So what do we do? We come to you and say, "Pledge, tell us what you're
going to give to special contribution." And we add it all up and come up about
$100,000 short. (laughter) And then what do we do? Well, we get all the leaders
together and say, "Go back to your people, go back to them again and ask
them -- tell them we're not there yet -- ask them: can you do better? Can you
give more?" And so we go back and say, "Can you do better?" Some
people say, "Yeh, I can do better." Others say, "No, I can't,
it's all I can do." And so we add it all up again. And we're still about
$75,000 short. So we say, look, go back one more time and tell your people that
you have to give your goal as a mission team and you have not done your part
yet. Go back, talk to them again and get in there and talk to those people, you
know, who you think maybe they have not given as much as they should have
given. Have a personal talk with them and try to see if they can give more. So
the leaders go back, and the leaders hate this, but they go back reluctantly
and they come back to you and they have a talk with you, "Can you do
better?" So we add it all up again and now we're a little closer but we're
still not there. So we go back and say, "O.K., since we're not there yet,
we got to go out and have a yard sale, we gotta have a garage sale. How many of
you can work out at the Indianapolis 500 booth? How many of you can do the Gus
Macker Tournament? Because we've got to get there, we've got to get our goal.
And so people sign up to do things that they really don't want to do. And they
go out and they do these things and they sweat their brains and we come back
and we're still not there. We're still about $50,000 short. So what do we do
then? Well, then we say, "Well, let's all go out and have a
walkathon." And go knock on the doors in our neighborhood and ask our
friends and neighbors, you know, to give money to God's work. And so we go out
and do that, we knock on doors. Then we go out and walk around in circles, you
know, on Sunday afternoon. And finally, we scrounge together enough money to
send out to LA to meet our obligation. ...And I can no longer condone that
practice of giving by compulsion.
Fourth and finally: Standing in the way of this church not being legalistic is
facing the constant pressure of arbitrary expectations, statistics and quotas which
rob us of our proper motivation. The point of the Bible is supposed to be loving
God and loving man. It's supposed to motivate everything we do. What I'm saying to
you guys is that we're under the pressure of so many arbitrary expectations in
the statistics and quotas that many of us find it is almost impossible to keep
our hearts pure and really focused on loving God and loving people. We are
required to report on a weekly basis to Chicago, zone by zone, statistics in
regard to our attendance, our contribution, number of baptisms we've had that
week, what our budget is, what our average giving per member is, predicted
increase in members for the coming week, the actual increase of members for the
week just passed. Our attendance is analyzed as to whether it is
"bad," "good," "great," or "awesome,"
according to a formula that has been compiled. Considering the number of
children we have, the number of visitors we are expected to bring, and the
number of members that we have, we have compiled what is a "bad
attendance," a "good attendance," a "great attendance"
or an "awesome attendance." Our contribution is analyzed by zone.
Calculated how much the average giving per member is, not only in our whole
church but in each individual zone of our church. It is evaluated. Expectations
are passed down through the leaders and all of us have been guilty of passing
those expectations along. The pressure is felt by the leaders from me to the
staff, to the Bible Talk Leaders, the mission team leaders, the house church leaders,
whatever we happen to be calling them at the time, and it's passed on down to
you. And the result is that it has turned us into a group of people who
generally do not tend to be properly motivated by the right reason, motivated
by the means that God wants us to be motivated by. We've been robbed of our
joy. And that's why we always have to pump up the church. It seems every time
we get together we've got to pump that thing up again.
