"Jesus Christ changes lives. He can change an organization, too."

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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[Mr. Toad]

http://www.gci.org/aboutus/history

A good article about a church that was a very off doctinally (Worldwide Church of God started by Herbert Armstrong, published "The Plain Truth" magazine).    But which later (2009) changed it's name to reflect it's doctrinal changes.

"In the early 1930s, Herbert Armstrong began a ministry that eventually became our denomination. He had many unusual doctrines. These he taught so enthusiastically that eventually more than 100,000 people attended weekly services. After he died in 1986, church leaders began to realize that many of his doctrines were not biblical. These doctrines were rejected, and the church is now in full agreement with the statement of faith of the National Association of Evangelicals. To reflect these doctrinal changes, in April 2009, the denomination changed its name to Grace Communion International. This name better reflects who we are and what we teach. For a press release, click here. For a letter of further explanation, click here.

Here is the story of how the church developed and how it changed.

Transformation of a denomination

Jesus Christ changes lives. He can change an organization, too. This is the story of how the Lord changed our denomination from an unorthodox church on the fringes of Christianity, into an evangelical group that believes and teaches orthodox doctrines. The story involves both pain and joy. Thousands of members left the church. Income is less than one fourth of what it once was. But thousands of members are rejoicing with renewed zeal for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...."

[wounded]

That is my honest prayer as well. God has done this before. The reasons for the writings to the churches of Revelation was, for many of them, to call them to repent and turn back to true doctrine so their witness would not be removed.

At a Faithwalkers, Bill Young referenced Grace Communion International as an example of a movement that had turned back toward God. He was using their repentance as an example of what could happen and for his prayers for the Mormon church. In love, I want to pray that for the brothers and sisters in GCx and the leadership.

I was very convicted about Jesus' call for us to love our enemies recently because I was having a difficult time forgiving people for what had happened to me. I was so thankful that the Lord showed me the anger in my heart and helped me to give it to Him. I am thinking of changing my user name to "healing". Who knows, I may even use my real name  .

I also listened to a speaker who challenged another Christian leader. Later, I found out that they are very good friends, but the man said that because his friend is a teacher of the word, he holds him to a higher standard. I am praying that I can have a more gracious attitude with my words on this forum from now on. I apologize for bitterness in any of my other posts. Yet, I will still comment from time to time on things which I feel do not match up to God's word. I pray the leaders will listen. I know of one who did listen, but he was met by deaf ears by others in leadership. Perhaps in the future more will raise their voices as they are led by the Spirit.

[blonde]

Are people in this forum suggesting that GCx can be reformed?  -Blonde

[Grace Abounding]

Are people in this forum suggesting that GCx can be reformed?  -Blonde

I can't speak for everybody in this forum, but I honestly do want that to happen. That is my biggest prayer for them, that they see the error of their ways and change.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I used to want that and think it was possible.  I think it might be better though for them to join other churches, have leaders get some seminary, and stop trying to reinvent the wheel.  I think joining parachurch organizations would be an option too.  They would fit better as Campus Crusade for Christ, IMO.

[BTDT]

Are people in this forum suggesting that GCx can be reformed?  -Blonde

I think they can, if the leaders are teachable.

However...

As I look back through much of the history of GC, I see many former leaders that changed their convictions based on God's leading. Mostly, that seemed to result in those leaders leaving (voluntarily or otherwise), or even a few whole churches leaving.  Maybe the culture is too firmly entrenched.

[BTDT]

I am praying that I can have a more gracious attitude with my words on this forum from now on. I apologize for bitterness in any of my other posts. Yet, I will still comment from time to time on things which I feel do not match up to God's word.

I hope you won't censor yourself too much.  We understand about the process of healing, and are going through it ourselves.  Like I wrote to someone else once, sometimes you just gotta scream.
-Ed-

[Linda]

I used to want that and think it was possible.  I think it might be better though for them to join other churches, have leaders get some seminary, and stop trying to reinvent the wheel.

I agree and am reminded that they don't want to change.

When we brought up issues like commitment for life to "the movement" & obedience to leaders (even when they are wrong) we were asked by MD to leave rather than try to change things.

When people ask you to leave, the polite thing is to go. And so we did.

[blonde]

I know they don't want to change.  The way they act and are, tells me that there is no new wave of change coming.  -Blonde

[SarahB]

Are people in this forum suggesting that GCx can be reformed?  -Blonde

Nothing wrong with us hoping and praying that they will one day want to change.

[Mei Chuen]

We should pray always for everyone, with love and pain in our hearts, that God will bless them. His Spirit is able to work in ways we have no clue.   And in faithfully praying for others, I have discovered that I find healing for myself.

