Continuing work of Henry Kried

To Dubai church, overseers, and overseers of churches Harlem and John Oakes.

Grace and piece to you from God and Jesus Christ who is the only king and shepherd in our churches, whose voice we all must recognise and follow.

I thank you all for the love you show to me and my family.

Some 16 years ago, Henry Kried from London Church sent an email to our churches worldwide. His message was powerful and effective. His email transformed hundreds of churches worldwide including our church in Dubai. His words of truth have broken the chains of slavery of thousands of believers. No doubt he was inspired by God.

We have become the church with much more freedom than before. Time passed since his email in 2003, but we, the Dubai church, half repented and half obeyed Henry's prophetic words.  Half repentence is not a repentance in God's eyes. Not all what he wrote was right, but the major part of his teaching was correct and must be followed. I will expose Henry's errors in my next email to you, if you will allow me and I will not be expelled by the men of seared consciousness for 'independent thinking'. 

I am determined to complete Henry's unfinished work in Dubai church. 

Please read the below list of quotations from his email to elders and churches dated 2003 and conclude yourself where did we ignore Henry's teaching in our churches:

'We have seen almost all criticism of the movement to be sinful. We accuse people of having bad hearts or bad attitudes or independent spirits, when very often, they have every right to feel as they do. 

...Others choose to stay, but live in constant fear of being branded as divisive or disloyal if they disagree, and will routinely follow bad advice for the sake of submission. Others simply go numb, suffer in silence, sit at the back or just roll over and play dead.

We have assumed, wrongly, that the sheep are stupid. We have trained them to depend on men, on us in fact, and not on Christ. 'Did you get advice' for the most part means 'Did you get permission.' Yes of course, they are vulnerable and open to attack, but they are not stupid. It is we who have been stupid, Biblically and spiritually. Should we not assume, rather, that a true, Spirit-filled Christian desires to please God, not to rebel?

Through our discipleship partner theology, we have attempted, like modern-day Pharisees, to put a hedge around God's law. In trying to protect or control the Christians, we have routinely violated their liberty in Christ. We have not trusted disciples to live by their own convictions and decisions (and mistakes), and have fostered in them an unhealthy dependence, rather than freedom to grow and mature. Many of our discipling guidelines are nothing more than 'rules taught by men', condemned by Jesus as burdensome and legalistic. No control mechanisms, or traditions of men, or rules and culturally accepted regulations will keep anyone faithful who does not want to be faithful in their heart. But they will create rebellion and criticalness among sincere and liberated Christians. We did not become new creations to be controlled by men; rather, 'it is for freedom Christ has set us free'

 Church Authority

In the N.T. there is not one mention of one congregation 'over' another, or of 'pillar churches'.

Our lack of autonomy and freedom has blunted our thinking. There is very little 'thinking outside the box' in the 'ICOC' in terms of diversity in leadership structure, women's role in ministry, the collection of contribution, and even our teaching (e.g. the 'official studies') All of this contributes to the control of our members and ministry staff, a putting out of the Spirit's fire.

In the N.T., there is no control of one leader over another. We have no rulers or lords. That is what the pagans do, Jesus said. But 'with you it must not be so'. The Bible says all of us, from apostles to 'men of little account' are free in the Lord. But we dare not challenge our leaders!

Why not? In the N.T. leaders were criticized, abandoned, disagreed with, questioned, challenged, and made the object of bad (or good) report. They were put on the defense by their own ministries- and to a large extent, this was surprisingly tolerated (Revelation 2) Sure, most of the time an enemy may have stirred this up, but the Christians were not uniformly condemned for it. Why should they be? There were many false apostles and deceitful workmen among them, and they needed to be alert. Those leaders and apostles who were truly accredited by God appealed to their life and doctrine as their defense. That is all. No one enjoys dealing with a strong willed or contentious opponent, especially a brother in Christ, but forced compliance, out of fear of being shut down or shamed, is just as evil. We have not cultivated an environment where there is freedom to question, challenge or confront the 'leadership'. Shame on us.

