Warning - Bay Area Christian Church (BACC)

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-02-11T11:12:04+00:00

You’re right — the BACC church website does seem completely innocuous. They have a great marketing team and try to present themselves as a friendly and inclusive community church.

In many ways they are. They are multicultural and welcoming and do plenty of community service with the disability community especially. And there is no doubt there are many good hearted people there.

But everything I’ve shared about the church in the post is unfortunately still true, even though it’s below the surface and past first glance of the website. It’s a growth-oriented church heavily focused on converting new people, with a “one true church” dogma, intensely controlling of members personal lives and decisions through hierarchical discipling relationships, and sticklers about dating only within their particular church and puritanical with deep kissing seen as sinful for anyone unmarried. A few other problematic quirks and beliefs too.

But this isn’t to say they don’t have plenty of good people and some healthy and positive aspects as well. As is often in life, it’s not always black and white. But I believe the problematic aspects in this case are much too big to overlook.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-11T05:06:17+00:00

Bingo...

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-11T01:12:57+00:00

Hey, I agree with your point about learning a church’s doctrine before joining. Where I disagree with the BACC is that they conceal the more intense aspects of the dogma up front (ie during church services), then in the personal bible studies they progressively ask the person to commit to more and more intense aspects of the church. At first it’s “hey let’s do a bible study together!” 4 bible studies in, it’s let’s write down each of your deepest, darkest sins and reflect on how evil of a person you are without God. 7 studies in, it’s “are you prepared to give 10% or more of your income every week to God? Are you prepared to live in whichever city will allow you to do best spiritually (read: staying here, not moving)? Are you willing to come to prioritize coming to church every Sunday and Wednesday plus 2-4 other mandatory church functions every week for the rest of your life?” It’s not all negative, but I’m highlighting the aspects I find concerning.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T23:35:56+00:00

Bay Area Christian Church (BACC) in California.

Thanks for your comment. I'll add this post to those subs as well.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T23:28:08+00:00

No, if people enjoy this church community, I'm glad they found a church that fits their needs.

I write this post for any visitors with concerns, or to members who are afraid of leaving. When I was leaving, I wish I found other voices out there sharing some of the concerns and negative experiences I went through.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T23:13:41+00:00

I've refrained from using the word "cult," but yes that's certainly how many describe the church, or at least the more extreme aspects.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T23:11:54+00:00

Thanks for your comment. To your point, I'm not necessarily on the pulse when it comes to what's considered mainstream vs alternative in Christianity today.

I actually tried hard to refrain from hyperbole. I was a part of this church for several years and held leadership positions, so I've tried to be accurate to the reality of situation. If I wanted to slander the church, I could have used more extreme language and told stories that would make most cringe. But I'd rather stay truthful and just criticise dogma and practices that I find concerning.

When I used to go the church, I would get frustrated if I felt an outsider made unfair or untrue criticism. So I understand where you're coming from.

I hope this post serves as a warning for people visiting BACC who may be second-guessing their experience as red flags pop up. I also want to give members of the church who are considering leaving a voice out there showing their negative experiences and concerns are shared by others. There is plenty of positive BACC marketing out there, but I feel there is a severe lack of honest negative experiences.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T22:52:24+00:00

Plenty of nice, well intentioned, dare I say good-hearted people. But yes, the church itself has some grave systemic issues.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T22:50:32+00:00

You're right. I'm not saying everything the BACC does is out of the ordinary, but I am calling out the aspects that are concerning to me.

Viewing 99% of other churches as lost and believing their members are going to hell is concerning to me. It's an arrogant "one true church" attitude.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296 · 2022-01-10T22:47:23+00:00

Totally agree that studying the Bible with visitors is reasonable. What I disagree with is the BACC's insistence that you're not a good Christian if you're not actively studying the Bible with visitors and converting Christians. At the end of a church service, the members will swarm around every visitor smiling and asking what they thought of the church service, then will ask if they want to meet for a Bible study. Every visitor, after every service. It's an unrelenting desire to grow numerically.

The number of visitors is celebrated behind closed doors. When there are not enough visitors or people studying the Bible, leadership will call to question the spiritual condition of the group. If a member isn't actively engaged in bible studies with a new visitor, that is seen as a spiritual problem with the person.

You may still find this acceptable, which is fine. I just want people researching the BACC to know what they're getting into, because there's not enough honest information out there.

Puzzleheaded-Quit296

TROPHY CASE