A note from John Hopler: a "Great Commission lifestyle"

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

You may read and post, but some features are restricted to registered members. Please consider registering to gain full access! Registration is free and only takes a few moments to complete.

[blonde]

Many Great Commission churches and regional ministries are hosting teen conferences over the next month. These conferences have been strategic in building a "Great Commission lifestyle" in teens in our association.

For more information about a teen conference in your region, contact your pastor or our office.
 
Have a great week serving the Lord Jesus.


John Hopler
Great Commission Churches

John Hopler
www.gccweb.org

[Linda]

The thing that makes me mad about a letter like this is that the unsuspecting Christian parent reading it could easily think, "I really want my child to attend a regional conference and learn more about going against the tide of our culture, teaching others about Christ, and making disciples."

As a parent with my eyes opened, I read this entirely differently. I hear, "These conferences have been strategic in teaching your children to commit to a Great Commission Association church for the rest of their life and having a lifestyle that puts obedience to elders and serving the local church before every other relationship."

The words Great Commission are deceiving. They mean the association, not the verses in Matthew 28.

[EverAStudent]

Linda, I agree with what you have said.

When I first read the advertisement letter I immediately assumed Hopler meant "bulding into your life the Great Commission Association's culture."  It was only after I left the post that it dawned on me that it could be made to read "building into your life a habit of evangelism." 

I do not think the ambiguous wording was unintentional.  Times too numerous to recount here I was told to conform my life to GCI's needs, the wishes of the elders, and to get with their constantly shifting policies and programs. 

If you assume that Hopler primarily meant "building into your life the Great Commission Association's culture of unquestioned obedience" then this ad becomes the closest thing I have seen in a long time to truth-in-advertising.

[Huldah]

"Have a great week serving the Lord Jesus."

This brings back some difficult memories. Of course it's our business to serve the Lord, but in a GCM context, this is just one more exhortation to stay mind-numbingly busy, busy, busy about the work of GCM. What a burden it was to feel that every waking minute had to be "profitable" in some measurable way. To feel that stepping back and simply resting in the Lord occasionally was the sign of a sluggard. To lack empathy for those who occasionally grew weary or confused in the battle.

Why couldn't it have been, "Have a great week in the Lord Jesus"?

[Linda]

Or, simply, "Have a great week!"

[AgathaL'Orange]

It's amazing to me how insidious "Great Commission lifestyle" sounded to me.  I didn't even THINK of it in the Biblical context.  In my experience "Great Commission Christian", "Great Commission Family", "Great Commission Church" etc almost always had "Great Commission" meaning "the way our group does things".  And of course this meant loyalty, submission, tireless activity, friends only within GC (if you stalk Facebook, you will find that the kids of the movement are almost ONLY friends with other kids in the movement.  That is weird when you think of it.  Wouldn't they have neighbor friends?  Friends from softball or camp?  I can't even imagine if my kids' friends were only the children of my friends, you know?), and all of the other GC ways of doing things.