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Author Topic: What's the deal with GC and other campus Christian organizations?  (Read 5129 times)
askingquestionsaboutGCI
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« on: May 04, 2009, 07:10:11 am »

I don't understand this, and I'm sure there must be some history, some reason why GC does not want to interact with other Christian organizations on campuses.  My kids have many friends who attend the University of Maryland -- Baltimore Campus (UMBC).  I know these kids -- wonderful, on-fire kids.  The bulk of them are part of Campus Crusade at UMBC, and their group is thriving, vibrant, active. 

So here comes Tom Short into town this week, to preach on campus.  Fine, whatever....... One of the men at church is helping him set up this new "ministry".  I asked yesterday if they had reached out to the Campus Crusade group to join forces or whatever, since they're such an active group on campus.  The answer?  No -- Herschel had warned them NOT to do that; that Campus Crusade's "goals" are different from GC's.  And the way the answer was given, it was clear that no further questioning would be appreciated. Unfortunately, I had somewhere I needed to get to after church; otherwise, I would've LOVED to dig into that more!!

But it's really got me wondering -- what is the deal here?  Why does GC not want to work with other groups on campus?  And what is their "goal" that is different from Cru's?  I'm thinking that the goal should be to reach people with the gospel of Christ -- and I can't see that goal being different between these two groups particularly.  What am I missing here?  Huh
 
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jaywalker
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« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2009, 07:54:03 am »

Quote
and I can't see that goal being different between these two groups particularly.  What am I missing here? 

You gotta look at the big picture thing.  All the posts in all the threads in this forum lead to one general conclusion.  GC is empire building.  THEY want to reach the world, and they do want it to be THEM that is known as having done it. 

Most other groups want US to reach the world for Christ.  We are all in it together.  All participating.  All members of Christ's body moving through history for Christ.

GC wants to go it alone.  They want the control "to do it right," to do it "their way."  If they share their control and power, they feel they are diluting themselves, or worse, compromising with the world.  So other groups are cometitors, not fellow bondservants.  Especially when it comes to leadership.

Empire building.  Not kingdom building, but empire building.
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lone gone
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« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2009, 07:57:11 am »

I'm thinking that the goal should be to reach people with the gospel of Christ -- and I can't see that goal being different between these two groups particularly.

That is two implied assumptions on your part. ( 1 Reach people. 2.same goal. )

GC has always been an organization that reaches the lost to start NT assemblies. CC reaches the lost and encourages them to find their own church associations.

CC is not a church and doesn't seek to be. ( they would be considered Para-church ) They know that becoming a church involves things like doctrinal stances and they don't want to go there.  

GC seeks to be a church, yet oddly enough they don't want to take stands on doctrine. They seek "unity".... but in reality their goal is lack of disagreement.... subtle difference I know... but as long as there is peace and following of the leaders in GC, it hardly matters what you truly believe.
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saved
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« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2009, 09:28:31 am »

Most other groups want US to reach the world for Christ.  We are all in it together.  All participating.  All members of Christ's body moving through history for Christ.

Actually, a LOT of groups in the U.S., mainline denominations in particular, tend to think about "us and ours" and not work well with others.  Many groups have their own presses and only use their own materials (Baptists in particular, others as well).  Or their own seminaries.  If you're a pastor in a mainline denomination it's not so easy to switch to another and still be a pastor.  (It can be done, but not easily!)

I still remember when I left GC and joined a Baptist church and a friend asked me "How long have you been a Baptist?"  Well, I've been a Christian since 1987...

And I believe this thinking is hurting the traditional mainline denominations whose attendance is dropping... many people aren't into doctrinal differences and have no "brand loyalty" anymore.  So what if I leave this group and join that group?  And if you're claiming you've got the one true way to go about it, that's a turn off to me...

But yeah, GCx has always had an attitude of we've got it right, much righter than those other people out there...
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