DLM, thanks for this post. I too was saved at a GC church (Summitview/The Rock, Fort Collins, CO). You can read some of my story back through old posts if you want to. God definitely used that church for good in my life. I have doubts that I would be a Christian today if I hadn't gotten involved, as the intensity of the friendships kept me involved with a church through some years of equally intense faith questioning. There are certainly things I liked and still do like about Great Commision Churches. I do appreciate their strong emphasis on evangelism. I do appreciate the emphasis on having strong relationships with people in your church family. I appreciate the emphasis on "if this religion is true, it should drastically change your life."
I too loved my church family and actually had no desire to leave. I had every intention of staying there for life and of trying to change the things I saw as wrong with The Rock (I spent many, many hours meeting with leadership on this stuff, and thought it was isolated to this one group and therefore could be changed). I wanted to stay and run with those people for the good that was there. Eventually, I was actually asked to leave (my constant questions caused too much team disunity... if you can imagine that...), and life circumstances took me away at the same time.
I personally do not think GCx churches are evil. I think the vast majority of the pastors and people are really doing what they think is right. I think they love God. I think there is some bad history and practices there with McCotter and such that occasionally creep back in. I think some pockets and churches, and maybe even individual groups within those churches (i.e. The Rock, Fort Collins), have more of this than others. My overall experience with The Rock had a lot of good, but probably as much bad in my case. However, I still have friends there, some I was very involved with introducing to the Lord and that church. They are still happy there, and I think that is ok. I don't debate them or try to "pull them out." Most don't even know how unhappy I was with the teachings and practices I disagreed with, and that is fine.
Where things are good in GCx churches, I think they can actually be very good. I fully believe, and am glad, that you have had a great experience in those 20+ years, and have not run into any of these problems. But where they are bad, thy can be extremely hurtful. I personally only wish the church leadership would be more honest about this fact and work to root out these pockets of harmful practice. I think they have done a fair bit to try to change (1991 SOE, which addresses all but one of my concerns I had then and now), but this stuff creeps back in because they are not proactively fighting it and congregants don't know what to look for. That history is still there influencing some things. I think in some cases, it is possible these are very small pockets led by individuals who take advantage of the old McCotter influence and framework to their own advantage. I wish the national leaders would not dismiss complaints, but rather address it with a firm hand, so the good that is here can shine through and not have this distract from it. Of course I also think there are doctrines this group holds I think are wrong, but I think that about many denominations and branches of Christianity. I could overlook many of my doctrinal disagreements if the leadership consistently addressed the things they have already acknowledged are wrong.
I really do wish all people's stories of involvement with GCx could be as good as yours.
p.s. I'm respond to a post by DLM, yeah yeah. Sorry, it makes me a liar
And genuinely: thank you for the apology. I do forgive the harsh words. If I have said anything that has been wrong towards you, please let me know that as well.
p.s.s. Just a disclaimer to all who may read this: I'm not trying to start a debate, just trying to help people understand my story as well. Please don't use my story to say "see, that's why we should do or think such and such!" Or the other side "you are wrong about x y or z!" Maybe we can just have one thread that stays civil and on topic? Thanks