For the most part, we have surrounded ourselves with loyal men - not those necessarily loyal to God or their own conscience, but loyal to us - very much like tribal kings. Those who make waves are not tolerated

The way we have moved leaders around at will and altered the leadership of many churches is also questionable. So many leaders have been moved or replaced for 'not doing well' even when their local congregations love them and want them. Conversely, we routinely place evangelists over a congregation without even consulting the members, or allowing the leaders to be commended by those they will lead. And we expect these churches to abide by our decisions without dissent or question. Alternatively, church leaders have also remained for too long in situations where they were clearly not commended by their staff or members- simply because they have the backing and blessing of a higher power. But worst of all, several of our 'higher' leaders have gone exactly where they wanted to, and have had others moved out of the way just so they can take their city. It is difficult to imagine Paul or his contemporaries operating like this.

We have evolved into a culture where the oppression and squashing of godly men is acceptable, even the norm. Where 'get in line, or get out' is said, where 'make the numbers or get another job' is casually declared, where 'comply or die' is an unspoken truth. There is a reason God has appointed us the leaders - we must be 'better men' -so shut up and listen!

We have pruned the souls of men into damnation. This is not a membership list we cut up, but Christ himself. 'Why do you persecute me?' could just as easily be, 'Why do you prune me?' In doing so we have played the role of final Judge, we have assumed the prerogatives of God Himself (John 15)

Our wholesale dismissal of critics is appalling. How can we be sure Christ is not speaking to us through them? After all, was Christ Himself not so offended by the arrogance of the Laodicean church that he was no longer 'within' their fellowship - but stood outside the door and knocked? We have offered no public apologies for anything substantial.

In fact, by and large, we don't even listen to our own Christians- because if we did we would not be in such a crisis. Many of them ( including several outside critics) have known all along what most of us cannot even recognize! Our 'ever hearing but never perceiving' stubborness has created frustration and anxiety and anger in our members beyond words.

In like spirit, we have routinely protected those 'above' because 'what if the critics found out' or 'it will cause the weaker among us to stumble'. This is a direct violation of scripture - even our elders who sin must be rebuked publicly 'so that others may be warned'. Because of these sins and others like them, we have received our reward in full, in praise and in power, in ' long flowing robes and greetings in the market place' But in the meantime, God's sons and daughters have been devastated.

There is a time for patience and even having dinner with the Sadducees and Pharisees, and then there is a time for anger and the overthrowing of temples. I believe that time is now. Our errors and sins must be vigorously attacked and overthrown. Christ was hostile to a religious system then, and he is hostile to our religious system now. Too much is at stake. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against demons and their strongholds. This is no time for cowards. This is no time for calm deliberation or for lighting candles instead of cursing the darkness; this is a time for setting fire to the earth.

We commend the Bereans for questioning Paul, but not if they question us. 

 I know that even now many changes are taking place in several churches throughout the world, but moving forward without acknowledging our past is a huge mistake that will continue to haunt us.

We must apologize. No more spin, no more skirting the issues. We cannot move forward with out acknowledging our past. There will be no bright future without peering into what has been ugly in our history. I know that even now many changes are taking place in several churches throughout the world, but moving forward without acknowledging our past is a huge mistake that will continue to haunt us.

What is the purpose of a public apology? To humble ourselves before God and men. To help us become broken and ashamed of our sins. To demonstrate true repentance and restoration. To prove to our beloved disciples that we 'get it' - and in doing so, bring some kind of closure to hurting or embittered Christians. To diffuse those criticisms that are valid and unrelenting. But most important of all, to please our God, and perhaps, prayerfully, bring back into the fold once again those who have been scattered because of hurt or abuse or consciences that could not live within 'our system'.

There is a significant, even radical, gap between the 'clergy and laity' in our churches. The 'the priesthood of all believers' is now in serious question. The lack of voice, the lack of 'in the trenches' understanding and empathy, the lack of non -staff representation and decision-making powers, the lack of leaders who are legitimately 'commended' by those they lead, the lack of disclosure and transparency

Kip's resignation letter, although sincere, is not enough. His letter was very moving (I cried for a couple days), but his personal life and failures as a man are not of greatest concern. Every one sins. Many leaders fall and will fall, including great men of God. The truth is, the way we have structured and sustained things, Kips fall was Biblically inevitable. The main problem is that Kip never addressed the specific 'sins of our system' He did not even mention them, let alone repudiate them.

