God is Not in Control: Dispelling a myth in order to heal

Having attended some of the ICC’s recent meetings about change, I’ve been encouraged to see ICC members and leaders in at least one church discussing needed changes (I’ve posted notes from one of these meetings on icocnews.com here). I was also troubled to hear one phrase and fallacy from the ICC’s past that seems to keep coming up: “God is in control.”

[Note: There is no semantic argument here with those Christians – and there are many outside the ICC – who say “God is in control” but mean “God is sovereign.” By contrast, “God is in control” in the ICC has too often been a call to passivity – don’t worry about problems with the church or its leaders because God is in control; God will fix it.]

Contents

The Myth
Dispeling the Myth
What About the ICC?
The Responsibility of Control
Getting Outside Help
If God is in Control

The Myth

"God is in control", as mentioned elsewhere on RightCyberUp, has been used as a fallacy in the International Churches of Christ (ICC) for too long. The ICC with its long history of religious pride and abuse can no longer afford to attribute all its actions to God's leading.

In just one example of the God is in Control fallacy, this past week I heard an embattled ICC elder/evangelist say that he would not step down from leadership, it would be up to God to take him out. (Note that he gave no description of how God might “take him out” and merely encouraged members to “pray” and wait.) He was promoting the old idea that God works directly through ICC leaders and members are basically spectators.

But if this man truly believes "God is in control" of the workings of the church, what would be the harm in resigning as many members have called for him to do? If God were in control and wanted him to be on staff, would God not see that he returned to the payroll as a staff member, in good time? This man transparently claims that God is in control, yet clings to his own power (control).

First, let's deal with the myth.

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Dispeling the Myth

Yes, God is sovereign (Webster's: "Having supreme rank or power"). But he is not responsible for all of our actions -- in particular, our sins.

Examples in the Bible of man taking control despite God’s sovereignty:

God was sovereign in the Garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve were “in control” – at least they were in the control at the moment they ate the apple that changed their future (Genesis 3). God was sovereign, but people (and Satan) took control.

The Old Testament clearly says God is sovereign – he is referred to nearly 300 times (NIV) as “Sovereign LORD.” Israel, however, did not always acknowledge God’s sovereignty, and continually lost favor with him.

In the New Testament, God is again called sovereign (e.g. Acts 4:24), but God was not "in control" when false doctrines were taught or bad practices took root (consider the churches Revelation 2 and 3).

How foolish would it have been for the churches excoriated in Revelation 2 and 3 to assume that God was uniformly in control? Or to respond that "Jesus will fix it" without taking active measures to fix things themselves? Jesus himself was criticizing these churches to compel them to change!

Some may point to Romans 8:28 as evidence that God controls all our actions:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

It is encouraging to know that God’s will can be done out of all situations. However, this verse does not mean that God is responsible for the situations we put ourselves in, nor that he is happy about them all.

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What About the ICC?

Was God in control during the ICC's now well-documented two decade reign of abuse? No, God was sovereign, but ICC leaders were firmly in control. Henry Kriete's letter makes this abundantly clear. Members must realize this and acknowledge it, so I'll say it again: All these years, ICC leaders were in control.

By example, here are highlights from Kriete’s now-famous letter on the subject of ICC control:

"We have had World Sector Leaders and Geographic Sector Leaders – to consolidate the grip of power and establish a global network of control over every last congregation."

"In trying to protect or control the Christians, we have routinely violated their liberty in Christ."

"In one generation, we have gone from protecting the flock to preserving our institution. What has been our agenda, other than keeping control over our congregations?"

"Because so many of us have been conditioned to acquiesce, we just keep slipping in more and more control mechanisms and unbiblical practices without discussion or debate."

"We have built, by design, a culture of control and intimidation that shuts down and marginalizes men and women who ‘disagree’."

"[We have become] a corrupted hierarchy with more control mechanisms than the modern Catholic Church, and with more bravado than the Pharisees themselves."

"Isn’t it true that many of you [leaders], be honest, will still fight tooth and nail to not lose your ‘position’ of prominence or to not have to relinquish your need for control and forced conformity?"

"…we are a religious culture that controls by fear and intimidation, and also a culture of cowards and conflict avoiders- right to the top."

(All direct quotes from Henry Kriete: Honest to God; emphasis in bold added)

Let no one claim any longer that God has been in control of the ICC all these years – it is an insult to God.

