Finally free to worship Christ - not worship of the church

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.

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[everythingchrist]

My family left a GC church. Although they came from out-of-state to begin the church several years ago, they manage to keep GC out of their information since it's fairly known that there are cult-like tendencies with GC.  They are a "Rock" church.  We tried to "do it right".  We grew weary of seeing the sick dependency of new believers/members (we hope not "make-believers") who are young with babies being "encouraged" to lean on their pastor and his wife and a few chosen ones who will do whatever the pastor tells them to do. We had no freedom there and we never heard a Spirit-led sermon -- not once in several years.   We asked ourselves if this is what we want our kids view as "the Christian life".  No matter what the church spreads in our small town about our leaving, we are free now and we know worship is not just "contemporary, relationship, or purpose-driven".  It is for His pleasure and purposes that we live.  The church is full of gossips who will make us look bad if they can.  I've never seen anything like it on my life.  I believe GC is planting churches without using the GC organization's information known to those who come.  They wouldn't want anyone to find out their past and present practices.  We've been hurt so badly, my husband says he will never trust a church again; and, certainly not a pastor.

[kellie]

Everything Christ-

I just want to say that you did a brave thing. It takes courage to leave a fellowship, even when your heart tells you it isn't right. It may take some time to heal from your experience, and don't be discouraged if it takes longer than you might think.
Be kind to yourselves and hang onto the fact that God never leaves us, no matter what kind of situation we may find ourselves in.

Also, I want to encourage you that there are great churches out there. They will truly care about who you are and truly be the kind of body of Christ that a church was meant to be. It has taken me 15 years to heal from my experience and I am still working through things. I have found a wonderful church, but it has taken me many years to be able to trust people again. Hang in there, it WILL get better.

Kellie