I had recently picked up a book which a friend had given me to read a while ago entitled, "A Tale of Three Kings," by Gene Edwards. It was, for me, one of the most helpful reads I have enjoyed in quite some time and covered much of the inner turmoil which I experienced in GCx. Recently, I went to Mr. Edwards' website
http://www.geneedwards.us/ and read what inspired him to write the book. He summarized very succinctly the authoritarian movement that came into the U.S. starting in the 1950's and the widespread damage that it has caused across much of American Christianity. It was a very helpful read as it helped me piece together what went wrong in my Christian experience and why I see GCx as part of this wrong. It also helped me to leave behind what needs to be left behind and to move forward.
What jumped out to me in reading his website was his mention of several movements that repented and disassociated themselves with authoritarian teaching and sent a copy of his book to all of their members. Then, when I came to this forum today, I did a search using the word "authoritarian" and found four pages of threads where numerous posters onto this forum have associated themselves with this word. Then I had two thoughts. The first was, "well if so many people give testimony that they had an unbiblical and authoritarian experience, then there must be something there!" The second thought was that if leadership in GCx still read this forum, maybe they will see this as sin and repent of it. Maybe they will warn their flocks (as good shepherds should) of what an authoritarian wolf looks like. However, this would take extreme humility because first they would have to acknowledge that a sin exists. Second, they would have to identify certain teachers as being authoritarian. Third, it would probably mean that many would leave the movement.
Then I thought to myself, "what if it wasn't too late and they truly, truly repented of this?!" Perhaps there would be an even greater opportunity to give God glory. One of the things which I liked in the book was that the author said that each one of us has the capability of being a bad king, like Saul, or a good shepherd, like David. I feel truly sad as I see people put under a heavy yolk. I personally think it is just a matter of time before the wheels totally come off the movement if something doesn't change. I do hope that leadership in GCx may read this, repent...truly repent...and be forgiven. I am praying for the leadership there, including those who harmed me, that they would have this veil taken off of their eyes.