The other thing that has happened as a result of the pressure of arbitrary
expectations, statistics and quotas is that many people have been wounded when
we have failed to measure up to those expectations. I know of one church in the
movement, and I don't know if the practice is still going on, but it went on at
one time and may still be going on, for all I know, I know of one church in the
movement that actually put in place the policy of removing from the membership
any member who was not fruitful in at least two months, they were removed from
membership. Guys, I'm telling you that kind of stuff wounds people. It hurts
people. ...Also, I believe that these statistics and this pressure fosters a
works mentality in us that robs us of the motivation of love. We studied Romans
12:8 and following in the lesson I preached two weeks ago, where God teaches us
that love is the fulfillment of the law. That's the purpose for all of the
commands. And, guys, I just want to say that I don't know, I mean I don't know
how I can say to Andy, say, "Look, Andy, I want you to share your faith
tomorrow because you love God. And that's all I want to motivate you. I want
you to be motivated by the fact that you love God. And I'm going to call you
tomorrow night and see how it went. O.K.? But I want you to do it because you
love God. And if you don't do it, I'm also going to set your hair on fire but,
(laughter) but I don't want you to think about that." That's an unhealthy
motivation. Now you concentrate on love. I think it's almost impossible to
focus on love when we fear the repercussions that will come from failing to
measure up to the expectation.
-----
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And
what I'm also telling you is that it's getting hard. It's getting hard to fit
into a legalistic system and do what's right according to our conscience. ...
I'm not saying, in conclusion, I am not
saying that I want to leave the movement. I'm not saying that we're right
and now we discovered all the truth and everybody else is wrong. Because if we
say that, then we're no different. I'm not saying that the movement, the
churches, the people in the movement are lost and going to hell. I'm not saying
that. I think that they are some of the finest people on the face of the earth.
I believe that. ... I am not saying that
we don't want to be a part of them. But this is what I am saying. Hebrews
10:26 "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful
expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of
God." My life has changed. Now, after this message tonight, you can be
sure of that. But my life has changed. I have made the decision to change my
life. Why? Because I no longer can
willfully sin. I cannot willfully participate in things that I know are wrong
according to the Scriptures. I am not saying that everybody who doesn't see
it the way I am is going to hell, because, hey, if they have a clear conscience
before God, then God bless them. Because I'm probably wrong about a lot of
things, too, in my life. So, praise God. ... I can no longer go on like this. I
can't. The entire staff has made that decision. ... We ask you as a church
tonight what direction do you want to go in the future,
keeping in mind that I am not talking about leaving the movement.
What I am talking about is saying, "Look, we want to have fellowship, but
these things we cannot do...."
-----
[Concerning the rest of the ICC movement] We love you. We want to
be a part of you. And we want to be fellowshipped. We want to participate. We want to
give to missions. We want to be discipled. We want to come to seminars. We want to be
involved. But, we can't do everything that you tell us to do, it's just not right....
I want to tell you something, guys, there have been many people in our movement
-- good people -- who have stepped forward and said, "I can't do this
anymore. I don't agree with this, I think you're wrong about this, this and
this." And they had been disposed of quietly and they are gone. They are
out of ministry. They are gone.
-----
We can bring about change...Because tonight, when this meeting is over, I’m going to walk into
the office and I’m going to call Marty Fuqua in LA. and I’m going to tell him what my
convictions are and where we are as a church. And I’m going to be calling him and saying,
"Bro, the church doesn’t want me anymore, you send somebody in to take my
place and provide this church with leadership that they want and the leadership
they believe in." Or -- and that is true for the rest of our staff as
well, or (depending on how you vote), I’ll be calling and saying, "Bro, as
a church, we have decided that we cannot do these things anymore. It doesn’t
mean we don’t love you, don’t want to be a part. But we are not going to do
this anymore...and we still want to be a part."
Members of the congregation sharing their views:
"My name's Tom --...And I really believe that Ed has hit the nail on the head
tonight. And I think what we have to do as a church is we've really got to pray
tonight to God that God will protect the church and that also the church here
will lead the way and others will join in. (applause, cheers) And that this
will be a positive thing in all the world and that this won't be
negative."
Male: "I agree with what Tom said and I also feel like that the
biggest part of being here, thinking about that, that God is going to use this
church as that catalyst to make change."