We have a well-defined hierarchy. We have our own head quarters. We have our own names and terminologies. We have our unique theology and we know - exactly- who is in and out of our membership. With minor variations we follow the same patterns and traditions in all of our churches. And the same systemic evils are certainly widespread. 

We have replaced authentic Spirit led leadership for an unspiritual, almost corporate like autocracy.

Conformity is not unity. Consider the example of John the Baptist and Jesus-one sang a dirge, one played the flute. One ate locusts and one drank wine. Between these two great 'contemporaries' there was not a hint at trying to get each other to conform. They both preached the same message: repent. Or consider the sharp dispute between Paul and Barnabbas-there was no forced conformity, or even between an inspired apostle and one who was not, Apollos. Nor was conformity urged between Jews and Gentiles, or even apostles and apostles. We on the other hand have forced conformity upon ourselves, and then bragged to the world that we are united in mind and spirit. True unity is utterly based on freedom. It is based on relationships steeped in love and mutual respect, not on rules or pulling rank.

True, sincere and biblical unity is accomplished by prayer (John 17) humility and personal surrender (Ephesians 4), by not going beyond what is written or taking pride in one man against another (1 Corinthians 4), and by the fear of God-it is a command. It is no doubt harder to achieve, but it is genuine, and not manufactured or coerced. True unity exalts in our God- given differences and is proven when differences of opinion and leadership styles do not keep us from fellowship-that is the only kind of unity that 'lets the world know we are disciples.' Enforced conformity always breeds rebellion, plain and simple. And the longer we have lived, the more we should understand this.

The concept of discipleship partners as presently practiced in most of our churches has failed. Perhaps more than all else, our discipleship hierarchy with all its 'little leaders' has caused more damage, heartache, and criticism than any other thing. Among the tens of thousands of untrained and 'unspiritual' disciples, advice has become permission, opinions have become orders, and the dignity and 'right' of our God given freedom has been denied. The nature of our hierarchy and the 'baptism is best' theology, when mixed with our sinful human nature has in many cases been a disaster. Paul said, 'I am free and belong to no man' and to the Corinthians, 'You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men' This is a command of God, not good advice. And to the Galatians, 'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery'

I do not deny the phenomenal amount of good that has come about from godly 'discipling' relationships- but as a formalized, authority laden institution it is doomed to fail and must therefore be dismantled. Why? 'Because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom'

By and large, we have protected the shepherd and not the sheep. I understand the need for loyalty. Men have done me favors, bailed me out, given me second chances, lifted me up when I was down etc. But I am not talking about one's personal sins or family challenges (although these can be serious), rather, I am talking about protecting and keeping in leaders who are damaging, autocratic, brutal, oppressive, humiliating, selfishly ambitious, defensive and proud. Or about merely moving them to another congregation as a 'second chance', without any true repentance before hand. This is unacceptable. Unfortunately, to a large degree, the elder's role has become one of PR and protecting the evangelist more than anything else.

The New Testament portrays all kinds of leaders, some good and some bad. Not all must be categorically defended. In fact, several were publicly named and denounced. Blind support is unbiblical. Within the context of apostolic Christianity, within and among the 'one true church', were many anti-Christs, Diotropheses', Hymanaeus', 'super apostles', errant apostles, false apostles, legalists, Judaizers, some Pharisees, and a 'great many' false teachers on the horizon. Those were the men who moved within the circles of fellowship within the first century. Can it not be true of our fellowship as well? Should we also not be on guard against ravenous wolves who will rise up from 'among your own selves'?

Whatever we crystallize, formalize or institutionalize, that cannot be unequivocally defended by the Bible, will always be open to criticism and debate from men of good conscience- whether that be expedient titles and offices of authority, or our methods or theologies or cultural norms or whatever. This must never be stopped, but encouraged. We must fight for our God given right, our mandate, to always be restoring-especially the restoration of our freedoms in Christ.

