Interesting theory

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[AgathaL'Orange]

http://www.wadeburleson.org/2012/01/our-problem-is-authoritarianism-and-not.html

[calgal]

I needed this, thanks.
Calgal

[Neverbeengcm]

Thanks for posting this Janet.  This speaks largely to the concerns I have with GCx and other similar "religious" organizations. Any church where the leadership becomes more important than the followers and the mission is not following the intent of our lord and savior is not going to give a person freedom and salvation.  We have a  responsibility as Christians to help others see the errors of their ways.

[Janet Easson Martin]

OH MY GOSH!

Thank you, God.  Thank you, Agatha.  Wade Burleson explains authoritarianism well.  This didn't just happen to GCx.  According to testimony, it was founded and established on this principle!  

I don't know yet if it is more widespread now then in the New Testament, but there is a mind-blowing amount of scripture on it in the New Testament, and significant amount in the Old Testament.  Yet Satan seems to have been successful in keeping many believers, like me, in the dark about it.

Let's spotlight it instead!

THIS IS IT!   Notice the OPPRESSION and LIES:
 
"How does one know if the Christian community or church to which he or she belongs is following Christ's teachings on leadership or is a reflection of the pagan's understanding of authority? What are the signs imperial authoritarianism in the church? The following are ten indicators:

(1). There is never any freedom to question the leader.
(2). The leader often makes claims of having special insights from God, insights that the laity are unable to possess.
(3). Disagreement with the leader is deemed a sign of the devil's influence in one's life.
(4). Events are designed to bring attention and praise to the leader rather than equipping others to do the work of the ministry.
(5). Any concept of equality is immediately labeled rebellion or the end result of a "liberal" denial of the Bible.
(6) Authoritarian leaders are only comfortable around like-minded leaders; thus, there is an unoffical 'speaking tour' where only imperial, authoritarian leaders share the platform with each other.
(7). The measure of success becomes the number of people who follow the leader ("It must be of God! Look at how many come to hear me speak!")
(8). If a person leaves the community or church, the problem is always in the person who leaves, not the leadership.
(9). Leaders who wrongly perceive themselves as those "with authority" insulate their lives by demanding absolute loyalty through giving large financial benefits to their closest 'advisors.'
(10). The ultimate end of this kind of Christian leadership is always more; more money, more power, more followers, more publicity, more, more, more...

The people of Christ are beginning to awaken to the abuses in the modern church. Whereas I thought it important in years past to challenge the legalism prevalent in the Southern Baptist Convention, I have become utterly convinced that the major problem in modern Christendom is authoritianism, not legalism. Ask yourself if you are in a place of worship where there is always a fresh, radical presentation of the freedom and equality of individual followers of Christ. If not, consider leaving, because in the end you will find your Christian community was never really about Christ or His people at all."

[Linda]

Thanks, Aggie. You're the best! Great blog post.

[Linda]

I think Wade commented on this Matt Chandler tirade.

Before I give the link, I want to mention that Matt Chandler said this just a few months before he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor 2 years ago. I would like to think that this arrogant message was somehow a result of the tumor. He is doing well now, and I believe the cancer is in remission, so that is good.

Listen to what he says. This is what happens when authority goes out of control. If I was a member there, or a visitor, I would have stood up and walked out and not looked back. Such arrogance. Here is the link.

http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-so-much-angst-about-anonymous.html

[Neverbeengcm]

Linda,

Thanks for sharing the link.  Matt sounds like our friend Lone Gone in his tirade.  It sounds to me that Matt is functioning normally.  He was just revealing the true nature of the GC beast.  It is unfortunate that a religious organization like GC seems to arrogantly believe that the people who criticize them are somehow sick. Blameshifting is their standard operating procedure. They cannot see that the problem lies within the organization and the structure set up as GC doctrine. Instead of feeling the hurt in anonymous e-mails and leading in the healing, Pastors see these people with hurt in their hearts as being cowardly and messengers of the Devil. Protect the perimeter at all cost.  Stop insurrection and quiet those who have thoughts about how wrong some of the GC teachings can be.