The result of the vote was: 596 voted yes, meaning that they wanted to
remain in the movement but that they could no longer go along with these unscriptural
abuses of authority, 6 abstained, 1 voted no (meaning they wanted to keep things as
they were)
|
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The following are excerpts from the "History Section" concerning the Indianapolis Church
situation. The "History Section" may be found in its entirety at:
http://www.reveal.org/library/stories/churches/indy/history.html
February 27, 1994: The congregation met in house churches throughout
central Indiana in the morning. The congregation met at 6:30 p.m. at the church building in
Castleton for a congregational meeting. Ed presented his convictions and asked the congregation
to vote "yes" in favor of the stated convictions or "no" to oppose
which would result in the staff resigning their positions. It is important to
emphasize that Ed stated repeatedly through the message that the church was
committed to remaining in the International Churches of Christ, but simply
asked for the freedom to observe four stated convictions. Prior to the vote a
number of members spoke up voicing their support of the staff and the stated
convictions. A vote was taken and the congregation overwhelmingly voted in
favor of the staff and the stated convictions. There was only one
"no" vote, six "abstain" votes and the rest were
"yes" votes. The attendance was not taken that evening, but it was a
crowd estimated at approximately 600 adults. The results were announced and the
crowd was ecstatic and overjoyed. Immediately after the congregational meeting
Ed Powers went to the church office in the building and called Marty Fuqua in
L.A. Marty did not answer the phone so Ed left a message for Marty to call him
back that night. Ed and Bobby Powers and approximately 15 other members then
returned to the Powers' home to wait for Marty's return call.
February 28, 1994: At approximately 12:00 A.M. Marty Fuqua returned Ed's message.
Approximately 8 others were in Ed's office during his phone conversation with Marty. Ed
reported to Marty the events and results of the congregational meeting. During the
conversation, Ed emphasized a number of times that the
Indianapolis Church was committed to remaining in the I.C.C., continuing to be
discipled by the Chicago church, contributing to the World Missions Special
Contribution, attending future ICC sponsored seminars, retreats and
conferences, and participating in future Church plantings. Ed requested that
Marty communicate that pledge of commitment to Kip McKean and the Elders of the
LA church. Ed told Marty that in view of the present circumstances in the
Indianapolis Church of Christ that he would not be able to attend the US West
Training Classes for the Midwest Evangelists scheduled to begin on Tuesday,
March 1. Ed had previously purchased the airline tickets to travel to this
scheduled event.
At approximately 3:00 A.M. a member of the Indianapolis Church of Christ
received a phone call from her sister in the Los Angeles Church of Christ.
She called to state that she had been notified by an Evangelist in Chicago that Ed had
led the congregation to leave the ICC. By the next morning the Indianapolis Church of Christ
members began to receive hundreds of phone calls from other congregations in the ICC. Members
of other congregations were reporting that they had received word early Monday morning
from their Evangelists that the Indianapolis Church had voted to leave the ICC.
On Monday Marty Fuqua called Ed Powers back to clarify the four principles that
the congregation had approved the previous night. Marty informs Ed that he is
coming into Indianapolis that week. Ed stated that he was willing to get
together with Marty, but he requests Marty to have members of the ICC stop
calling the members of the Indianapolis Church of Christ. Marty refuses to meet
that request. Ed states that it is not in good faith for Ed to meet with Marty,
if Marty refuses to stop the confusion of false misinformation. Marty does not
try to persuade Ed to meet together. By Monday night the staff begins to hear
rumors that other leaders of the ICC were going to begin coming into town on
Tuesday to meet with members of the Indianapolis church.
