a·the·ist - "a person who lacks belief in the existence of God"
Kip McKean for decades has always liked to present himself as a sort of "super Christian" and even at one time believed that he was literally a full-fledged apostle of Jesus Christ - just like Paul and Peter and the rest of the twelve or so historical apostles, who died out about two thousand years ago, never to be replaced until Kip walked the earth.
But when we look a little closer, we can come to no conclusion other than Kip must be a closet atheist.
Either that, or he has invented a "god" in his own mind (which makes him no different from a pagan or idolater). What other possible could explain Kip's bizarre statements and behavior?
Because... if Kip McKean really believed the Bible (the Old Testament and the New), as he publicly declares, he would be living and preaching completely differently.
If Kip really believed that God was going to eternally condemn all non-believers, and in particular all "non-disciples," the mark that he so constantly uses to set his group apart from all other "false churches," then he would be spending literally every waking moment begging and pleading with people to repent/believe, everywhere he went. Note that Kip has been in control of incredibly massive amounts of money - the ICOC at it's height under his leadership was pulling in $200 MILLION dollars per year, with a total take of well over a BILLION, Kip could have easily used a tiny percentage of the money to take his message to every person in the United States, and probably the world. Wouldn't that only be fair, to at least give every person a real chance, since Kip has always taught that only his churches taught the "true" Christianity?
If Kip really believed that Jesus was the example all Christians were called to follow - then Kip would be spending his days doing what Jesus actually did: eating with lowlife sinners, feeding the hungry, showing compassion on the sick and the weak, hanging out with the rejected dregs of society, and preaching from town to town.
If he really believed the OT's teaching on righteousness and raising children... then he literally would have had to stone his own children when they rebelled and "fell away".
If Kip really believed that Jesus said what he meant, then he would be quite literally terrified for his very soul - since Jesus spent a lot of time saying that false teachers and "those who say Lord Lord" but don't obey are going to Hell; since Jesus spent a lot of time slamming the Pharisees for doing/teaching the exact same things Kip does/teaches.
And don't even get me started on the parable of the Sheep and Goats. Kip certainly would not be spending so much of his time arguing about vague, unclear doctrines relating to "authority" (teachings which ALWAYS include the requirement that money constantly flow from his followers towards him in ever-increasing amounts) ...or presiding over a fake college (which "honors" him with a fake doctorate degree and classes about the greatness of Kip McKean) ... or putting on elaborate "global leadership conferences" at fancy hotels (which his members can't afford to stay at yet are expected to anyways.)
Kip, the follower of Christ and true man of God, would not be caught dead living in the lap of luxury in Marina del Rey's most upscale condo building, spending hundreds of thousands of donated dollars with the supposed hope of eventually converting a "sharp" resident there when there are thousands of lost souls he could be reaching at homeless shelters and clinics. (Didn't Jesus say something about when you throw a banquet to invite the poor, crippled, those who can't pay you back?)
We could go on and on. Bottom line is that Kip is no more a "believer" in (much less a "disciple" of) the deity described in the Bible or the classic Christian gospel than any other random person off of the street.
(Written in part with a collaborator who wishes to remain anonymous. Please note that no derogatory meaning is intended towards those who do not believe in God or the Bible, and this post simply points out the difference between what Kip McKean publicly professes and what his actions actually show.)
(Written in part with a collaborator who wishes to remain anonymous. Please note that no derogatory meaning is intended towards those who do not believe in God or the Bible, and this post simply points out the difference between what Kip McKean publicly professes and what his actions actually show.)
Of course Kip doesn't believe in God, he is just a sociopath who uses religion for profit (seriously, look up the definition of sociopath, you will find that Kip fits the definition quite well). When you think about it the potential for profit using religious means is staggering. The product they sell is "salvation" which has literally no production costs, and there are plenty of good-hearted people ready and willing to be workers for little to no pay (and therefore susceptible to being exploited). It's a money-making machine. Exploiting the Bible for profit has been an age-old practice and scammers still use it rip off people today.
ReplyDeleteGreat points and unfortunately probably all true (although technically only a doctor would be able to make a medical diagnosis of sociopathic disorder, right?)
DeleteOne of the top qualities of a true sociopath is that they become enraged when you actually call them a sociopath (look it up, this is included in the actual sociopath definition description). You think that Kip would actually go see a psychiatrist to get himself diagnosed for this? I doubt it.
DeletePlease tell me why did you leave the church after all these years please?!!!
DeleteWho are you asking, me or the author?
DeleteTo the person asking why I left the church, here is the story: Why I Left the City Of Angels International Christian Church
DeleteKip could be just another fool that thinks god is speaking to him and in reality he listens to the voice in his head and assumes it is god when actually it is his own arrogance, religion is formed that way by insane people like Kip. I doubt he is an atheist more likely he thinks he is god or being led by god as many false prophets before him have, he is insane anything else really is irrelevant. The guy is a greedy selfish self-righteous hypocrite who just uses people and dumps them if they disagree with him, he is no different from Hitler or Jim Jones, in one way the cult could end up like them and he could self-destruct as many cults do.
ReplyDeleteRegarding religion and cults, what do you expect from people who only read one book? One mindset, they just keep brainwashing themselves with that one holy book and so the results are obvious.
DeleteAnonymous June 19, 4:33pm: Your language is over the top.
DeleteAnonymous June 19, 4:35pm: Yeah I'm not much of a Bible fan, either.
What a dumb post
ReplyDeleteHaha sorry you didn't like it
DeleteI think Kip believes in God, but his God is himself or Satan. Discipleship is cleaning the inside of the cup as well as the outside. I was amazed how Kip ignored or twisted the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of using it to free people of wanting to be honored by men, retaliate, worry, or having treasures on earth rather than heaven, he used it to get power over them by creating insecurities and inappropriate guilt. Those truly serving God want to free people, not lord it over them. Of course, you can see this by the way Kip always seeks the lowest place! (sarcasm).
