How are you?  Any better?  Soooo glad to have you posting again.

S

I’d venture to say that you’re not the only one as jaded as you are…

I couldn’t agree with you more!

I am probably a bit more jaded than others here, but I am tired of the It’s-all-about-leader-worship nonsense, which the whole Shank-Lauterbauch-Who’s-Next episode is all about.  We sheep are expected to applaud whatever comes down the pike -nothing more and nothing less- and we are corrected if we indicate any type of spiritual fatigue from their endless re-running clown show.

If I want Letterman funnies or Obama epithets, I’ll watch them… in the meantime, please keep the clown act out of the Bride of Christ.  Christ gave Himself for her, and he doesn’t need pseudo-profundity and bully tactics staining her.

…pk

“Here in AZ
December 14th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Can you say dizernment? LOL Couldn’t resist!”
 
 

I know exactly what you mean. There is such a leading in SGM that draws you to seek man’s approval and it really does become idolatry. I did a fair amount of service at SGM – works that will burn in the fire when tested. I read books that I knew would please my leadership. I went to Celebration even when I had zero desire but I went in obedience with a good attitude. I counseled, loved, and served; most for nothing because it wasn’t really for God but for myself and the approval I would get.  

One of the true freedoms I have now is just serving because I want to please God or even just because it is something I want to do. There is no over acceptance given to those that are serving and no back seat for those that aren’t. My pastor and his wife are good about treating all the sheep equal and it really gives you freedom to just be a part of the body. It is hard to explain – but I just know it is really freeing. Now, I can serve without thought of what notch up I will get in someone’s eyes, or whose watching, or have my pride uplifted. I just serve and have fun doing it. It is so great!

oh my… so on target.
Furthermore:

- drop that you have been reading Jonathan Edwards or another Puritan, if you want to seen as “deep into theology”
- if you are single, marry a daughter or son of a church member who is “in”
- if you want to attend the PC, marry a female relative of a pastor
- if you are a man, emphasize your athletic abilities. If you have none, joke about it often.
- if you are a woman, make sure others see that you have a budget for home decoration
- if you are a woman, please start a blog to “encourage biblical femininity” and link to the Mahaney girls’ blog.
- quote from the “Journal on Biblical Counseling” every now and then
- make sure you remain unaware of all things “reformed” outside of the “Together for the Gospel” circles.

I could come up with many more…

I can tell you what it meant in my own church, for example, what it meant to be in the “in” group vs. someone on the outside. Keep in mind nothing was ever actually spoken, it was the unspoken expecations somehow because I didn’t come up with this on my own! What is creepy is that when I share what I felt compelled to do or not do, it is identical to many others halfway across the country in other SGM churches. But these are just specific to my own church…and I’m just saying…

1. Talk often about a SGM CD series you listened to and comment favorably on it
2. Use CJ quotes in your sharing times at care group
3. Quote Piper all the time too, he’s the best
4. GO to care group, if oyu don’t you are not committed to the Body enough
5. Make yourself available to serve others in the Body – making meals if you are a woman, helping move people if you are a man, so on.
6. Recommend or be familiar with the books on the book table which came from SGM
7. Read CJ’s humility book which was given to you free when the church was adopted in as a “gracious welcoming gift”
8. Because the apostle always praises the pastor when he comes to preach, be thankful you have such a great pastor because this guy who is “someone special” certainly does – so be a joy to your pastor
9. always build up (now I know it was also a puffing up at times) your brothers and sisters by giving them recognition – just like the apostles do at the conferences – recognition of pastors and leaders (but never ordinary people) with gifts and gimmicks, songs, gifts.
10. sell everything you own if you have to to raise money to go to Fusion (or Celebration, or whatever you call it) You just better do everything possible to go to Fusion because God is going to show up there.
11. The sooner you learn the new songs on the latest SGM music CD on your own by buying the CD, the less foolish you will look trying to learn them when the worship teams starts playing those songs

so I did think I was insane because I had these “voices” in my head that I clearly were listening to, and felt compelled to do certain things and was always stressed out. Fear of man, idolatry and legalism does that to a person, it is exhausting!

Anyway, I remember the first time I found the survivors site I thought – I’m not losing my mind! Somebody else was thinking the things I was! It doesn’t minimize the sin I was clearly committing, but by then I had repented and it sort of just gave me peace about how I was so guilty of those sins for so long and nobody seemed to “validate” the sins in the Body for me or agree with me – it made me feel crazy because I was clearly under conviction of the Holy Spirit. This is the danger I think, when the voice of man (or your pastor, or friends) becaomes more reliable and familiar than the voice of God in your life.

I agree they are off base on this. I think honoring our leaders is a biblical concept; but, it should be done by the people in the care groups and not leaders honoring leaders. The pastors could do that in a private way. Like giving them a gift card with a sincere thank you note or something for Christmas. Their exclusive parties method does inspire the “you have arrived” attitude, and it can leave those there working toward recognition instead of doing all they do for the Lord and not man.

Wait! I just had a great idea – Where is the suggestion box? — they could give all the Care group leaders big ESV Study bibles signed by CJ, now that would be cool. Or, how about if you have been a care group leader for 5 years or less you get a watered down version of systematic theology, and over 5 years you get the autographed ESV. That would inspire those burnt out care group leaders to hang in there another year or two.

Wow, I think that says it all – Honor is due to leaders, others are clearly excluded, and children are not welcomed. Hmm. such love for the Body – er, I mean leadership..

I was alarmed at seeing the beginnings of the false teaching dominionism in my former SGM church – again, because of lack of discernment, nobody really sees this even now. Or if they do they aren’t saying anything.

It is this second generation of SGMers that pose even more of a threat than the original apostles like CJ because they are adopting even more leglistic and false teachings (such as dominionism, patriarchal teachings, etc) and when you combine all these false teaschings, it is a spiritual storm and mess. Out of the authoritarian spirit in SGM these other false teachings have been birthed and are growing momentum and influence. There is a whole undercurrent (becoming an OVERT current) in homeschool circles that fits right in line with SGM teachings.

All of it is an abomination to God, all of it quenches the Spirit and is not in love.

But, in light of the double-standard, its the only thing holding me back.

I think the difference in Mahaney’s mind is that by acknowledging pride he is being transparent and humble and seeking help “from outside of himself” whereas I am sure that he and others in leadership would assert that Larry had to step down because he had not been transparent about the issue with his son.

I recall a few years ago listening to a tape where Robin Boisvert was disciplined for the same issue.  Robin did not step down but he was rebuked publically for it.

You have got to be kidding.  Such an action is not only sad but reprehensible.

Carole, I was reminded this weekend of something that happened in my old SGM church. A person in the church died and left all his goods to a needy group in our church. The night he died a pastor and some care group leaders went over and took what they wanted first. It was very sad and when I tried to say it was wrong got a big song and dance for why it was fine.

There is a double standard among leadership; which says, we can violate any principles as long as they bring some type of profit…and there is no accountability for leadership except amongst themselves which makes group think all the more necessary…