GCC Website Update

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[Linda]

I see from the new link posted last night that GCC has been busy doing damage control. There seem to be a lot of new things posted (or maybe I just haven't been to the site for a while). Here's one.

www.gccweb.org/about/faq/

Number 13 stood out immediately.
http://www.gccweb.org/about/faq/##13

Really, so now "each individual in the church in encouraged to obey not a man or a group of men, but Jesus Christ alone, by following the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit."

Good to hear because I missed the memo where they took back the part where guys on their national board used to say/teach things like, "And so even to give the controls over to God, that's hard, but the real kicker here is God is saying, "give the controls over to people that I work through, and these people are fallible, these people make mistakes, these people are weak at times. You-outta work through it anyway," that's what God says."

Then, there is this little tidbit. A link off of question 16. (BTW, shouldn't the plethora of information on their site about unfair criticism and online detractors give one pause? Shouldn't the need to tell us how humble they are cause us to wonder why they have to keep telling us? Humble people I know don't generally talk about how humble they are.)

http://www.gccweb.org/about/christian-perspective-of-internet-criticisms

I think #2 on the Internet Criticisms paper is hilarious. Obviously, the writer didn't realize that as he wrote, "Therefore, because we want to protect the honor of God’s church, GCC’s policy is to question negative internet characterizations of other Christians—within GCC or outside of GCC, he was himself making a negative Internet criticism of other Christians!

I am in agreement with them on #3. Personal offenses should not be dealt with on the Internet.

What GC can not seem to understand is that unsound teaching that continues uncorrected is not in the category of "personal offense". It is in the category of exposing false teaching.

They do not seem to want to correct false teaching, but rather, challenge the reputation of those who expose it. Very sad.

[Neverbeengcm]

As always, thanks for your well thought out posts, Linda.

[IWishToRemainAnonymous]

Is this paper new?

http://www.gccweb.org/assets/gccweb/Spring%202013-%20John%20Hopler-%20Persecution.pdf

What web site was "created by an antagonist for the sole purpose of mocking and reviling" a pastor?

What church was "labeled as a cult on the internet"?

In point 4, do you think the mention of "Family and friends" is to cause students who have parents who are questioning their extensive involvement in their church to view their parents as enemies of God?

[Huldah]

A newly saved Christian is rejected by his family because of his faith.

How ironic to start the article with this example. In GC, the common pattern is for the convert to reject his family, not the other way around

Another irony is the appeal to Acts 20:29,30 to describe alleged persecution by those who've left GCx. The wolves in that passage are the false teachers that oppress the flock, not the wounded flock members who left because their leaders abused them.

It isn't fair or honest to write off valid criticism just because the criticism isn't expressed through GC's "accountability process." When I was in GC and asked for help with my struggles, I was written off. My doctrinal concerns were ignored, my motives were questioned, and I was blamed for being the victim of bullying by a housemate/sister with a history of bullying others. Why should I or anyone else trust an accountability system administered by the same leaders who created a climate where bullying and false teaching were allowed to flourish? Has there ever been a documented example where lasting, significant changes resulted from a complaint submitted via the accountability process? John, my brother in Christ, can you really not understand why the same people who've been abused by GC leadership are unwilling to subject themselves to more potential abuse from the same leaders?

[Huldah]

Also, note the use of the phrase "professing Christians" in Point 4, to subtly discredit the critics of GC by suggesting that we may not be true believers. That really is uncalled for.

[Linda]

Excellent points, Huldah.

One of the great sorrows of posting here by name is that I fully understand that my ECC friends (including pastors) truly believe that I am "unfriendly to the Gospel" or "slandering" them. Hopler, in this document, clearly does a "pre-emptive" ad hominem attack to discredit posters on this forum.

How you say something is a separate issue from what is said. When you say tough things (like exposing false doctrine) and a leader says, "I won't listen to something that is not said through the proper channels as defined by me," you know you are not dealing with a humble person who cares about doctrine.

My prayer is that their eyes would be opened to their deception.

Families are being hurt in big ways by this group and parents are left to pick up the pieces of the messed up lives of their children.
The Gospel is damaged. The Lordship of Christ is diminished by pastors lording it over the flock. My heart is breaking.

[Janet Easson Martin]

What you said about families & lives being wounded & torn apart is no exaggeration, Linda.  It is NOT a normal encouraging & building environment which IS FOUND in healthy churches following the Holy Spirit.  It is an environment of internal destruction & external division which leaves one rather HELPLESS.  It's existence is not trivial or inconsequential; it is HARMFUL!  That's why this type of "church" is labeled as destructive as a pack of WOLVES.  There IS damage.  Also perhaps why this type of twisted scripture "teaching" is referred to by the WORD as 'doctrines taught by demons' because of its attack on God's own sheep.

So glad you haven't given up the fight for God's sheep.  Galatians says these "teachers" actions will not go unpunished.  He's very upset about it.  

[Linda]

Sometimes the damage is more visible. This is one of those times for me. I'm currently aware of lots of deep damage. Dark, evil damage.

For students reading this, if your leaders are telling you to stay in your college town for the summer and implying that the church is your family now and not your parents/siblings, I would say talk to your parents. Let them know that the church believes this. Be honest with your real family. Your family is your primary accountability group because they know you best. If your parents are Christians, your family is your closest small group and the only small group that you can be certain God placed you in. Don't discount their counsel because a man who claims to be a pastor tells you that you have to obey him.