International Churches of Christ
The International Churches of Christ is also known as The Boston Church of Christ, Boston Movement, The Discipling Movement, The Crossroads Movement, Multiplying Ministries, The London Church of Christ and the San Diego Church of Christ. The church is a break off from the Church of Christ denomination. The denomination is Orthodox Christian in its basic theology, however, they do have some unusual and abnormal practices. It was founded by Kip McKean in June 1, 1979 at Lexington, Massachusetts.
The Crossroads Movement stated in 1960 and was called the Boston Movement or the Discipling Movement. It began as a radical Movement within some institutional churches. Each church was divided into Prayer Cells. Each Cell had a Prayer Brother who was assigned to the newer members in the church. Each Prayer Cell had the members confess their sins, in what they called Soul Talks, and then they would offer support to the new members. This movement worked like the pyramid scheme, where one Prayer Cell with their Prayer Brothers would then form other Prayer Cells with other Prayers Brothers.
The Prayer Cell Crossroads Movement started at the 14th Street church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida and became known as the Crossroads Church of Christ. This movement was the perfect environment for the International Churches of Christ. It was a way to revitalize smaller churches and evangelize on the college campuses. Kip McKean and the Boston Church of Christ became the leaders of the Crossroads Movement.
International Churches of Christ practice the “Discipler Method” to gain potential converts. A potential convert is invited to a Bible talk in a non-threatening environment for a basic Christian, easily understood, discussion takes place. The potential convert is invited to more Bible discussions and is assigned to a Discipler to help the potential convert study the Bible and learn how to be more like Jesus. This moves into a stricter format where emotional control is practiced, with the searching for the personal information, hobbies, and interests are gathered from the potential converts using flattery and friendliness. A feeling of well-being and euphoria is established within the potential convert. This process is called “Hooking”.
A series of Bible Studies focuses on the simple basic teachings of the Bible and then is followed by attention to the convert’s sins, with focus on (Galatians 5:19-21). The potential convert must make a list of their sins they feel guilty about. The Discipler keeps the list to help illustrate examples to help the potential convert, and to maintain control over the convert. The next series of study is on the Cross where the potential convert listens to the account of the crucifixion being read by the Discipler. His goal is making the crucifixion personal to the potential convert by using their list of sins. The potential convert is usually broken down emotionally at this point.
Kip McKean and Roger Lamb were fired from the Houston, Texas, Church of Christ and Kip McKean then founded a church in Boston Massachusetts. The Boston Church grew under this pyramid type setup of Discipling program throughout the United States and then in England. This Boston Church did not become known as The International Churches of Christ until 1993.
The International Churches of Christ believes other Christian denominations are sinful. They believe the Bible speaks of the apostles establishing one Church per city and claims that there should be one Church in each and every city. That one church should be The International Churches of Christ.
They claim to be committed to living their lives according to the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ. There are churches who criticize The International Churches of Christ from outside the church as well as there are members from inside the church who are not in agreement with the discipling technique of going into the world to bring people in to convert and then teaching them everything that Christ wants to be taught. The International Churches of Christ believe the process of making disciples requires each new Christian be assigned to a mature Christian as a mentor, which they call a Prayer Partner. This Prayer Partner teaches the new members the fullness of the Gospel. These new members are expected to emulate and obey the senior Prayer Partner. There have been some concerns of spiritual pride and arrogance within the Crossroad Movement.
The International Churches of Christ has their headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
History
The International Churches of Christ got it start in 1979 when a controversial leader, Kip McKean, led his followers to become known as the Boston church of Christ Church. The Crossroad Movement was the chief influence on The International Churches of Christ.
The leader of the Crossroad Movement was Chuck Lucas who created a new style of campus ministry. When there was a homosexual scandal, Lucas resigned. Kip McKean stepped into the void that the Lucas scandal left.
The Crossroad discipling techniques are considered to be controlling and manipulative by many of the college campuses. The International Churches of Christ has been banned from universities such as Boston University, New York University, Harvard and Princeton University.
The Memorial Drive Church of Christ in Houston, Texas has fired a couple of young Crossroads ministers who were supporting a church in Illinois in 1977. Roger Lamb and Kip McKean were accused of teaching false doctrine and promoting controlling practices. The Memorial Drive Church withdrew financial support from Roger Lamb and Kip McKean.
Kip McKean found a small dying Church of Christ in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979 and rebuilt it from the ground up using the Crossroads methods and the Boston Church of Christ was founded. Within two years McKean had reorganized the church and it grew one hundred percent.
The International Churches of Christ doctrines are rooted in the Restoration Movement. They only recognize repentant baptized disciples as being part of the true church. They teach a person is saved by grace through a personal faith and the power of God at the point of repentance and receiving Baptism by full immersion.
Kip Mean left Boston and went to Los Angeles California in 1990. He made Los Angeles a new central authority for the growing International Churches of Christ. It was still known as the Boston Movement until 1993 when the name was changed to the International Churches of Christ. There has been a loss of membership because of financial scandals and abusive religious practices.
The International Churches of Christ leadership was challenged in 1994 when an evangelist for the Indianapolis Church of Christ, Ed Powers, questioned some of the controversial aspects of the International Churches of Christ. The issues Ed Powers challenged were specifically on mandating giving and the doctrine of salvation. There was a special meeting held in Indianapolis for all the leaders from across the United States, including Kip McKean. The result of this meeting was a split of the church. There ended up being two congregations in Indianapolis, the International Church of Christ and the estranged and renamed Circle City Church. Ed Power was the minister of the Circle City Church but later retired from the ministry and Keith Bradbury became the leader of the congregation.
Belief
The International Churches of Christ believe the Trinity is one God and three persons in the role of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They believe the deity of Christ and in the virgin birth of Jesus and in the physical Resurrection of Christ. They believe the deity of the Holy Spirit.
The International Churches of Christ believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and the ultimate source of authority. They believe there is a literal hell and satan is a literal fallen angel. They believe salvation is gained by believing in Jesus and his death on the cross and by being baptized into that salvation by grace.
The International Churches of Christ believes Baptism is for adults only and do not baptize children. They believe baptism is by full immersion and is essential to salvation. They teach if the Baptism is not done with water, then sins are not forgiven.
The International Churches of Christ believe there must be a full understanding of the Bible and what it means to be a true disciple before one can become a Christian, and only true disciples can be baptism. Anyone who wants to join the International Churches of Christ must be baptized into their church. They believe the International Churches of Christ must perform the Baptism or it is not valid. They believe all other baptisms are done in a false church and the other churches that have no understanding of a proper Baptism.
Members of the International Churches of Christ believe they are the true remnant of the people of God and are the only true church that follows the Bible. Churches that are not International Churches of Christ are denounced, and all ex-members are damned to Hell.
The International Churches of Christ believe their church structure rests on the Director, and his authority is unquestioned leader. Under the Director are the Elders, Evangelists, Zone Leaders, House Church Leaders, and finally the Assistant Bible Talk Leaders who are given direction by the director. The members are at the lowest level of hierarchy, and must comply with the theocracy established by their leaders.
The International Churches of Christ believes they must control and enforce new converts and their behavior norms. This includes financial management, including monetary contributions to their church, living arrangements, marriage and even dating. The members must confess their sins to the disciplining leaders. Members are controlled as to what jobs they may hold and places to move. The International Churches of Christ operation has been criticized for using intrusive practices and has been accused of using forms of brainwashing and psychological manipulation.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “International Churches of Christ:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2006.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2721,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006, January) “International Churches of Christ:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2721,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006) “International Churches of Christ:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2721, (accessed).
