Comments for Religo

Comment on On Kip Mckean’s “It’s Obvious”. by strugmo

strugmo — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:33:48 +0000

I think he’s changed the official title now anyway… Probably just an oversight. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well in your church… I still sometimes monitor what’s coming from several leaders because I think as followers we need to be wiser and more mature -I’ve seen corrupt leaders from present day ICOC who have said things that are unconscionable for Christians of any church or denomination to say. We can’t afford to be blind followers anymore.

Comment on On Kip Mckean’s “It’s Obvious”. by Marquis A. Lewis

Marquis A. Lewis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:18:06 +0000

I am a member of the Denver Church of Christ. I have been since 1993. I have no desire to vent about the past I’ve experienced, it’s been very colorful with all the things that have happened. My only desire was and still is to have a relationship with God. Things are definitely different now in the DCC. Things are so much better. I think the leadership (in the Denver C of C) has come out much better and wiser and mature. We’re still in the process of clearing our minds and getting back on track. I’ve only recently (within the last week) read the Henry Kriete letter and other documents that were published around 2003, etc. I guess I’m finally at a point where I’ve regained enough of a “normal” mindset that I can close out this period and get back to work, so to speak. I’m saddened by Kip’s actions and apparent refusal to acknowledge the truth (and as a result acknowledge God, because Jesus is the Truth…) and make radical changes like he expected others to do instantly.

I also can’t help noticing and wondering about the acronym he’s chosen for his new movement. SODM? That reminds me of Sodom. Let me share this from Genesis 18:20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

We all know how that turned out. I do want to be careful that I don’t create a superstition or say that this is in fact some sort of prophecy about things to come but it’s just interesting.

Comment on Recent developments by Thomas Schroeder

Thomas Schroeder — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:18:38 +0000

As mentioned in Henry Kriete’s Letter it isn’t/wasn’t just one leader who corrupted the system and one thing I can assure you is if Henry is still leading a church you can guarantee it is not dead at all. My parents became christians through the Church of Christ in Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Va while Henry Kriete was a pastor there. He is an amazing leader who aspires to stay true to God’s word and bring people to Christ. One thing you can be assured of is Henry is an honest man and is willing to speak out for what is right. I, as a young kid, spent time with him and his family seeing as I was friends with his son Daniel. Shortly after my parents started attending the church we were given orders (being a military family) to Millington, TN, where we started attending the Memphis Church of Christ which no longer exists due to the corruption that was explained in Henry’s letter. It has affected all the churches and no one person can be blamed. I don’t see much hope for revival through the International Church of Christ but for those that are willing to continue to speak the “Good News” and follow God’s commandments there is hope to become strong leaders once again, seeing as leaders are learning from their mistakes. We must not forget that those that lead and pastored the churches which have fallen and disbanded are human too and rightfully so can repent from their mistakes.

God Bless!

Comment on On Kip Mckean’s “It’s Obvious”. by strugmo

strugmo — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:06:10 +0000

You comments are much appreciated. I think there are still many issues to discuss, and even though I’m looking at things from the outside I was also a member of the traditional ICOC for many years. I’m looking at literature both from SODM and from present day ICOC churches because I don’t believe it was all about Kip Mckean -the issues were more institutionalized than that but I still like to comment on his articles because I’m surprised how similar he sounds to his former self.

Comment on On Kip Mckean’s “It’s Obvious”. by justme

justme — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:31:03 +0000

Hello friends. I came across your article and found it interesting. I applaud your pursuits to help those who may come across such unbiblical practices. I would advise you however to use caution when “generalizing” groups when in reality, you are actually reading into things from the outside. Could this be the case?I’ll start off by saying I am currently a member of a church of christ. Been around for 15 years and there was plenty of regrets. There, with that being said its true that the pratices of unbiblical authority were present and wrong. With or without the right motives, it didn’t need to happen in that way. Unfortunately, the churches within the ICOC now carry the stigma of what once was, although many have renounced those practices and don’t go through them now. As you have seen, many ICOC churches now in fact want nothing to do with what Kip is doing and make every effort to be above reproach when it comes to the focus on numbers, as a measuring stick. Trust me on that. Take note that just because a church talks about growth, it doesn’t mean its the focus, nor is it a “mark” of anything. It’s okay, you can be happy about people changing there lives with NO pressure to conform. Folks can go to someone they trust and seek some input, advise, or just an open ear to hear. They’re called friends or brothers in Christ. I do not have, not will I have have “discipling” partners, but always open to friendship. I hope this makes sense. At least give some thought.

Comment on On Kip Mckean’s “It’s Obvious”. by Good old days « Religo

Good old days « Religo — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:58:26 +0000

[...] I also posted about some of the discrepencies I’ve witnessed from his church website: http://religo.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/on-kip-mckeans-its-obvious/ [...]

Comment on About Persuasion II: Down BTL Memory Lane (Continued from “Persuasion I”) by About Persuasion III « Religo

About Persuasion III « Religo — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:51:50 +0000

[...] of being in the International Churches of Christ for over a decade). I wrote a second postregarding my experiences in the whole circle of “Bible Talk Leadership”, which was like [...]

Comment on About Persuasion I by About Persuasion III « Religo

About Persuasion III « Religo — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:33:08 +0000

[...] 12:33 am Tags: psychological manipulation, religious group This is the third post discussing some aspects in light of a British program I saw on the techniques of persuasion and manipulation (and drawing [...]

Comment on On the article “Anatomy of Recovery” Part II by strugmo

strugmo — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:26:20 +0000

My experience things vary when dealing with different individuals and I still have some friends associated with ex-ICOC churches, and will keep in touch with some members still in discipling churches, but by and large I can relate to that coldness from a system that becomes self-feeding -and part of my argument is that discipling provides the ‘nuts and bolts’ for such a system. But I haven’t given up on churches in general…

Comment on On the article “Anatomy of Recovery” Part II by stophate

stophate — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:42:55 +0000

Our family left the ICOC ( The Charlotte Church ) many years ago and have never really trusted organized religion since. It has a Cult Control mentality and treats ex-members in a very cold way. If you leave you are much better off.