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The Responsibility of Control

This is not to say that God doesn't have a hand in the current changes in the ICC – I believe he does. Now, in fits and starts, leaders in some cities have started a process to put more control of the church in the hands of members. Does this mean that "God is in control?" No, it means that members are increasingly in control, and must accept the responsibility that comes with control. It is not enough to assume that God will bless every action taken – especially if the church makes unwise choices. Members must act responsibly, rather than attribute all their new choices to God's leading. The pitfalls of such arrogance are obvious from the last 24 years.

And, if ICC churches truly acknowledge that God is sovereign, but they are in control, positive changes should result:

churches will take future responsibility for their ethical behavior (see the ICC methods section of RightCyberUp)

churches will take future care to understand and avoid psychological abuse of members and prospective members (see “A Cult?” section of RightCyberUp)

churches will take responsibility to avoid false doctrine and legalistic practices (see ICC Teachings section of RightCyberUp)

churches will acknowledge that they have had not only “incorrect teachings”, but false doctrines – which means there are false teachers to hold responsible

new emphasis will be placed on the critical thinking skills needed for the church to chart its future course

churches will freely allow individuals to leave the ICC and will respect their wishes to do so, trusting that God does not work exclusively through one organization and that His sovereignty extends beyond the ICC’s limited borders. This will be a very important test for the ICC, because many individuals will decide to leave once the controls are loosened and the problems understood. The manipulation of members to stay -- supposedly on God's behalf -- must end.

the church will seek outside help to reform itself

This last point deserves its own section.

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Getting Outside Help

To ICC members: with this rare chance to remake the church, this time don't be insular about it. Don't let the "God is in control" fallacy lead you to believe that you have all your answers internally. Get help, and know that there are many, many people outside with the willingness to help the ICC oversee change, people who have much to contribute.

For years the ICC has promoted a discipling structure that asked members to “get advice” about their decisions. However, this kind of “accountability” has never been expected for the church as a whole. The church has generally not sought outside advice about its policies because “God was in control.” Now more than ever, the ICC needs outside guidance.

Outside the ICC are mental health professionals, clergy in other religious groups -- and yes, ICC critics -- who recognized the ICC's fundamental problems years earlier, long before ICC leaders decided to actually listen and acknowledge them. Many of these same mental health professionals, clergy and critics are experienced at helping people to heal from these exact kinds of experiences (in contrast to many ICC leaders who arguably have more experience at abusing than healing others from abuse). Why not ask for their help? They'd love to give it, and the church would only benefit.

Outside the ICC is an entire congregation (the Circle City Church of Christ in Indianapolis) and a leader (former Indianapolis evangelist Ed Powers) that dismantled the ICC system in the mid-90s and went through the healing process some ICC churches are now beginning (reality check: this process took them years, not days or weeks). I'm sure they'd tell you they didn't do it perfectly, either -- which is all the more reason to consult them. Learn from their mistakes and successes as you go through this same process.

Start by consulting with critics or "watchdogs" in your own community. On a broader scale, the movement can call upon sources like REVEAL, the American Family Foundation, Kyle Degge's FreenDeed Ministries, Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, Steve Hassan's Freedom of Mind Institute, and reFOCUS to name but a few.

I have sent a letter to UpCyberDown pleading with the movement to seek outside help.

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If God is in Control

In spite of the clear logic of this argument, I suspect some readers remain unconvinced. I'd encourage those who still believe God is in control of the ICC to ask its leaders to act like He is in control.

The following list is particularly for those ICC leaders who still resist reform (knowing that some of these measures have already begun in several cities). If you believe God is in control, then:

allow open forums for members to speak about their concerns, rather than trying to control dialogue (why control the dialogue if God is in control?)

allow members to tell them when they are sufficiently healed to move forward as a church (why should leaders make this decision for members if God is in control?)

provide the Henry Kriete letter to members and ask them all to read it (why "spin" a response to this letter if God is in control?)

allow members to make decisions and not just leaders (why not relinquish decision-making to the church if God is in control?)

allow members to decide whether particular leaders should stay on paid staff (why should leaders worry about material needs – Matthew 6 – if God is in control?)

disclose fully all financial matters, warts and all (why hide the problems if God is in control?)

apologize to "the world" outside the ICC (why protect the church from bad publicity if God is in control?)

Related Topics on RightCyberUp: