Below is a letter I sent to my church family after my experience with Quixtar/Amway and TEAM. I am sure you will easily discern the dangers involved in this type of business. I cannot fathom anyone viewing my findings and not coming to the conclusion that these businesses are illicit if not downright evil. They have no place in our churches.
Not everyone involved in these schemes is knowingly doing harm. Some, like me, were sincerely deluded into believing that involvement can be a legitimate undertaking.
Pastors can fall prey to this denial. This happened within our church. The MLM companies work hard to create a "group think" that supports this denial. These businesses become cult-like as they create an "us vs the world" mentality. At a nearby church, a Pastor was forced to resign as a result of his involvement with Quixtar and TEAM.
This web site is partly an outgrowth over my frustration with my church's response to this issue. I was disheartened to find my minister's family involved in a pyramid scheme (Market America)... and further disappointed to discover his chummy relationship with a wealthy 30 year (high on the pyramid) veteran of Amway/Quixtar (and donor to the church). It was this man's business I became involved in.
I felt let down when, upon confronting this man face to face with my minister, the symbiotic bonds between the two were too strong to break. I felt this Amway veteran required proper Christian tutelage - not coddling. After all, we will all be judged for our deeds eventually. At stake eternally was something far more important than money here and now. I feel that my minister, given a golden opportunity to right a wayward ship, simply "whiffed." He failed this man.
Like any thoughtful Christian, I have struggled to bridge the gap between my church's weak response to this issue compared to the strong messages preached on Sundays. Integrity and character are at play. I felt and still feel there's an obligation to take a moral, ethical, and Biblical stand. Only a fool would believe that money doesn't play an issue here.
Hello Church family (Sep 2007) -
I write this letter out of people who may be hurt, others who may be hurting others without knowing it, and for those who know they are hurting others and continue to do so anyway. I also write this letter to those in leadership positions who are obligated to take a moral, ethical, and Biblical stand. My hope is that I will follow up to to see clearer heads, prayerful hearts, and eyes wide open in anticipation of measures that have God's grand kingdom in mind.
This letter may prove to be an inconvenience for some - but the issue is clearly a community issue. The businesses in question take advantage of forums in which trust is present - such as within the church. These businesses also flourish when leaders' names (ie; ministers) become attached to the "opportunity"... and when these scam artists "back" their business model with scripture and claim people are "saved" through their business.
Jude 1:12 When these people eat with you in your
fellowship meals commemorating the Lord's love, they're like dangerous
reefs that can shipwreck you.
Churches are fertile recruiting grounds for these businesses. I was approached at a church sanctioned event and invited into a church member's business. This person's name and wealth (3 Mercedes, multiple homes etc..) is used as a drawing card for the business. In fact, his name is used on the initial contacting script: "Hey, have you heard of bla bla...". Of course, nobody can ever replace this man's "spot" in the pyramid as he's been in it for 30 years. We were also instructed to compliment recruitees for having the assets needed to be successful in the business (bright, teachable, ambitious). Not surprisingly - everybody it turns out has these assets.
Jude 1:16 These people... live only to satisfy their desires. They
brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.
This letter concerns the perils, deceit, and unprincipled governance associated with with multi level marketing (MLM) or network marketing (all forms of MLM) and more specifically with the one I became associated with: TEAM / Quixtar (Amway). I joined TEAM as a way to make money while my business (Breathtech.org) was taking time to ramp up.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
2 Cor 11:14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as
an angel of light.
I told myself that I would only promote the "business opportunities" to friends if I was certain that such opportunities would benefit their lives. I listened to at least 20 CD's and watched 2 videos. I went to the Tuesday night meetings and the monthly seminar in Bethlehem. I visted the my sponsor's home numerous times. I became convicted that peddling this business via dialogues filled with half truths and subterfuge was wrong... but I wanted to make sure. So I did some research. I was shocked at what I found as I am sure you will be as well.
Jude 10:11-12 Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction... Like Balaam, they deceive people for money.
Next was a dilemna. Do I share what I found or not? Will people be mad? Definitely. White hot mad. Will people try and discredit me? Probably. Yet it is unconscionable to stand back - knowing what I now know - and do nothing.
Eph 5:13-14 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light
shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.
Can I simply allow people to be hurt... ad infinitum? Is money received from this enterprise pleasing to God? What's more responsible... to share my findings or keep them secret? Read on. I'll let you decide.
God Bless