March 1, 1994: Ed Powers and the entire staff of the Indianapolis Church of Christ
meet to discuss the developments of the previous day. No one on the staff has been directly
contacted by Marty Fuqua, Kip McKean, World Sector Leaders, or any leaders in the
Chicago Church of Christ. The staff discusses different options to handle the present
situation. It is finally decided to cancel the zone meeting scheduled for the
evening and call a Congregational Bible Talk Leaders Meeting at the Church
building in Castleton. The staff also learns indirectly on Tuesday afternoon
that the Leaders of the ICC have called a meeting on Tuesday evening to present
the other side of the argument that Ed had presented to the Indianapolis
Church. The staff has still not been invited to the meeting. The majority of
the Bible Talk Leaders attend the meeting and express frustration with the
sequence of events and the amount of misinformation. Ed asks the Bible Talk
Leaders to not attend the meeting scheduled by the Leaders of the ICC, so that
the ICC leaders will know that the Church is truly united and that they will
sit down to discuss the issues with the staff of the Indianapolis Church.
|
March 2, 1994: The Midwest Churches are informed of the situation in Indianapolis
and Ed Powers and the staff are marked as being divisive in some of the congregations.
March 3, 1994: A meeting sponsored and led by the ICC Leaders is held at the
Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Indianapolis for Indianapolis Church of Christ members
"to hear the other side". This meeting is attended by the following: Over 100 members
of ICC congregations outside Indianapolis, approximately 100 members of the
Indianapolis Church and ICC staff members from all over the world (including
Kip McKean, Marty Fuqua, Al Baird, Doug Arthur, Roger Lamb, Bob Gempel, Chris
McGrath, Steve Staten, John Mannel, Todd Asaad and others). Marty Fuqua speaks.
Then Kip McKean speaks to the crowd about the history of the ICC. He also
states that the Indianapolis Church of Christ did not have the growth that Ed
had reported. Kip read the average attendance figures for each month in 1993.
March 4, 1994: Ed Powers calls Marty Fuqua to schedule a meeting to discuss the issues.
The meeting is scheduled with Marty and Bob Gempel for the afternoon at Ed's house. Prior to
the meeting Andy and Leslie Lawyer, Greg Edwards and Ryan Polk initiate a meeting with
Marty Fuqua and Bob Gempel. (Kip McKean returned to Los Angeles on Friday
morning). They plead with these two World Sector Leaders to not start a new
congregation. (This is the first contact between the World Sector Leaders and
any members of the Indianapolis Church Staff). Later that afternoon Marty Fuqua
and Bob Gempel come to Ed Powers' house for a 3-1/2 hour discussion with Ed,
Roger Hendricks and Dave Powers (Ed's Dad). It is important to note that Bob
and Marty did not even open their Bibles during this 3/1/2 hour meeting. Roger
Hendricks drove Marty and Bob downtown to the Embassy Suites. They communicated
to him again that they would be in touch.
On that evening another meeting was held for the members of the Indianapolis Church
of Christ. Marty delivered a speech on the perils of leadership. Douglas Arthur
delivered a speech concerning the issues that Ed had raised. It was also announced there
would be a worship service on Sunday morning of the Indianapolis International
Church of Christ.
March 6, 1994: The Indianapolis Church of Christ meets at 8003 Castleway Drive for
Sunday morning worship. The attendance is 620. The Indianapolis International Church of Christ
meets at the Embassy Suites with approximately 200 in attendance. John Mannel is appointed
the temporary Evangelist of the new congregation.
That evening Ed Powers and the staff explain to the Indianapolis Church the
sequence of events of the past week.
March 8, 1994: The Indianapolis Church of Christ staff meets to discuss the
needs of the congregation. Ed has still not heard back from Marty and Bob. Ed
sends a fax to Kip and Marty requesting a public discussion of the four
principles in question. Marty phones Ed later in the week and informs him that
there will be no public discussion.
March 11, 1994: Ed and Bobby Powers, Andy and Leslie Lawyer, John and Rita Morrel,
Roger Hendricks, Homer Schmucker, and Mark Davis (Campus Minister of the Elmwood Church of
Christ [Lafayette]) attend a scheduled meeting at the IUPUI campus for college student
members of the Indianapolis Church of Christ to hear the explanation of the Indianapolis
events from the I.C.C. leaders. I.C.C. leaders present are as follows: John and
Nancy Mannel, Dave and Judy Wedger, and Kyle and Bobby Jo Bush. John Mannel
states that there will not be a meeting because the Indianapolis Church of
Christ Staff is represented in the meeting. Ed and others try to urge John to
continue with the meeting that was planned, but John refused to continue with
the meeting.
