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THE BOSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST
Today more than ever, we must prepare our children
for college. One area that we often neglect to
prepare the children is in educating them about the
different groups they will encounter at college.
Students leaving home for the first time, or
entering a new type of school program, are often
lost and confused. Unfortunately there are a number
of groups waiting to swallow up these children. Some
of the groups are clearly and obviously cults, such
as The Way International, Hara Kissna and the
Moonies. Others appear on the surface to be
Christian, Bible oriented loving groups. One such
group is the Boston Church of Christ. That is the
main body's name. They name the branches after the
location they are in, such as the New York Church of
Christ.
This group claims, as do most cults, that they are
the only true church. This church has a very young
history. In 1906 disputes and unrest occurred in the
Frontier American Presbyterian church, and a
separately-recognized group called The Church of
Christ emerged. This group, as conservatives,
interprets the New Testament as a source of all that
is permissible for worship and belief. In this view,
they totally reject the use of musical instruments
in worship. They also believe there is no biblical
justification for organizations beyond the local
congregation. Several of these independent churches
formed a college outreach group "Campus Evangelism,"
in the late 1960s. One of these groups, formed in
1967 in Gainesville, Florida, became known as the
Crossroads Church of Christ in 1967. This group
adopted a discipleship program. This program created
a controversy that swept through the Church of
Christ worldwide.
It was during this time Kip McKean, while a Florida
University student, converted. He tried to start
discipling ministries in several different
congregations without success. In 1979, Kip McKean,
age 25, moved to the Boston suburb of Lexington.
There he formed the Boston Church of Christ. The
Church of Christ concludes and agrees that the
Boston church has developed into a cult.
As we examine the general description of a cult, the
Boston Church of Christ fully qualifies to be
referred to as a cult.
Cults have a supreme leader or ruler. McKean is the
absolute leader. The major doctrine McKean has
established is a "one-on-one" discipling. In
practice, any new convert must submit to one who is
"more mature in the Lord." The submission,
therefore, is to one who has been in the movement
longer. This submission is absolute. This then forms
a chain of authority back up to McKean, a pyramid
type of leadership. The older converts are discipled
by Bible talk leaders. The Bible talk leaders are
discipled by zone evangelists, who are, in turn,
discipled by Kip McKean. This technique has drawn
charges of mind control.
The disciples often require total submission without
question. They often even give orders that have
nothing to do with spiritual matters. These orders
may include who to date, what courses, or major
field to study, and even who to marry. Unless they
follow this blind obedience, they are branded weak
spiritually and rebellious.
The method of keeping the flock in line appears to
be their doctrine of personal confession to ones
discipler. The sins are not sins against the
discipler, but any sin. Confessed sins told to the
discipler are not kept confidential. More often, the
sins becomes known all the way up the discipling
hierarchy the next day. Rather than being forgiven
for the sins, they frequently use the sins against
the disciples to hold them under control.
Research studies using Meyer's-Briggs Type indicator
(MBTI) and other psychological studies demonstrated
frightening results. The Boston Church of Christ
teachings lead to influencing members to change
their personalities to conform to the group. This is
an unnatural and unhealthy personality change. These
results are achieved through mind control. Where
mind control and doctrine of absolute submission to
a leader exists, there is potential for tragedy.
The Boston Church of Christ also teaches that a
valid baptism is necessary for salvation. A valid
baptism is one done by their church. Church of
Christ converts, or any Christian convert, must be
re-baptized by them. Baptism is based on the mature
knowledge that is required before one is allowed to
be baptized. Their teachings in this area deny the
validity of any other religious experience of those
involved.
As Christians we must make the children and others
aware of the dangers of this group. Teach them that
where the individual relies altogether on another
person to protect them from all error, they will
cease searching the Scriptures. This will open them
up for false teachings. Teach them that they should
be seeking their guidance in Jesus and His
teachings. Jesus stated that He is the way, the
truth and the light.
For Additional Information Contact
True Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box 310
Shirley, NY 11967
Telephone (631) 395-4646
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TLEM