Exclusivity and isolation

Exclusivity and isolation. Members are indoctrinated with teaching about the necessity of them "separating" or isolating themselves from all outside relationships and influences under the supposed pretext of insulating them from philosophical contradictions and criticisms of the particular improper practices and unScriptural beliefs of the group. Leaders also forbid their members from having any kind of exposure to any ministry or ministers outside of the internal hierarchy of their organization and those they have approved, and members must obtain the prior approval of the leadership for any form of exposure to outside ministry.

There is a real emphasis on separation from the ways of the world in the Team which has evolved into a suffocating air of spiritual and moral superiority, pervading the entire group, manifesting itself as a ghastly spiritual snobbery, devoid of grace or empathy, fuelling a staunch anti-intellectualism which excluded higher level or university grade education in any field, the classic disciplines including music, the visual arts especially anything which ends in ‘ism’, anything to do with the expression of the ‘self’. Group members are taught that ‘ism’s’ are not of the Lord! This makes French Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism or any other kind of ‘ism’ out of bounds.

Similarly the idea of keeping in touch with the news in the outside world is discouraged by some group members. Some consider television a waste of time which could be used for bible study or advancing the borders of the Kingdom of God. To indulge in this is considered an unnecessary and persistent link to the world and its unholy influences.

Klaus Pesch consideres that he is considerably in advance of almost all known ‘end time’ teachers. He is convinced that his ‘end times’ teaching is several decades ahead of most widely accepted principles and has to be kept secret to preserve its spiritual purity, it is part of the ‘mystery of God’ which should be fully revealed at the sound of the last trumpet mentioned in the book of Revelation, and in the mean time God will only reveal it to his trusted servants ‘the prophets’. Therefore only people who have made a life commitment to their principles of kingdom living and have proved a level of sacrifice and reliability will transcend the tantalising hints of a much deeper understanding and start to receive their true and holy teaching of kingdom principles.

All teaching in the English language is undertaken using the King James Bible exclusively, something which seems to be very common amongst spiritually wayward groups, clearly because it is written in a style of language which is not used these days, it lends itself so easily to being twisted and misinterpreted. Other English translations of the bible are completely banned because of a perceived inaccuracy or dilution of the spirituality of the message and thus it is expected that all true revelation of the kingdom of God here on earth will come through the King James Version.

Similarly all teaching in the German language used the Elberfelder translation, again an old translation using a style of language no longer used in modern Germany, for the same reasons it lends itself to being perverted and misapplied when picking apart the finer details of the books of Revelation or Daniel.

Klaus Pesch has conducted meetings in Germany where he would profess that “the Elberfelder translation whilst the most reliable in the German language, didn’t quite have the edge when it came to revealing some of the statutes & ordinances of end time revelation, the King James however did this very well and was the best bible to use”, He has also conducted meetings in Australia and in England where he professed that the KJV had a lot of the important detail either missing or mistranslated and the best version to use to gain a deeper understanding of the ‘last days’ was the German Elberfelder translation. In this way he is able to manipulate his translation and tailor his interpretation of the English into German and visa versa to support floored theological teaching and at the same time project an air of spiritual authority and superiority.

To avoid confusion in the group or corruption of their end time message, and to maintain the secrecy surrounding their work as a group, all teaching from and contact with other ministries or churches is heavily discouraged, and this includes visiting other fellowships or local churches, watching religious TV programs or singing the praise and worship songs from the likes of ‘Vineyard’ or ‘Hillsongs’. The odd visit to a local church was permissible but usually under the guise of going in to ‘spy out the land’. Contact is only ever on the Pesch’s terms.

Whilst visiting other fellowships it is strictly forbidden to take communion during a service or gathering. This would bring the sins (or evil spirits) of the other participants upon ‘The Team’ and Team members would be partakers of the consequences of their shallow teaching. Holy Communion was considered so important that group members very very rarely celebrate it together in case of cross contamination of sin between the individuals. Klaus Pesch has stated privately in closed meetings that it would be impossible for him to celebrate communion with some of the people in the group because of their (supposed) ongoing lack of commitment to the will of God for their lives as revealed by him and/or his wife.

Another commonly used technique is to drive a wedge between parents and children. Parents of members whether in the group or outside the group regularly come under a great deal of criticism and are regularly vilified before the group, used as an example of how parents can influence the spiritual course of their children.

Some group members have maintained fairly close links to their families, but many European group members don’t seem to do this. Often parents are singled out for criticism within the group especially if group members keep in regular contact with them and Klaus Pesch is always weary of their influence, conscious of the fact that regular unchecked contact might highlight his errant teachings.