March 15, 1994: The Indianapolis Church of Christ meets for a congregational meeting. Ed
urges the congregation to "love the person who has set themselves up against you".
March 17, 1994: Kip McKean returns to Indianapolis. He preaches to the Indianapolis
International Church of Christ. He marks Ed Powers, the staff of the Indianapolis Church of Christ
and anyone meeting with them in Castleton as divisive. He warns the crowd if they
have any contact with anyone who has decided to remain with the church that Ed
is preaching they will also be marked as divisive. He informs the crowd
that Dave Weger will be the new Evangelist of the Indianapolis International
Church of Christ. All hopes of reuniting the two groups is now completely over
in the minds of the Indianapolis Church of Christ.
April 24, 1994: The Indianapolis Church of Christ is renamed the Circle City Church
of Christ to avoid confusion between the two groups. The Circle City
Church staff sends a letter to Kip McKean, World Sector Leaders and members of
the International Churches of Christ. The letter seeks to determine the truth
regarding the Indianapolis situation. The ICC leaders never respond to the
letter.
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June 1, 1994: Roger Hendricks sends a letter to Kip McKean calling him to repent of the
lies that were told in and about the Indianapolis Church of Christ. Kip never responded to that letter.
August, 1994: Kip McKean writes "Revolution through Restoration Part II",
that is published in the August issue of Upside Down Magazine.
Kip describes the Indianapolis situation as "a very sad chapter in our
history". He also writes, "As for those who continue to oppose us,
they are lost -- not because their baptism became invalid, but the Scriptures
are clear that those who oppose and grumble against God's leaders and divide
God's church are, in fact, opposing God. (Exodus 16:8; Numbers 16). Thus the
rebellious become lost because they do not have a true faith."
Our comments:
Christians need to be in a church and they need to be discipled,
submitting to the Word of God the leaders teach. But when leaders
continue in teachings and practices that are
against the Word of God, that abuse people, that
damage disciples and are not open to listen to what the Scriptures teach, to listen
to constructive advice from the Word of God, even when pointed out in love by many leaders
and disciples under their care, something is drastically wrong! When leaders refuse
to submit to the Word of God and choose to persist in unscriptural abusive
practices, then they are the ones who are opposing God by opposing His Word.
Exodus 16:8 and Numbers 16 do not apply to the situation in the ICC. Moses was not
promulgating teachings and practices that were against the teaching
of the Word of God. And besides, the brothers and sisters in the
Indianapolis Church of Christ did not even want to leave the ICC. They were
simply stating that they could no longer go along with some of the practices of
the ICC, those practices involving the unscriptural, unjust and abusive use of
authority.
In Acts 15 we find a New Testament example of how to deal with controversies
regarding teachings and practices. One time Paul even had to rebuke Peter because he was
in error (Gal. 2:11-16). Paul was not kicked out
of the church, "marked" or considered as "lost" and going
to hell because of it, but rather the church was helped. Leaders of the ICC
lied to members telling them that the brothers and sisters in the Indianapolis
Church of Christ voted to leave the movement, which they did not. Leaders of the ICC
initially lied to the membership of the ICC (February 28, 1994) about what happened in Indianapolis
and they have since perpetrated more lies (See also
"The truth about what
happened in Indianapolis" by former members of the Indianapolis Church of
Christ). At a meeting of the ICC held on March 17, 1994 Al Baird read this
announcement:
"To all disciples of the ICC around the world from Kip McKean, Al Baird,
Marty Fuqua, Ron Drabot, and the Elders of the Chicago Church of Christ. This
announcement is to inform you of the actions of Ed Powers, Evangelist of the
Indianapolis Church of Christ, which have resulted in part of that congregation
being led astray from God’s Movement. On Sunday night, February 27, 1994 Ed called
a meeting of the Indianapolis Church in
which he asked for and received the majority vote of confidence from the
congregation in a move to separate itself from the International Churches of
Christ."
