Neo-exclusivism

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[Linda]

As long as I have M2Z (Marching to Zion) out, I thought I would share something written by George Verwer (head of Operation Mobilization who had connections with some GCI people). In a 1978 newsletter, he wrote:

In closing can I share with you a great burden? It is about the growth of what I call "neo-exclusivism" among God's people. We all know about Exclusive Brethren teaching which eventually split even families in half. There are now movements moving in similar directions. Some are very obvious, like the "Children of God" under Moses Berg and the "Local Church" under Witness Lee. Others are less obvious and more subtle. Tozer said the greatest gift needed in the church today is discernment, and this is more true today than ever. Neo-exclusivism and other extremists among God's people bring further division and confusion into the body of Christ even if at times in the name of oneness and unity.

What are some marks of neo-exclusivism? (1) General belittling or criticism of existing churches and denominations; (2) Insistence that they or their group is NOT a denomination; (3) negative generalizations about the state of existing churches; (4) extra strong emphasis on submission to leadership; (5) unwillingness to join with other Christians or groups, especially in activities outside their own sphere of control; (6) critical of existing missionary work and unwillingness to commend or send workers into existing missionary societies; (7) such groups tend to glory in being criticized or misunderstood by other Christians--they speak of "their vision", special calling, etc.; (8.) such groups usually only push their own tapes, magazines or books; they feel a great need to "protect the sheep;" they often seem to be blind or ignorant of the many different ways in which God is working in different groups, churches, etc.

[lone gone]

That type of behavior goes all the way back to the First Century. ( "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos")

The problem comes to light when "leaders" claim a right to earn their living from the sheep... so keeping the sheep excluded from other leaders is a hidden motive that is unmentioned.

St. Paul decided not to do this.... he supplied his own needs except for gifts.

Yet even that can be corrupted.... and "gifts" be sought instead of a wage.
Calling your wage a "gift" so you cannot be held accountable is pretty underhanded.

Exclusive Brethren is a term applied to very devisive Plymouth Brethren who split into ever smaller groups. In Ames I knew people from one of these groups who wished to have nothing to do with anyone else. They met in homes,  raised up their own elders, and worked in humble occupations.

Sound familiar? It should.... Jium McCotter was raised Plymouth Brethren.

[theresearchpersona]

Wow, just the other night I was ready to post about the PB's doctrines and practices to give background about Jim and Herschel...I'll definitely plan on providing some links. An interesting thing is much going-ons today are doctrinal explosions created by the Plymouth Brethren and Darby.

[Linda]

In spite of their "commitment to the local church for the rest of your life" talk, something that leaders in "The Movement" just brush over is the fact that McCotter LEFT his Brethren church to start GCI.

One thing that makes me very sad is the fact that two pastors whose history did not go back to McCotter refused to listen to any information about the old days to answer our questions. They wouldn't even LOOK at Marching to Zion to refute it. Obviously, the control comes in when leaders are told that to look at negative information is slander. This type of information control is frightening--especially in men that otherwise seem like bright, logical thinkers.

One pastor wouldn't even listen to the Darling Faithwalkers talk where he tells people to be committed to GC for the rest of their life. He said he didn't need to listen because no matter what was said he "knew his heart." Tell me when it is ever right to give unsound doctrine a pass because you "know someone's heart." Unsound doctrine should always be corrected. If someone misspoke publicly, they should publicly correct their mistake or clarify what might be misleading if they truly have a heart for God.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I think it's a little like living with an abuser because you know they "didn't really mean it."  I've never thought that the false teaching in GC comes from "bad hearts."  I think it comes for a religious "inbreeding" that was founded on faulty doctrine.  They stay insulated and therefore keep reinforcing bad doctrine.  When you compound this with very little seminary and leaders who were saved into the movement, there is going to be an unwillingness to seek out truth!  Just my opinion based on what I've seen.

[wastedyearsthere]

What about the verse about the heart being deceitfully sick??  Knowing people's heart is ridiculous.  You don't think the LDS church in Texas had good motivations and intentions and good "hearts"??

[EverAStudent]

Watedyearsthere said:

What about the verse about the heart being deceitfully sick?? Knowing people's heart is ridiculous. You don't think the LDS church in Texas had good motivations and intentions and good "hearts"??

Your comment is certainly correct.  Further, only God knows the true heart of a man, even if the man has deceived himself (and everyone else?).  It is for this reason that the Word tells us to evaluate the actions and teachings of others, not their hearts.  Even the passage about selecting pastors who are "devout" does not mean we "look at their heart," but rather we look at whether their actions and words have matched what Scripture tells us devout men do.  

Leaders who invent their own "scripture" about staying with churches for life, that evangelism is the greatest commandment, that all men must aspire to be pastors (then prophets, then apostles), etc., are unqualified for the ministry based on the criteria of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 3, for they have shown by their teachings and actions that they are ill-equipped to teach, which disqualifies them.

[exshep]

What about the verse about the heart being deceitfully sick??  Knowing people's heart is ridiculous.  You don't think the LDS church in Texas had good motivations and intentions and good "hearts"??

I not pro-Mormon, but some clarification might be helpful.  The group is not part  of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints,  but a fundamentalist splinter group not recognized by the Salt Lake church.   Like to keep the facts straight.