Implicit Obedience
It's a Requirement in the Promised Land

In the past six months, a phrase that the Way Corps and staff (especially those at The Way International headquarters) have heard repeated time and time again is that of "implicit obedience."

On January 21, 1999 during one of Craig Martindale's Life and Morality lectures held in the O.S.C. dining room during the staff lunch break, he talked at length about this concept.

Martindale, addressing an audience of about 500 Corps and staff along with many of their children, said that Way followers are supposed to be at the place where they implicitly trust any directive of leadership.

He said that he couldn't expect that type of obedience from a brand new person, but he certainly expected it if the person has been around for a while.

Immediate obedience

Way followers minds shouldn't flinch or jump when asked to do something. Followers should learn to immediately obey.

This was taught by Martindale in light of his handling of Titus chapter 3 during the Corps Morning meeting that week, where he said that the magistrates mentioned were the leadership in the church.

From household fellowship coordinators on up everyone has a leader that they implicitly obey.

That goes all the way back to Reverend Martindale at the top of the leadership pyramid.

The teaching of "implicit obedience" is becoming very key to the teachings of The Way International.

The Joshua teachings from the Advanced Class Special (held in Dallas Texas) are an illustration of this.

The people of Israel prevailed to the degree that the obeyed to the detail, to the very letter, what Joshua told them to do - Craig Martindale

Martindale - the Modern Day Joshua

Martindale is becoming the modern day Joshua,  leading Way followers through the Promised Land.

The term "submissive" is also being applied by Martindale frequently in the context of implicit obedience.

Way followers are to submit themselves to the leadership decisions. Followers are to be fully trusting in their leadership.

When presented with an instruction from a leader, a Way follower is supposed to be ready to obey with the full trust and confidence that their leadership have thought through all the details of the situation being addressed, and that all that remains to be done is for them to obey and carry out the instruction.

Martindale was in particular addressing the Way Corps and staff who he said, had seen for themselves on numerous occasions, the Way trustees carefully thinking through the myriad of details associated with any decision, and then getting the "wise counsel" of any others that were needed.

Martindale went on to say that the staff and Way Corps should have no problem having full trust in the trustees, having seen first hand the care and concern that they have for the Way followers.

People in a fellowship are to implicitly trust their household fellowship coordinator, who in turn would implicitly trust his branch coordinator who in turn implicitly trusts the limb coordinator and on up the Way Tree.

Bristling or Bucking Against Leadership

"Bristling" is a term being used frequently by Martindale to describe those who have any objection to leadership asking questions that they don't feel that they have a right to ask or intruding into situation that that person considers personal.

By "bristling," Martindale is referring to the hair standing up on the back of a persons' neck when that person is confronted by something that he or she doesn't like.

How a person is raising their children for example, or spending their money, or overseeing their college aged young adult etc.

An overseer according to Martindale should have the right to get involved anywhere that he believes is appropriate to keep the household clean and right on.

"Anywhere where a follower's walk affects the household or even approaches affecting the household, the overseers have permission to get involved. Indeed are required to get involved!"

"Bristling" is considered a manifestation that the follower is not meek, that he or she does not want the reproof and correction of the household, that they have not renewed your mind to the prevailing word etc.

Don't Ask How High - Just Jump

In residence Way Corps are taught from early in their training, that the suggestion of a General is tantamount to a command.

Many Way followers will remember Victor Paul Wierwille telling students in the Power for Abundant Living class ...when told to jump, you don't ask how high, you just jump!...

Blind Faith

As The Way continues to lose followers in a slow but steady hemorrhage, Martindale and the trustees feel that tightening the rules and demanding unquestioning obedience will help keep some of the flock in the fold.

Way followers who have been involved since the Wierwille days will no doubt remember the criticism that The Way leveled at the Roman Catholic church for its insistence that Roman Catholic churchgoers give their unquestioning obedience to the pope. They accused the Roman Catholic church of demanding "blind faith" from its flock.

The Way are now embracing with open arms the once ridiculed "blind faith" obedience.

With this level of unquestioning obedience being demanded of its followers, we believe that The Way trustees are (unwittingly - we presume) setting the stage for a disaster of Waco Texas type proportions.

The following are remarks from a WayDale Open Forum visitor and the WayDale response concerning the comment about "disaster of Waco Texas like proportions" that was made in the above article.

These comments can be read in the WayDale Open Forum. We believe that all readers will be benefited by these remarks.

