I promise that no smurfs(R) were slandered or otherwise harmed in the cogitation and writing of this article.

An interesting article that talks about media fragmentation made me think about a few things; before moving on, reread the article and substitute the word ICC for the word linux.

My thoughts in no particular order:

1. Every former ICC seems to be a part of one conference or another over the past few months.
2. Although news sources are no longer controlled, we may or may not choose to go outside official news sources. This pertains to the Ex-ICC folks as well.
3. Those that consider themselves progressive may also engage in this willful ignorance.

Mutual Appreciation Societies
We love to hear the news that a bunch of churches got together and wonder of wonders, there was no open fighting or shouting of people off the stage. I’m not being totally cynical here, I like to hear that folks are meeting together. The past three that I’ve looked at had reasonable costs and two of them provided their messages for free over the internet. It didn’t cost me any money to keep in touch with what different folks are doing in the former ICC congregations. As someone that is very interested in what others are doing, this was a welcome change from previous years. I’m looking for ideas and being able to access what others are saying goes a long way to help smaller congregations like mine that can’t go to all these places. Some messages were quite enjoyable and I have kept them.

It’s not that Doug said it, but I do not hear as many ‘great things’ from these conferences as reported by others. I hear the messages and pick up a few common points:

• We survived 2003! (t-shirts available at the book table)
• We’re still here.
• God still loves you.
• Let’s be nice to each other.
• Some intense exposition of a book of the Bible.
• I feel restored again.

An exception to this was the message Steve Staten delivered about so-called-discipling. I say exception, because I am more interested in what we can change going forward. These types of messages are rare these days. I guess that’s why I look forward to the conference in Chicago. (I am hoping that the missions discussions will lead folks to attend a conference right here in Nebraska.) I look forward to the groups where we can compare notes and really create change instead of theorize.

However, it would seem that the present is filled with a lot of reassurance that ‘we’ are doing well and really short on actual change. It continues to amaze me that with all the radical(tm) change demanded in the past, that gradual change has become the ‘biblical’ norm. Actually, I suspect that leaders in other chruches are waiting for permission to make some changes and they are waiting for the Chicago conference to get it. I can relate to this feeling, I’ve done it in my own life. However, that doesn’t make it any more acceptable. I wept bitterly when I realized that the only reason I hadn’t proposed to Laryssa was that I was waiting for someone to give me permission. I get upset now that little seems to change despite all kinds of letters, sermons, speeches, conferences and the like. In addition, it’s really frustrating that it wasn’t vogue to talk about it until a big church had a conference about it. Thank goodness Chicago did something, but good grief, doesn’t anyone in this joint have a mind of their own? Isn’t there someone unafraid to stick out or are we all doomed to repeat the groupthink mentality we are trying to escape from? It reminds me of a Japanese proverb that says, “The nail that sticks out is the one that is hammered.” I prefer to think of this saying:

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD .
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

— Psalm 112:5-8

All the News That’s Fit to Print

I remember when KNN Reloaded first appeared, the following statement was made

Our focus going forward will be to provide a faithful perspective of kingdom events — both good and bad. We also see a great need for more teaching from more sources than has been previously available.

The good news is that new folks like Joseph Dubowski have a teaching article. It’s also good that needs in Haiti and other places are also being shared. However, there still isn’t really any bad news. I’m not a sadist that delights in bad news or being sorrowful, but there are things going on with serious reprocussions that no one is talking about. Mo Adame publicly implied that he was fired for speaking in Portland (and Thomas repeated it on his website). A former member is pursuing legal action against the Nashville church for fraud. At least one small church is about to close its doors, but there are probably more. This isn’t an attempt to live a soap opera lifestyle, but these are examples of larger issues that still need to be addressed:

There is still an “US vs. THEM” mentality within our churches.
There is still large-scale mistrust in regards to financial issues.
Small churches have big problems, too.

Instead we talk about ‘getting back to missions’ as if that’s the only issue worth talking about. Many of us still talk and behave as if our sole purpose is to seek and save the lost. That’s why my church talks about our six purposes instead of the one. There is more to Christianity than evangelism. (Over all issues is the bond of love. Love is what is most important, not our so-called purpose.) When will we talk about what’s really going on?

On the other side of the coin, we have the ICCDF folks. When asked the question, are there any healthy ICC congregations, the answers were typical. I’m certain that there’s at least one, but who in their right mind is going to say so? I’m tempted to do an experiment by saying that mine is healthy. I expect it to go something like this:

Me: My church isn’t perfect, but I think we’re becoming more healthy, especially in teaching the Bible and focusing on a set of balanced purposes instead of one. Members can share anything and are continually encouraged to do so.

EX1: Did they give you a full financial report and disclose all staff salaries? I bet they didn’t. Heh, some healthy place. No thanks.

EX2: They said that in my former church, but it turned out to be nothing. I bet it’s nothing where you are, too. All ICC people are the same. Nothing ever changes. Ho hum.

EX3: You have a link to Kip’s church on your website. I bet you and your church are still affiliated with him. You signed that agreement, so you are still LEGALLY bound to him. Who are you trying to fool?

EX4: I know you well enough to know you are being sincere. However, I don’t think you know the whole story. Have you really talked to the leaders? Have you asked about the money, the lies, the control? How many in your church are waiting for Kip to call out a remnant? How many of them are leaders? I don’t think you know the whole story, so as much as I want to believe you, I’m afraid that you are misinformed.

EX5: [Quote of Micah 7, the entire chapter, preceding comment] All the powers that are continue to consolidate and gather power. No ICC church can be healthy because God is trying them at the very root. You should get out while you still can. (much more exposition of Micah 7 follows).

EX6: That sounds like a good start, but that’s not even scratching the surface.

It’s not that I can blame anyone for being skeptical, but the issue is still the same. There is only one acceptable viewpoint. In the ICC crowd, the only accepted view is “We are hurt, but healing. Negativity will destroy us, so focus on the positive and get on-board.” With the ICCDF crowd, the only accepted view is “The ICC is inherently evil. It will never change. It is of Satan and should be utterly destroyed.” There is no room for reasoned discourse on either side. There is no large variance of opinion. There is nothing below the surface of the shallow-reasones, knee-jerk pat answers and opinions. I don’t care if I am wrong, but I do care that so few really think on their own. Even the ICCDF has its own groupthink now.

The Sadducees
The Sadducees provided a sharp contrast ot the Pharisees. Whereas the Pharisees believed in only obeying the books of Moses and were conservative about many things, the Sadducees were quite liberal. So liberal, in fact, that they didn’t believe in the resurrection.