This is a lie and misrepresentation of what actually happened as they (596
sincere disciples) did not vote on leaving the movement, but wanted to remain a part
of it. Ed Powers clearly and distinctly stated over and over again in the meeting
that he was not suggesting that they separate from the movement (as anyone who reads a
transcript of or listens to a tape of the sermon can clearly see). He even said
that if the congregation did not agree with him concerning the issues that were
presented that he would call the LA church and resign. What
was voted on was to stop
certain practices that they believed were not only a violation of their
consciences, but a violation of Scripture. They just could no longer go along
with certain unscriptural, unjust abusive practices and teachings that they
felt were wrong. They were not even saying that others must stop these
practices, only that they could no longer practice them because their
conscience was being violated. And we’re talking about non-salvation issues.
Many of them hoped their example would enlighten others in the ICC to see the
need to correct these wrong practices, and thus improve their church. ICC
leaders came in, started a new congregation, and tried to separate people from
Ed and the Indianapolis congregation. Subsequently, Ed and all who remained
true to their convictions were "marked" by Kip and ICC members were
forbidden to have any contact with
them. The issues and concerns that were brought up by Ed and the original
Indianapolis Church of Christ Congregation (at the Feb. 27th meeting) never
were dealt with. Ed Powers and Roger Hendricks requested to meet with Kip to
discuss their concerns, and even offered to buy Kip’s plane ticket to come meet
with them, but there never was a response from Kip. And Kip has made it clear that (according to him) Ed and those who
remained with him (whom the ICC pushed out) are lost and going to hell.
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In a sermon given in Indianapolis (March 17, 1994) by Kip McKean to the new Indianapolis
Congregation in response to the events that had happened there Kip taught:
"It’s not a matter of two camps that have a little different structure,
little bit different opinions... We’re not talking if their attitudes are correct, we’re
talking about people who oppose God’s servants, and, thus, oppose God."
... "They have set themselves in opposition against the Lord’s
anointed." ... "This is an
issue of salvation. There are not two Churches of God in this town. There
is but one and there will always be but one."
Anyone who hears (or reads a transcript) of the sermon by Ed can clearly see that the
Scriptures are against the abuses of spiritual authority that were under discussion. And
anyone who reads the transcript of Ed’s sermon can clearly see that they were discussing
non-salvation issues.
Kip also read that night (March 17, 1994) from Romans 16:17 and tried to apply it to
Ed and those in Indianapolis who remained true to their convictions:
“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles
in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
(NIV)
This and other similar verses
(like Titus 3:10) are sometimes used by leaders of the ICC to demand
unquestioning submission and allegiance to all teachings and practices of the
ICC (even if they are wrong) lest one be shunned or "marked" by them
(they were used to enforce the false unbiblical teaching that you must obey
your discipler in all matters, including all matters of opinion). But what
"teaching" is this verse
talking about? The inspired apostle was obviously referring to the teaching of
the Word of God (not to every extra-Biblical teaching, idea, practice, and
method of Kip McKean). Hundreds of sincere disciples agreed with the Word of
God that giving should not be by compulsion, that it is possible to be saved
and not be a member of the ICC, that sharing our faith, special contributions, etc.,
etc. should be motivated by love for God and for man rather than arbitrary
demands, statistics and quotas, and that if a policy or teaching which
originated at "the top" (with Kip McKean) is wrong or violates a
disciples conscience, a disciple should not be required to submit to it.
They were not even demanding that others accept their views on these
issues, but they felt bound by the simple teaching of the Scriptures and
the convictions of their conscience that they must obey the Word of God rather
than man on these issues. They also wanted a system of church government and
cooperation (between the church at LA and the church at Indianapolis) more
similar to the pattern set in the New Testament (Acts 15:1-35, Acts 6:1-6
[I Cor. 16:12 e.g. freedom for a disciple to say, "No, I can’t move right
now.", when demanded by a church placed in jurisdiction over them] ). If
Kip truly felt they were in sin he should have at least been willing to meet
with them and show them their "sin", which he never did. By Kip
McKean kicking them out and declaring that
they are all lost and going to hell (for following the Word of God
rather than him on these issues) he himself has in fact fulfilled what this
Scripture is describing by causing division and putting obstacles in the way of
disciples that are contrary to the teaching of the Word of God.
