My thoughts on this question are summarized in the articles Confronting Those in Authority and When Confronting Doesn't Bring About Change, and Why Churches Can't Change.

Glad to hear the article is helpful.

I'm sad to hear of stories like yours, but I am not surprised. I hope and pray you find peace and guidance on your journey.

It's sad to hear of your situation. Perhaps some of the lessons in the Spiritual Recovery Class audio series can help you address this situation in your congregation.

I wish there was an easy answer for this, but there isn't. I have a couple of ideas for how I'd approach this.

First, get familiar with the Law. Read it, study it. You might consider outlining it. The point is tht you need to be familiar enough with the Law to be able to recognize areas where the New Testament makes reference to it. There are various direct and indirect references all over the NT, as well as instances where the symbolism of the Law is used to illustrate a point or the like.

Second, remember that Acts (and the rest of the NT) is more likely to address your question than the gospels. Acts covers how the church put Matthew 28:18-19 in place. It also shows how they handled the Law (which was no longer in effect), whereas the gospels show Jesus discussing the Law while it was still in effect.

Simply, no.

All Scripture needs to be understood in context. If context can be ignored, we can make Scripture say pretty much anything we want.

The promises to the Israelites as they went into the promised land defined the entire nation of Israel, in contrast to all other peoples.


And these promises to Israel were conditioned upon their obedience. We know that this arrangement did not end well for the Israelites:

God certainly is a kind God, providing numerous blessings to all (Matthew 5:45, Acts 14:17). He also answers prayer and performs mighty acts even to this day. Yet Christians of all ages have also been subject to persecutions and hardships (ref. 2 Timothy 3:12). Some have even chosen poverty, given up attractive careers and monetary "blessings" or chosen dangerous missions as a result of that faith (e.g. Philippians 3:8). If the promises to Israel were true for them, then where were their "blessings?"

We need not worry about that; the covenant has changed. It is about knowing God and being forgiven.

I have written a study Gospel Proclamations and Responses in the Apostolic Church. This study examines the very question you are asking about. I have not specifically addressed Kip McKean's teachings by name, but as you read it (especially the later chapters) you will recognize many themes that have characterized his theology.

In answer to your question about being under the authority of a pastor or elders somewhere, it seems to me that if you are part of a local congregation, you should indeed submit to them where appropriate.

However, if you are not a member of a local congregation, or the work is outside of the scope of their responsibility, I don't see any Scriptural need to put yourself under such an authority. The New Testament church did not have such a requirement. While some leaders or missionaries had such "sponsoring" relationships (Acts 13:1ff comes to mind), this cannot be said of all of them- for example, those scattered in the persecution of Stephen (Acts 11:19-21). This lack of requirement is evident in the Acts 15 incident with the teachers from Jerusalem going to Antioch.

From then until now, the church has wrestled with this issue. Some have supposed that "letters of recommendation" (like the one in Acts 15, also see 2 Corinthians 3:1) might protect the church from false itinerant teachers. However, Paul rightly saw what mattered was truth and character (2 Corinthians 3:3). Many derive a false sense of comfort and assurance when ministers are sponsored by or subservient to a larger organization; they never seem to think that the larger organization or sponsoring individuals could be wrong or untrustworthy. In so doing, they allow such sponsorship to replace their own responsibility to exercise spiritual discernment when needed.

Having said all of that, you should consider bringing mature Christians into some form of involvement with respect to your work. Depending upon the scope of the effort, such a "board" could be of great benefit to both yourself and the beneficiaries of your work. Real relational involvement provides both you and others involved in your work with encouragement, support and guidance. The Proverbs are full of instructions about seeking advice.

With the Barnabas Ministry, I have a close circle of Christian friends that I use as a "sounding board" to help me from time to time. The Barnabas Ministry and I have benefited from their help on many occasions.

You're welcome!

Great question! If you really want private correspondence, use the "confidential assistance" link on the main page. For other letters, I'll put down the date and a non-identifying name to protect people's privacy. I'll also edit for length, clarity or the like to make it as useful as possible for readers. I also will x-out names of others in the letter unless they are public figures.