Practices
These practices apply to the International Church of Christ and may also apply to the International Christian Church, except as noted in italics, which apply specifically to the International Christian Church.
Dating
Members are expected to go on a date every weekend. If a member does
not go on a date they are said to be proud. Once a member knows who
they like, leadership tells them to pick the five people of the opposite
sex they most like. The member then dates them by rotation, slowly dropping
one by one off their date list.
Once the member narrows it down to one person, if they want a steady
relationship permission must be obtained to be boyfriend/girlfriend
outside of the standard weekend dating. This permission is obtained
by sending a request up the pyramid discipling structure to the top
and down the other side.
Couples are not allowed to kiss until they are married. Holding hands
is allowed, as are one-armed politically-correct style hugs.
Discipling
In the cult's version of discipling, each member has someone over
them, called their discipler, in a pyramid structure. A new member is
discipled by a more mature Christian who is discipled by his or her
cell leader who is discipled by the area leader who is discipled by
the head of the church branch. The leader of each branch is discipled
by the leader of the church that planted it.
The discipler has complete control over the disciple. This is the case
even in matters of opinion where there is no biblical justification
(eg, where to work, who to date, time usage). The disciple is taught
that he must submit to his discipler and that he must imitate his discipler's
attributes.
The disciple must confess all his/her sins to his discipler. A written
record of these sins is kept and later used in an intimidatory manner
to keep the disciple under control and to prevent him or her from leaving
the church.
Evangelism
Members are strongly encouraged to bring new people to meetings, and
are often criticised for not meeting quotas. Because of the unreasonable
evangelism expectations, burnout is common.
Members are expected to meet at least 25 people per day or 60+ per
week. Of this number they are told that they must collect at least 10
contact telephone numbers and bring at least 5 possible recruits to
the next Sunday service. Members are instructed to contact their possible
recruits every day at any hour of the day to encourage the possible
recruit to come to church. This could be labelled as pure harassment.
Some possible recruits break down at this point and come to the church
to stop the phone calls.
Music
Secular music is deemed to be good but Christian music is not considered
good. Church singing is acapella (without music). Members are encourage
to NOT listen to Christian music or Christian radio. However members
are encouraged to attempt to recruit Christian radio broadcasters.
International Christian Church: "instrumental music [is] not prohibited in the Scriptures."
Tithing
Members have to tithe 10% of their gross income (ie, before tax).
Twice a year they are expected to make a special payment of 16 times
their normal weekly payment. (These special payments are used to start
new branches). If a member misses a payment they are told they have
to make it up because they are in financial debt to God.
The tithe is collected at the midweek service. On Sundays a collection
for the poor is taken up and members are encouraged to donate a minimum
of 7% of their gross weekly income.
If you're doing the maths, that adds up to a tithe of approximately
23% of a member's gross weekly income.
Love Bombing
The second time a new prospect attends a meeting, they have people with the same interests as them sit with them and pretend to be interested in their life.
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