Lets stop having "official things" Why do we need them? They only strengthen our denominational status. You don't 'officially' speak for me, or I for you. Jerusalem never 'officially' spoke for Antioch. The Gentiles never spoke 'officially' for the Jews. When we have official positions on anything, it strains trust and credibility. And again, in the kingdom, it is a violation of our freedom. In our modern cities, no one genuinely respects the credibility of an editor if there is only one newspaper - we need sides, argument, openness, debate and dialogue. The freedom to disagree and still remain best friends.

Different churches will always be at different stages of maturity, and will have different needs. There seem to be several models of leadership structure and local church oversight in the Bible. God has not laid down a once for all, inviolable statement concerning these matters- only that Christ is King and Head and that we are all brothers. Offices and oversight are there. Authority in leadership cannot be denied. But structures and models of government seem to vary depending on need or circumstance or stage of maturity, but with the goal ultimately, to result in a plurality of overseers. However, one thing we do not find anywhere in Scripture is 'one church over another' Once a young congregation is on its feet, is filled with the Spirit and has 'commended' leaders- it must be set free, allowed to walk, run and even fall on its own (Revelation 2,3) When Paul said, 'Now I commit you to God and the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified', he did just that. He did not commit them to the oversight of a pillar church somewhere.

The lack of centralized control is clearly biblical, increasing our dependence on God, not man. The ways of the Spirit are mysterious and beyond the scope of man's wisdom. The surprising nature of God (Acts 9, Paul; Acts 10, Cornelius), the unplanned movements of men, the conversion of the Eunuch and sending him into the unknown, the supernatural unfolding of dramatic events, the attack on the church leading to the spread of the gospel, all came not from human control mechanisms but from God. A centralized body slows things down, and ultimately, puts out the Spirits fire.

Now What?

There is no easy way forward. The extraction of systemic evil will be painful and bloody - like Heb 4:12, applied movement-wide. We must resist the temptation to simply move forward, ignoring our past: dirty laundry must be exposed, and the disease identified and eradicated, or it will continue to spread throughout our fellowship. This is the nature of mildew (see Leviticus) and gangrene. Trying to change without acknowledging our past would be a huge mistake. This can be scary, but, like a root canal, it must be tackled thoroughly and extensively. The consequences - what it might mean for some of our leaders, or just how painful it might be - cannot be the deciding factor. We must do everything we can to heal, restore and rekindle our badly damaged trust. 

THE FREEFLOWING STREAM

'In finding its medial course a stream may wash from bank to bank. Although it receives pollutants constantly, the flowing stream tends to purify itself. Dam it up, and it stagnates and breeds all sorts of scum and slime. The free-flowing stream is in a constant purifying process even though it is never pure in the strictest sense. 

So it is with the church. The free, autonomous disciples must be permitted to go unrestricted by earthly rulers. Free people may vary in interpretation and understanding in different congregations and in different generations. The church may go from one extreme to the other as it seeks constantly to correct its course. The church will have constant danger of impurities, so it will always be in a state of reformation, but because it is composed of erring humans, it will never be without flaw entirely. One generation cannot crystallize and credalize a system in order to guarantee that its concepts will be bound on the next generation to insure its faithfulness. Efforts to control the next generation are attempts to force unity by conformity. When the stream is dammed up, it becomes stagnant and begins to depend upon intellectual inbreeding, which produces doctrinal monstrosities.'

You can read the full email of Henry by following the below link:

http://www.reveal.org/library/stories/people/hkriete.htm#intro

©2003 by Henry Kriete all rights reserved.

Dear Harlem, thank you for your recent visit. Although your visit was very brief, you got to know us a little. Please support me in completing Henry's work in our church and other churches you overseer. Jakarta church especially dear to me as that is where I heart a teaching of Christ for the first time in my life. If  you have any objection to Henry's teaching, please reply all in your email, so our church  will evaluate your views.

Dear John Oakes, I had a correspondence with you recently and you advised me to reconcile with elders in my church in Dubai. I am willing to reconcile. As you told me, I will support them in their overseeing duties. If you have any insight on Henry's teaching, please reply all. Our church will be glad to hear from you. Many of us here in Dubai know you well.

Dear Dubai church, if you have any questions, please feel free to approach me. I wish I taught you this openly instead of sending an email but I am prevented from speaking publicly by some of you.

May God himself, the God of piece, sanctify us through and through.

With love of Christ,

Andrei