AUTHORITARIANISM

[speakword2004]

One of the major charges levelled against the cultic elements embedded in EN is the abuse of authority. Various arguments have been raised on where this comes from including:
*The Shepherding Movements influence on MCM in the 1980s. All of EN's most senior leaders were discipled through this
* The need for the cult to control the church
* a skewed or unbalanced understanding of apostolicity

So, what I would like to do is have a look at this notion of authority in EN. Perhaps some of us have stories or others can quote us some of the teachingss.

As a springboard I would like to submit the following thoughts from someone's blog. This guy makes some good points:

http://nathancolquhoun.com/blog/index.php?cat=5

also see:

http://www.subversiveinfluence.com/wordpress/index.php?cat=26

[speakword2004]

For those of us abused by authority I think it is very difficult to trust those who come in the name of their school of authority. Any attempts at reconcilation or claims by any EN leaders that they are reforming is met with a certain amount of natural scepticism. Why? Many of us chose not to submit to their authority and rightly so. They could not be trusted.

EN has an authority problem. Not just because people do not trust them, but over and over again they have proved themselves untrustworthy by reverting to old patterns of authority.

In the past few years some EN leaders have proven themselves to be untrustworthy as their lives and ministry have come undone. Yes, Greg Ball and Phil Bonnasso no longer command ecclesiatical seats of authority, but I am sure that many of the remaining guys have a hard time trusting each other now. Who is next to be exposed as a liar, thief or cheat. In 2004 I realised that staying in the service of such a ministry made me a liar, cheat and thief to my own conscience.

They can hide behind seemingly egalitatrian structures and policy government, but we know who wields the power in EN and as long as there is abuse and ungodly practises people like me will continue to shout long and hard for all the world to hear.

[speakword2004]

Remeber the movie "Platoon"? If you forgotten the plot go read it again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon_(film)

Modernism demands we choose right or wrong, black or white. Once the boundries get blurred, once the ambiguities become too overwhelming things start to collapse. Chaos ensues. We are either in control or not in control. Are we all just scurrying around doing our own thing? Are we the final authority over our own lives. Even here on this board what governs us? Niceties? Practicalities? Liberties? Agendas?

The beleagured church or harried individuals that come in here fists swinging all claim moral authority on their side by virtue of church allegiance or submssion and those of us who choose not to respect and belive their authority laugh in scorn at their arrogance and stupidity. Just where are we all coming from? Deception?

[speakword2004]

In what name do you come? A Jesus with 6-shooters on his hips? I'll shoot back!

In what name do you come? The high and mighty church organisation that bluffs and bullies its way onto the playground?

In what name do you come? The clever legalist that seeks to frustrate and entice.

In what name do you come? The rebel with or without a cause?

In what name do you come? The kind paternalist with sage and fatherly advice?

In what name do you come? The bitter and twisted computer hack?

The previously disadvanted?
The disconted? The idle? The tired and weary? The self-serving, self-righteous? The pulpit posing? The mavericks? The backslidden? The little antichrists? The hard-assed, the calloused hearted, the stone deaf, the lepers.

Lepers and outcasts, belongers and joiners. Members and dismembered ones. Pastors and apostles. House cleaners and baby sitters. Lets's join in a circle and pray together. Let's join in a cirle and stone each other. Get lost. Get sanctified.

Shut up! Speak out! Repent! Close ranks! Open doors and channels! Dialogue, stifle.

Just do it!

[coppertree]

<font face="arial,helvetica"></font>Hi Speakword
Your post # 863, you sound like Dylan.. this would be a good thing! Thank you.}