Overview
Jesus said, "See that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will deceive many." Matthew 24:4-5 BSB. The Children of God (COG), also known as The Family International, represents a significant departure from biblical Christianity and serves as a cautionary example of how doctrinal distortion, authoritarian control, and misuse of Scripture can lead believers astray. This organization, founded in the late 1960s, developed teachings and practices that contradicted fundamental Christian doctrine regarding marriage, sexuality, authority, and biblical interpretation. Understanding the theological errors within this movement helps believers recognize red flags that distinguish genuine Christianity from false teaching.
Biblical Account
Scripture provides clear standards by which all teachings and teachers must be evaluated. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Test all things; hold fast what is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21 BSB. Additionally, believers are commanded to examine claims about Christ: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1 BSB. Christ Himself warned that "false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:24 BSB. The Children of God movement violated these biblical principles by promoting teachings that directly contradicted Scripture's clear instruction on marriage, sexual purity, and proper authority structures. The organization's founder, David Berg, claimed direct revelations comparable to biblical prophets, yet his teachings on free sex, the abandonment of traditional marriage vows, and the exploitation of members' lives stand in stark contradiction to Paul's instruction: "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable." 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 BSB.
Theological Significance
The Children of God movement reveals how dangerous it becomes when human claims to revelation are placed above Scripture and when authoritarian leaders exploit spiritual authority for personal gain. The Bible makes clear that God's Word is complete and sufficient: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 BSB. The COG's elevation of Berg's writings and claimed revelations above Scripture demonstrates what occurs when this principle is abandoned. Furthermore, the movement's abuse of members, particularly the sexual exploitation of children, directly violated Christ's teaching: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matthew 18:6 BSB. The COG demonstrates how false teaching inevitably produces false practice, and how communities built upon distorted theology inevitably collapse into harm and exploitation.
Key Bible Verses
- 2 Peter 2:1 BSB — False prophets arise among believers, bringing destructive heresies and denying the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 4:1-2 BSB — The Spirit explicitly states that in later times some will abandon faith and follow deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.
- Titus 1:10-11 BSB — Rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, must be silenced because they are destroying families.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 BSB — Paul fears that believers' minds may be led astray from sincere devotion to Christ by those preaching a different gospel.
- Ephesians 5:25-27 BSB — Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church, establishing the sacred covenant nature of marriage.
Application
Believers must remain vigilant against any teaching that elevates human revelation above Scripture, that promotes sexual immorality as spiritual enlightenment, or that uses Scripture to justify authoritarian control. Every teacher and teaching must be tested against God's Word, and any claim to apostolic revelation in the modern age should be rejected firmly. Jesus teaches, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:18-20 BSB. The COG's fruits of exploitation, broken families, and sexual abuse reveal its false foundation and demonstrate that genuine Christianity produces holiness, love, and protection of the vulnerable.