Confessions of an ungodly cult leader

This was originally intended to be in two parts, but I decided to put them both together. If you are interested in "Deconstruction" resources that give different ways to understand the Bible , "God", and life generally, please check out my facebook page at Facebook.com/matthew.wolpert

James and Matthew talk about money.

Did ICOC leaders and members "repent" when so much was exposed after 2003?

If you could go back in time would you still join the ICOC, ICC or RCW?**Warning - mentions of SA**

Were the early days of the ICOC different to where it ended up?

This episode is two conversations,  both relate to the divide between Leaders and Members. It felt appropriate to put them together. The first one was recorded on 16th September 2024, the second one on 5th September 2024.**Warning - Discussion of SA**

Was/is  Korban an issue in the ICOC, ICC and RCW?

**Warning - Contains theology that might blow your mind**

James turns the tables on Matthew.**Warning - Discussion of unaliving oneself**

Please listen to Part 1 first.

**Warning - discussion of SA and unaliving oneself**

An Antidote to Legalism and Whatever else binds you. (16th February 2003)Romans 13:8-10Love is the fulfilment of the law. All the commands are summed up in that one command. I have at certain times believed that if I did this and didn’t do that, that was love. I do not  believe that to be the case. Though if you love you will carry out the commands, the converse is not true. What I mean is you can carry out the commands but not have love. Witness:1 Corinthians 13:1-3You can even sacrifice your life but if you have not love you gain nothing. Love is greater than the sum total of the commands. We could baptise the whole world but if we have not love we  are nothing. Even the qualities of love that this passage describes are not love but rather attributes of love.John 13:34-35Jesus clearly states how men will know we are his disciples, it is not our righteousness, nor our zeal, nor our “fruit”. But it is by our love for each other. Would men know that we are disciples by our love for each other?John 15:9-17Do you want to remain in Jesus’s Love ? Then we must love one another. Do you want Jesus’s joy to be  made complete in you?  Then we must love one another.1 John 4:7-12 In order to know God, to be born of God, to have God live in us, and for God’s love to be made complete in us we must love one another. God is love.Acts 20:36 – 21:1An Example of the depth of relationship we can have is Paul leaving the Ephesians Elders. They wept  and grieved to see him go, he had to tear himself away.Romans 12:9 and 1 Peter 1:22Love must be sincere.1 Timothy 1:5The goal is love, it is not a means to an end, it is the end.1 Peter 4:8Love covers over a multitude of sinsGalatians 5:2-6Though talking about circumcision, this passage, I believe, could refer to any form of legalism. It is clear the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. The only thing that counts.My plea, before we do anything, we have to love one another, I have not been doing this, I am now beginning to as much as I am able and I believe God’s Spirit is pleased. Love Matthew Wolpert And Finally1 Thessalonians 3:12https://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert

I thought it was appropriate, with all that is going on in the ICC and RCW (the newest iteration of the "Crossroads/Boston Movement"), to post this conversation with James, on September 27 2024, earlier than I had planned.

An unedited zoom group discussion that was livestreamed on Facebook.

This  conversation was recorded on 5th September 2024There is a Livestream on my Facebook feedhttps://www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpertSaturday 19th October LA - 9am, New York - 12pm, London - 5pm, Singapore - Midnight. All questions, concerns, criticisms and encouragements welcome.

This is a recording of Al Baird around 2021/22 addressing a closed session of a group of older church members. These members were trying to gain clarity on the way the sin (it has not been disclosed exactly what the sin was) of a high ranking top leader, was handled and why it only came out 6 years later. I have removed all the names (the volume dips), including the church location, because really this could be anytime, any place in the history of the ICOC. This is how the sins of top leaders have always been handled - in secret and without the rank and file members ever being informed. And if the information does leak out, as it has here,  there are always calls to move on and accusations of bitterness or lack of trust if anyone dares to want more information or challenge any decision. I have two friends who were both publicly disfellowshipped twice for sexual immorality (having sex outside of marriage three times), one of them killed himself, not long after the second disfellowshipment. I have never heard of a top leader being publicly warned, let alone being disfellowshipped, but we now know that is not because of their "self-control" but because a corrupt system will always protect those who serve its interests.

Ahead of the Livestream this Saturday, James comments on some of the comments from people who have been watching and listening to our podcast. **Warning - Discussion of SA** The livestream is this Saturday 19th October on www.facebook.com/matthew.wolpert  at UK - 5pm, New York - 12pm, LA - 9am, Singapore - Midnight,  join us with any comments, concerns, criticisms, challenges and random thoughts - constructive or otherwise. All welcome!

After a short discussion about the previous episode - Last Principles.  James Lloyd talks about how baptisms were used in the ICOC.

In the ICOC and ICC there was a series of studies called "First Principles" (or Guard the Gospel in the UK) which every member had to do before being baptised. James Lloyd talks about how, behind the scenes "Last Principles" were actually at work.  He took the title of this episode from this YouTube channel which also deals with the ICOC - www.youtube.com/@LastPrinciples**Warning - Discussion of SA**

The second part of the discussion of the abuse and dishonesty that was laid at the foundation of the ICOC and ICC.**Warning discussion of SA**

After some concluding thoughts on "the Curse of the Church of Christ" James Lloyd talks about "The Original Sin" of the movement, both in the ICOC and ICC, that was laid at its very foundation.**Warning - Discussion of SA**

I believe this episode could be called "The Curse of Christiantity" as so many of the issues that we talk about regarding the ICOC, ICC and COC are found in many aspects of Christian teaching.

This is the first in a series of conversations between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the ICOC and ICC.

This is an impromptu discussion between James Lloyd and Matthew Wolpert regarding the situation with Kip Mckean and his nanny that was recently revealed. The next podcast will begin the series officially.