ReplyDelete15 years you were apart of that movement 15 years you gave your heart and soul to God. If I were you I would seek to be reconciled to them since they are the ones that hurt you. I know that all type of things can stay in our hearts for years if we let it. I know if they are truly disciple of Jesus they would apologize to you with deep sincerity. If I were you I would get my heart resolved. I Also know things are a lot different at the icc with around now 60 churches. I also know that I would be reconciled to God for my own salvation because I know no one not even a so called greatest guy on the planet is worth that. I know that a man who doesn't stumble in anything he says is a perfect man......I'm sorry that happen to you.
ReplyDeleteIt's a cult not a church, it is nothing to do with God it is not a religion it is a cult designed to use people to make cult leaders rich, it has nothing to do with salvation and nothing to do with God, the best thing anyone can do is warn people to stay away from it because it is evil and destroys families, there is nothing good or Godly about it. It is a cult, cults are evil.
DeleteYeah, honestly dude it is a church about numbers... honestly when i first started going the message was great, then a new leader came, nothing but a minion of Tim C. Kearnan, and it became about numbers, in attendance and money.,all we heard every sunday for 4 months was about special missions. Or goal was 72,000. In the singles ,ministry, each member had to raide $1200 each, yet each members rent, was about that much..if you didnt turn in what was "due", your heart was not right with God... the leadership conference, $200 admission, yet owed that amount for school, i was badically told my heart was nor right with God if i didnt attend..
Delete15 years you were apart of that movement 15 years you gave your heart and soul to God. If I were you I would seek to be reconciled to them since they are the ones that hurt you. I know that all type of things can stay in our hearts for years if we let it. I know if they are truly disciple of Jesus they would apologize to you with deep sincerity. If I were you I would get my heart resolved. I Also know things are a lot different at the icc with around now 60 churches. I also know that I would be reconciled to God for my own salvation because I know no one not even a so called greatest guy on the planet is worth that. I know that a man who doesn't stumble in anything he says is a perfect man......I'm sorry that happen to you.
ReplyDeletePlease cite your source for THIS quote:
ReplyDelete"Kip McKean ( deleted portion ) at one time believed that he was literally a full-fledged apostle of Jesus Christ -."
Hmmm I find it intriguing this question went unanswered for so many months. It seems to discredit the ideology of this blog.
Delete^ this speaks volumes.
DeleteI was a member of icoc for many years. I don't think he thought he was an apostle so much as a leader of the remnant church of God.
ReplyDeleteIndeed you are correct. This is what he teaches.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day what does the bible say!?
ReplyDeleteGalatians 1:10
"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Through your own strong conviction and following God's word, you will persevere in any situation. It is hard to be what people want you to be and live up to those standards, but look at what the Bible says to see what advice he is giving you! and it's easy to follow men, if you follow men without having any conviction. You will be very unhappy! but God calls us to imitate Jesus. The more we seek God the more we understand why we're living like student's of our teacher Jesus Christ. The more we understand that were servents of Christ. All these comments here won't save your salvation. All the movement is trying to do is save lives, save souls. I genuinely believe that. Do you? what is your conviction? I went to church half of my life, and I wouldn't go to any other church or hang out with anyone else but people from the ICC. You will get hurt! Yes! You will lol. I have certainly have, but remember one thing. We don't seek men, but God our holy Father. Our relationship with God will determine that in the last days.
Hjhhhh
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is this: the love of money and pride are the compelling force that drives this organization. And that’s what he built his agenda/organization off of. Greed & Pride
ReplyDeleteMONEY: missions, making disciples, splitting up spiritually-weak local churches amongst the regional areas of cities to accumulate more people (not their souls) for more gain/monetary profit.
PRIDE: ICOC, ICC, RCW all follow the same hierarchy and corrupted agendas. They all STILL have the mindset that their organizations are the only true church of the world. “I didn’t say that “, “we don’t believe that”, “we haven’t taught that”, but yet they do NOT collaborate with other said ministers or church leaders in the very communities they are trying to evangelize. They call people “fall aways” when they respectfully decide to no longer be apart of the membership. Instead of what could be a time of prayer and a well wishing, people get called bitter and disgruntled, or even worse you get treated like a pagan or marked for approaching them in righteousness and speaking the truth in love about concerns and issues regarding what they are experiencing. Actions definitely speak louder than words.
Also, the Bible study series, First Principles, is a gimmick that uses Scripture so strategically that it locks in you into 2 commitments on the membership roll; living as a disciple & over exertion of doing everything to make disciples. Mass manufacturing = “making disciples of all nations.” Sad, because there are genuine followers of Christ that are stuck & strained. *Why does the church study have “church history” in it. Why are you required to go through EIGHT bible studies to receive salvation????
You’d think they would let people read/study the bible and decide if they want to join them or let them go back to their respective local churches to help to enlighten the people (like Paul or Priscilla & Aquilla did) about the Gospel and not try to take everyone away to join ICOC, ICC, RCW. Which again goes back to the self righteous mindset of thinking “this church” is the only true church. That’s the Brainwashed part.
NO UNITY within these organization and certainly no local community; even if the members wanted to do something locally with their bible talk group, the leaders wants to control it or pause until missions or something else on their agenda is done.
And thats a joke too, because NO ONE knows this “church”; state to state, city to city, planting to planting UNLESS they have been afflicted by it or affiliated with it, or they are still an active member.
If it not about them/leaders, they don’t honor it. Complete opposite of Jesus, His compassion, and His ministry.
*please excuse all typos*
God please protect the wheat of this church as you separate the tare. Grace and mercy be with us all.🙏
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