. I am pretty sure these were the same women in this article.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
minnie barker says:
Where are you?
Sorry, I was trying to do some research on this cult because I have a friends whose sister has been sucked in. I’d love to hear more as you learn it.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Dan says:
This is pretty wild. Back in the summer of 1983, I was attending college in Manhattan, KS when some girls I knew brought this guy in a white robe, barefooted, with only a few possessions on his back home to their apartment. He was a vegetarian, and had fliers describing a group he was with based in Santa Barbara, CA led by some cat named Lightning Amen. The guy was named Jody and was walking cross-country to his home in Rhode Island to visit family. He ended up sleeping on my couch for about a month, during which time I was able to ‘deprogram’ him (I am a former born-again Christian myself) to the point where he began to dress ‘normally’ and began eating meat. Some months after he returned to Rhode Island I received a letter from him thanking me, and he signed it ‘The burrito king’ which was the name his friends had given him back home because of his proclivities for that food source. I believe I still have a copy of the flier somewhere, but would be unable to find it without turning my house upside down.
I was just googling the name ‘Lightning Amen’ and found this comments section. I had no idea there were such terrible practices as child sex going on with the group. My friend seemed like a decent, if very deceived person. He did have a fondness for pot. I’m really surprised to hear that nearly 25 years later this group is still in existence. I wonder if it’s the same guy running the show. If it is, it just goes to show that PT Barnum was right, and there are enough suckers being born every minute to keep these guys in business.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Joyful says:
No offense taken at all!!!
It is shocking to me that there are people still following that dude, but they are. But then look at these polygamist groups, they have that same freak factor. I am just glad it is not me, that I was able break free, and have a happy “normal” life. Praise God!!
Now, I really do not trust the “overly religious”, and am glad that freedom of religion means people cannot shove a Bible down your throat at work. Don’t get me wrong, I love God, but I am not a zealot of any kind.
Peace
November 1st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
CC says:
Luckily I did not grow up around these people but I was conceived among them. My mother, although now many states away is still convinced that Lightning Amen is Christ. The pull for her to return becomes very strong at times. It’s scary and sad.
I can see how it can be interesting.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
"Scott" says:
I was, then absorbed, let go of it, understand it.
All I know is Jesus is real, was crucified and died.
Rose on the third day and sits on the right side of
God. I trust in the saying, ask, and it’s given.
Hard to clarify it. Might be its just so simple it
needs no explaining. Except if you lack faith. Then
you look for ways to make sense. Faith like a child? Just believe. “Its” gonna be what you do with it.
Simple is just believe,..trust. Faith in God. Faith in
what his son Jesus did. Ask and its given. Peace
everyone. I hope n pray for God’s intent to be
clear to everyone, and that it is good with everyone.
Praise God.
Amen.
Yeah, bretheren!!!!
February 12th, 2008 at 7:32 pm