I really enjoy the Waydale Archives, but notice a disturbing pattern in the "articles". Most articles seem to have a few facts followed with many opinions--some of which are very speculative. The article on Implicit Obedience, for example, was well written until the last few paragraphs. Who are "we"? Connecting TWI with Waco is pretty far fetched--it looks like the same sensationalism one sees in the tabloids. This site is a great service to people searching for the truth about TWI. Please stick to the facts, or at least document the opinions so the credibility of "we" can be judged.

WayDale Response:

Thanks for your comments Duke!

I will attempt to answer some of your questions and concerns about recent articles at WayDale.

The article on "Implicit Obedience" and several of the more recent articles that have been added to WayDale were housed in the "Editorial" section of the site. This however, was not made clear enough to WayDale visitors.

When you visit WayDale and go directly to the "New" section, there was no reference to whether the articles were editorial in nature or not. That information only appeared on the "Editorial" page itself - my mistake - that is corrected now - all editorial type articles are now marked as such in the "New" section.

Please read the Introduction to the "Editorial" section. In that introduction, it is stated that we will do our best not to "slant" articles or deliberately try to portray the Way trustees or The Way International negatively, etc. We are trying our best to maintain that standard.

We also state in the Introduction, that these articles are not perfect - BUT, they are the very best of our recollections from meetings and incidents at TWI.

Yes, you will find inaccuracies as Garth has politely pointed out. Some things could be written more precisely if "WE" had enough time and resources. But we firmly believe that the sum and substance of what is presented at WayDale is essentially accurate. Everyone can formulate (and no doubt will) their own opinion on that topic!

Concerning the comments about TWI and Waco - let me clarify what we mean:

By demanding "implicit obedience", or unquestioning obedience from Way staff and Way Corps (and more and more from the rank and file Way followers), Martindale is (UNWITTINGLY - we presume) setting the stage for a Waco like disaster.

This does not mean that a Waco like disaster is imminent. It simply means that he is (unwittingly) putting the pieces in place that would allow a disaster like that to take place.

Martindale is steadily moving Way followers away from the position where they make decisions for themselves, based on sound reasoning, and instead, moving them to the place in their minds where they believe that all that they have to do is follow the directives of a Way leader.

Follow and be safe. Follow the wise counsel of the Way trustees. Follow the directives of the leadership (with him at the top of the leadership pyramid).

Follow because the trustees and the leadership have already thought through all the multiplicity of considerations and have concluded that the suggested course of action is the "Godly" course of action.

By doing this, Martindale IS setting the stage for a disaster. He is putting in place the necessary components for a tragedy. With everyone following one man unquestioningly, it only takes Martindale's command for something horrible to happen.

People are being programmed to obey even if the command doesn't make sense. Even if it sounds illogical.

My article did not say that this tragedy was imminent or that Martindale was deliberately setting this up (I don't believe that it the case), but it can't be denied, that when thousands of people will obey without question, the word of one man - the stage has been set for a disaster to occur. Whether that disaster will ever become a reality or not I don't know ( I pray it doesn't). But the pieces are being moved into place (again I say, "unwittingly - I presume").

The Way Corps are constantly reminded of the expression - "the suggestion of a General is tantamount to a command" - in Wayspeak, that means, if a leader suggests it, you do it! You jump! You don't ask how high, you just jump.

Garth was correct in his comment about Wierwille's usage of this expression (...don't ask how high, just jump...). Wierwille did not use this expression to try to get PFAL class students to be loyal to him, and obedient to him. It was not my intent to communicate that, and I'm sorry for any confusion that that comment caused.

The "..don't ask how high, just jump.." phrase is however, a mind-set that is deeply embedded within the brains of many Way followers, and does affect their response to a "suggestion" of one of The Ways' Generals.

Concerning who "WE" are - we choose to remain anonymous at this time. Perhaps "WE" will choose to reveal our identities at some point in the future.

We are graduates of the Way Corps and have MANY years of association with The Way International. As for me, I have been involved in TWI from 1978 until 1999. Sufficient time to have seen and heard enough (although I'm learning new things about The Way on an almost DAILY basis now that I've taken off the rose tinted glasses).

I hope this helps clarify some of the questions that you had and I hope it helps others understand and navigate this web site better.

I am not a professional writer (can't you tell????) and I'm new to this web site business and so I know I will make mistakes and at times not communicate clearly enough - at times I might even (inadvertently) allow my anger and bitterness at TWI to show through - but I am trying to keep this site as unbiased and as unslanted as I know how.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome!