For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 

I read this and think back to a "sermon" called The End is Near at Crossing Church. I remember Eric talking about when the end comes and only 144,000 Christians left on the planet being called home to God. It got me thinking. After all is said and done and these Mega churches take over the world, will there really only be 144,000 people left that know the Real Jesus?  The thought of this makes me so sad, even out of context.


Correction:  Eric did not say that 144,000 Christians would be left on the planet being called home to God. He said "During the 21 judgements...a group of church people. 144,000 of them. These are radical church people dedicated to spreading the message of God's rescue around the rest of the planet..." The impression I had at the time was they were the only Christian's left after all the plagues and judgements.

PS Jehovah's witnesses were NOT mentioned.

The "Code": Code content taken from their website

I am sorry, but am I the only one who feels that this code reads like his own set of commandments? Eric needs to go back to teaching biblical sermons. How much respect would be gained by him for admitting his error and moving forward on a wondrous path to redemption!?

Thou shall have no other focus before Crossing Church. Notice that finances are first? This should speak volumes to you. Then your schedule, because the more time you spend at church, the less time you have to do drugs or drink and the less money they have to pay for staff to do things. WIN-WIN.  Your talent, well, with your talent they don’t have to hire musicians, marketing or various other people to do what you will do for free.  Don't worry about your family joining up. If they become a problem you  may get a full time job out of it or even sent to the next level, after you "cut" them from your huddle.

Thou shall have no other leader since "GOD gave this vision to ERIC."  If you don’t agree with it, you disagree with GOD, therefore you are not a good Christian and you can look forward to the door in #7 hitting you in the bum on your way out. Oh, and you will go to Hell.

Thou shalt not sit on your butt not serving and bringing your friends and family. You are responsible for saving them from hell. But, I will give them part of this one. They do invade the city, but they condemn those that don't agree with their teaching. If you don’t follow #2, or memorize this “code” you will not be there for long as a leader or anything else. They do say all the time that it is always only about Jesus, even though they don't talk about His life all that much unless they are making up what they think His life and career were like. You CAN learn a lot about Eric's life.

But thou shalt not expect help when you are hurting when it isn't the weekend or a more public forum for them to help you and everyone can see it. Everyone IS welcome, and as long as you serve, tithe, follow, respect, obey leaders, (don’t you dare ever rock the boat, or ask a hard question), you will do fine. They are not there for the religious people, because religious people might actually expect Biblical teaching and guidanced.

Yes, the weekend. Don’t ever expect to get a pastor to talk to during the week, during regular office hours, or the evening for that matter.  Don’t get sick or die either, because they don’t visit the sick or do funerals, unless you are a close, personal friend or a very connected leader.

Boy, don’t they ever. They portray Jesus as a dude’s dude. Heavy rock, young, attractive, hip staff and musicians. Sex sells and if you hang around more than a service or two, he will “preach” about it. And who wouldn't want to go to a rock concert every weekend?

Thou shalt not take up any of their valuable time, if you try, bye-bye. They have no problem kicking you out or ostracizing you for anything perceived as a threat or divisive to leadership. They are correct in saying they care about bringing in more people and not worried about keeping the ones they have.  Once you are hooked, they just expect you to follow along, like sheep to the slaughter, following the warped theology all the way.

The faith of the congregants is more of a reaction to motivational speeches and fear of not following “God’s plan” for Eric’s church. If you don't agree with the plan, you are disobedient to God. If you don’t do what is asked, “you can leave”, but don’t expect God to bless you or anyone to talk to you ever again.

They hand over more than 10% or they are not allowed to be a staff member or leader. Think about that. Staff members are paying themselves to work there. Leaders are paying for their title.  I have also heard from several people how they were belittled for pledging too small of an amount for Samurai, I guess their leaders didn't teach them well on this one.  A ton of the money is used for pastors to take trips out of town, buying gift cards and food for staff and volunteers, again, tithing to pay their own benefits. No wonder finances aren't an open book. Everyone would see how much is really spent helping those in need.

They only do a few things and they DO them well. Like focus on Eric, worship Eric, follow Eric and live to serve Eric. Small groups are to discuss the weekend "sermon" not the bible or Jesus. Cellar classes are based on Eric's theology, 'nuf said.

Thou shalt covet the numbers the Furtick is getting in his church. But you, as an individual, don’t matter unless you are counted, but don’t worry they will find a way to count you, one way or another. Even if you only attend once, you are one of their saved souls. Congrats!!

They honor everyone publicly, for the most part, but privately, all your secrets are fair game and you really don't have to honor your parents, especially if you are over 18. Oh, and they expect you to honor and obey their every command. Treat Eric and Kelly with special distinction, or Eric may just “punch you in the throat”.

Really, it’s all about apprenticing to serve at church?  Read it in context. I am not even going to try explaining it, letting God do it, in his own words.
If you really and truly want to volunteer, do it. Some of their "volunteers" are the  lucky beneficiaries of hundreds of dollars in gift cards and free meals that are regularly given to "volunteers" for serving.

You bet it isn’t normal!! Ex-addicts becoming pastors with no formal training what-so-ever, people just put their name on a sign-up sheet and BOOM!!! You are a pastor?!?!? Quite frankly, I think they do take it for granted. I have a feeling What goes up, must come down.




All of the blue icons and numbered items come directly from crossing-church website, cut and pasted with my comments in between.



It is so hard to forgive and forget when those needing that forgiveness have no remorse, feel they have done nothing wrong, and continue on their same path and continue to hurt others... 

Vulnerable Adults - Help those, who may not know how to help themselves.

It has recently come to mind that people I know that have mental impairments have gone to the Crossing Church. It made me start to wonder how much money and property has been turned over by these and other susceptible people. If you have a loved one attending the Crossing church and they are considered a vulnerable adult (i.e., elderly, mentally ill, etc.) please contact the church and make them aware that person is classified as vulnerable. If they continue to take money, they are taking advantage of these at-risk people and that is against the law.

Definition of a Vulnerable Adult (taken from the State of MN website):

Subd. 21.Vulnerable adult.

(a) "Vulnerable adult" means any person 18 years of age or older who:

(1) is a resident or inpatient of a facility;

(2) receives services at or from a facility required to be licensed to serve adults under sections 245A.01 to 245A.15, except that a person receiving outpatient services for treatment of chemical dependency or mental illness, or one who is served in the Minnesota sex offender program on a court-hold order for commitment, or is committed as a sexual psychopathic personality or as a sexually dangerous person under chapter 253B, is not considered a vulnerable adult unless the person meets the requirements of clause (4);

(3) receives services from a home care provider required to be licensed under section 144A.46; or from a person or organization that exclusively offers, provides, or arranges for personal care assistance services under the medical assistance program as authorized under sections 256B.04, subdivision 16, 256B.0625, subdivision 19a, 256B.0651, 256B.0653 to 256B.0656, and 256B.0659; or

(4) regardless of residence or whether any type of service is received, possesses a physical or mental infirmity or other physical, mental, or emotional dysfunction:

(i) that impairs the individual's ability to provide adequately for the individual's own care without assistance, including the provision of food, shelter, clothing, health care, or supervision; and

(ii) because of the dysfunction or infirmity and the need for care or services, the individual has an impaired ability to protect the individual's self from maltreatment.

(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "care or services" means care or services for the health, safety, welfare, or maintenance of an individual.

Examples of abuse from the State of MN website:  
The act of forcing, compelling, coercing, or enticing a vulnerable adult against the vulnerable adult’s will to perform services for the advantage of another.              

... acquires possession or control of, or an interest in, funds or property of a vulnerable adult through the use of undue influence, harassment, duress, deception, or fraud; or    
... forces, compels, coerces, or entices a vulnerable adult against the vulnerable adult’s will to perform services for the profit or advantage of another.  

Sound familiar?  If you don't tithe, God will not bless you. It is a sin against Got not to tithe, you will go to Hell??  How much more coercing or enticing does a person need, when they may have the mental age of a child?? If you don't help your loved ones, who will?

God Bless them and protect them,
Jen

My refund request letter.

To any one interested in what I said in my request for a refund, I have included my letter. Just to be clear, if you do received a refund of your contribution, make sure when you file your taxes for 2012 you check to see if it needs to be included in your taxable income.

January 19, 2012

Crossing Church

Attn:  Eric Dykstra

829 School Street

Elk River, MN  55330

Re:  Code of the Samurai

Early last year, as a member of the Crossing Church, I was implored to give above and beyond, sacrificially, in order to fund a construction project that was to begin in the fall of 2011 and be completed by the Fall of 2012. As it is now January and I see no signs of the promised expansion, I would like a refund of the money I designated to this fundraising effort. I have consulted with an attorney who suggested that I have a valid argument and should contact the Minnesota Attorney General office. At this time, I have decided to keep this dialogue between Crossing Church and myself, but I am not opposed to pursuing the matter.

 Enclosed is a list of my payments, along with the dates and check numbers, totaling $XXX.

I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.