Sorry GC leaders, people who give you criticism are more often than not doing it to show you the error of your ways and giving you something to consider in the future.  They are begging you to stop torturing the souls of the current church members who blindly follow your unusual interpretations of the Bible.    

I feel sorry for those who are so easily misguided into believing that those of us who see the true light and spirit of Jesus Christ are being led to belive that we are "pathetic" and "narcissistic zeros".   Name calling seems to come easy for the leaders of the cult.  They use these tactics often enough that it seems natural for their members to think of their fellow Christians (who don't believe as they do) to be lesser human beings.  I don't think Jesus intended for Pastors to lead in this kind of rude behavior.  The "pastor Kurt Get slammed over the internet Post" is another similar example of how GC leaders actually feel.

Perhaps GC leaders could see that they have caused hurt in the souls of the people who trusted them and provide loving leadership in helping with healing.  Name-caling and shunning should be discouraged.  We are all children of God.  The leaders of a church should not be spearheading the charge in purposefully herting another human being under any circumstances.  This has to stop.

[Linda]

Agatha,

Did you see the follow-up blog post on Wade's site. Good stuff.

http://www.wadeburleson.org/2012/01/great-article-by-fob-james-on-christian.html

Love this:

"There is a lot more to say on this.  Suffice it for now:  the Galatian error remains with us. Supplemental covenants to recognize "church authority" or "make a radical commitment to the local church," etc., are everywhere in America, among just about every group.  These supplemental covenants are the true "foundations" of many turf-driven works of the flesh.  The end result is that they substitute a work of the flesh for that of the Spirit. The ecclesiological "commitment" (paratithemi) that scripture actually teaches is a commitment to the scriptures themselves, which is a commitment to the gospel.  The gospel is essentially that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures.  It is the New Covenant in His body and blood alone that the Holy Spirit honors.  This is the Covenant the Lord told us to remember and proclaim until He comes again.  So, next time someone says that you need an extra authority-covenant, or extra unity-commitment, or the like, to be fully admitted to "their" fellowship, don't fall for it.  If they press you, you might also consider telling them this.  IT IS FINISHED.""

[Neverbeengcm]

Thanks for sharing another great article, Linda.  Your knowledge and insights into the facts behind the errors made in the GCx doctrine is appreciated.  

The following section of the article speaks to one of the primary concerns I have with the Great Commission teachings:

"In the New Covenant scriptures, only the apostle Paul speaks of "authority" (exousia) in the context of leadership in the churches.  The most descriptive words he uses to describe that "authority," which he (and others) exercise with tenderness and tears and sometimes toughness, are  "authority in the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:18) and "authority given... [by the Lord]...for edification and not destruction." (2 Cor. 10:8, 13:10)  The words "authority in the church" or their equivalent cannot be found in scripture.  

In fact, "church" (ekklesia) and "authority" (exousia) never even appear in juxtaposition in the scriptures.  The word "authority" (exousia) is never mentioned in regard to elders, pastors, deacons, prophets, local churches, or even any apostles, except for Paul himself and those who labored with him in the gospel. Not even Peter is said to have had "authority," even though Peter clearly had authority in the gospel in fact.  "Keys" and "Open Doors" for instance signify authority.

The facts are clear.  The bible does not give the church any authority to rule over our personal decisions. Somehow the GCx leads us to believe that pastors should be given authority to invade our private lives and make very personal decisions for us.  They may have been given "authority in the gospel".  But, that does not mean that we should allow them to control ANY part of our personal lives. We all know in our hearts that Jesus did not teach us that church leaders were Gods who we need to submit any or all authority to.  GC pastors have misread the scripture and used their bad interpretation of the Bible to give themselves authority to make decisions in the everyday lives of their followers.  That leads to the destruction of a person's rights.  That also deminsishes our religious freedoms and takes us further from the beautiful light of our Lord Jesus.

[hurtfamily]

GC is out to self persevere it self Pastor Kurt, and Pastor Pete , need to learn grace love and acceptance as Christ showed all of us.  Thank You Jesus showing my family the way away their leadership and where we are loved and wanted.