Kip also taught that night:
"See, Korah opposed the Lord’s anointed. In essence, he wasn’t opposing Moses, he was
opposing the Lord, God."
And as said before he proclaimed, "They have set themselves in opposition against
the Lord’s anointed." He read from Numbers 16 where Korah, Dathan and Abiram opposed
Moses and the earth opened up and swallowed them alive. In this sermon he repeatedly
compared what happened there with what happened in Indianapolis, comparing himself with
Moses "the Lord’s anointed."
As mentioned before, the situation in Numbers 16 has nothing to do with what happened
in Indianapolis. Moses was not promulgating spiritually abusive teachings and practices
that are contrary to God’s Word. Is God going to cause the earth to open up and swallow
me alive because I agree with His Word that giving should not be by compulsion
(2Cor. 9:7)? Because I agree with His Word that sharing our
faith, special contributions, etc., should be motivated by our love for God and for man rather than
statistics and quotas? Godly leaders seek to follow the Word of God and are
humble to at least listen and receive input and make changes if necessary when
it is pointed out by many disciples that something is contrary to God’s Word.
And in a healthy church there is room for different views on non-salvation issues and to obey
the dictates of our conscience, as we understand the Word of God (Romans 14).
There is no New Testament doctrine of the Lord’s anointed one
in the way in which Kip used it here in describing himself. Kip totally
misused the Scriptures in Numbers 16 in a classic example of what cult
researchers call "phobia indoctrination" -- to instill a fear in
people to even question or disagree with him on anything. The disciples in
Indianapolis were not personally attacking or opposing Kip or the ICC. Korah
and others in Numbers 16 were seeking to usurp the priesthood from Aaron, to
take his position and be priest in his place (Numbers 16:8-10).
The disciples in Indianapolis were not trying to overthrow Kip or take his place or
position or anything like that. They loved the ICC and wanted to remain a part of it.
They just could no longer go along with some of the practices of the ICC, those
involving the abuse of spiritual authority, because such practices are against the Bible
(Acts 4:19-20 [and as such were also against their consciences]). And, as
mentioned before, if Kip truly thought they were in error or in sin, he should have at
least been willing to meet with Ed and leaders at Indianapolis and show them their error
-- or sin -- from the Scriptures, which he did not. By Kip (and other ICC
leaders) lying about what happened in Indianapolis, setting up a new congregation in
Indianapolis and trying to separate people from Ed and those who held true to the convictions of
their conscience and the Scriptures, pushing those who held those convictions out of
the church, forbidding all ICC members to have any contact with them, and
teaching that all who held to those convictions are
lost and going to hell -- Kip has shown that he is the one being
factious (Gal. 5:20) proud, arrogant and divisive
to all those who truly desire to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth,
the truth of the Word of God. Any indepth honest investigation into the Indianapolis incident
clearly reveals abusive authoritarian leadership by Kip McKean and his ICC.
In 1993 Steve Johnson wrote the following statement:
"A destructive cult is any group that engages in deception as a means to achieve
its end." (Steve Johnson, From The Editor, UpsideDown Magazine, Jan. 93)
From the deception and lies that were continually told (and have never been repented of)
concerning what happened in Indianapolis (see also
"The truth about what happened in
Indianapolis"),deception and lies concerning the Sin Lists (see:
"ICC.`Sin Lists’,
Confidentiality, and Related Documentation" ), from the information contained in the article
"3 Questions
", and from other information
which exists it is very easy to show the use of "deception" by the
leadership of the ICC to "achieve its end". According to one of their own leaders,
Steve Johnson, this would make the ICC a destructive cult.
(The use of bold type, italics or underlining is used by this author for emphasis )
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