[Linda]

Agreed, there is nothing wrong with hoping and praying that they will one day want to change. I was responding to the comment that it might be better for them to join other churches. In the past they seemed to make an effort to reform (The Error Statement, for example), but it seems that many of their errors are rooted in their "core values" and because of this they slipped back into doing the very things they apologized for.

I certainly pray that the leaders (many of whom I consider friends) will understand that they are believing and teaching some pretty significant error.

Bottom line: Pray for change to come as leader's eyes are opened and at the same time warn others.

[Captain Bible]

I do not wish to see change in Gcx. I think they should stay true to the founding leaders vision. It would be wrong for them to leave the work uncompleted. After all, the leaders are fallowing Jesus the best that they know how and their world view set in stone. Frankly, I think there are many other fundamentalist churches out there who are far more extreme.

Gcx will just carry on their breed of Christianity as the religion continues its frenzied diversification.  If you are a christian today you simply have one big buffet of churches to choose from. I think GCx has figured out what their formula is, stuck with it and carved out a neat little place for themselves in this competitive church environment.

Young collage freshmen are ground zero for the movement and frankly who could fault them for trying to save the lost when the lost are drinking themselves into black out intoxication. Remember, this is a church that is Horrified by the culture they see around them. In my opinion, most of problems the movement has are attributed to this frantic race to save the hell bound sinners from the arms of Satin. It doesn't matter who gets raped along the way as long as the gospel is spread.    My two cents.

[nelliepooh]

Bad choice of words there at the end CaptainBible.  But that is what they think, but the at all costs attitude is not Christ centered.  How can the gospel be effectively shared if the people sharing will do anything to "convert" people?  What counts as a true conversion?  How much does ones life have to change to show they are converted?  Do they have to do the same to others at all costs?  This is not how the love of God is best propegated to unbelievers.  People are turned off by those who come around knocking on doors and they are turned off by christians who all they care about is converting people and don't care what mess they leave in their wake.  Its the evangelizing christians responsibility to share the gospel but they must not misrepresent the gospel to get people saved.  If the message isn't the truth is it a true salvation?  Is god pleased when people are hurt in this way?  I don't think so.   

[G_Prince]

Theologically, I think GCx has a right to believe whatever they want. What concerns me is their tactics. In order to achieve their Theology, they sometimes  stoop to an "end justifies the means" mentality.

The GCx Gospel Bus is coming through and it's heading to the station NOW! If you are unfortunate enought to get run over, then its tragic casualty but one that must happen for the greater good.

I think what most of us are saying is, "Hey, slow down a bit. Check your mirrors and use your turn signal." I don't have a problem with whatever bus they drive, my problem is with how they drive it.

[Linda]

So, just what was the founding leader's vision?

Commitment to the group for life? Obviously not because the founding leader left 25 years ago.

I suppose, if asked, people would say that the goal was "reaching the world for Christ in this generation." To that, I would say that there are millions of Christians in churches throughout the globe who have that goal (minus, maybe, the "in this generation" part). Sometimes I think that GC people need to stop bad mouthing (dare I say slandering) other churches and believers and get to know them. They might find that most really do care about sharing the Gospel and living for God.

Adding the phrase "in this generation" the way GC did is something to ponder. First of all, it tends to put the emphasis on individuals rather than on God and detracts from the idea that God calls people to himself in his own time. We gotta do this and we gotta do this NOW. It all depends on us.

Secondly, adding the "in this generation" goal is clever if you are looking for worker bees. A missionary in Japan who works with cults told me that most cults have a preoccupation with "end times" things because it makes people sacrifice more (time and money). Really, if your goal is to reach the world "in this generation", who has time for marriage, or spending time with family and neighbors or co-workers. If you buy into the "in this generation" line, then you commit your time and your money and don't look back.

I think there is a lot that needs to change about GC. For starters, I wish they would read the Statement of Error and Apology and ask themselves, "Did we really mean this?" If they didn't mean it, I wish they would take it down and tell everyone. If they did, I wish they would keep their word. They promised to change and they didn't. They broke their promise. They should make it right and that involves change.

[GC No More]

I think we can all agree that there is a lot that needs to change and we see all that needs to change but they don't. They think they're doing the right thing. Before they can change, they need to see these things as issues and then they can take steps to change. I think that what some people are saying is that God can make that happen. He can make them see these things and then they will be able to change. Just my thoughts on the issue.

[Linda]

Agreed. I would add, though, that it is not God's fault if they don't change. It seems to me that for about 30 plus years now, people have been coming along and trying to point out to the leaders that they are in error on some pretty big points. People have free will and they can choose to "not see". Also, if they do "see" they can choose to not act.

[guest]

"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." -Revelation 22:11

[Linda]

"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." -Revelation 22:11

Not sure I understand your point.