BCC’S MORALS AND ETHICS: PROBLEMS OR SOLUTIONS?

BCC believes that preaching the Christian gospel contributes to people becoming a positive force in society. When Christianity is portrayed as unhealthy and destructive, then we need all the facts on the table.


By Johanne Reiersrud – Photo by BCC

In the process of making a documentary about our church community, filmmakers at NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Company) has presented several allegations, which together express a distorted picture of BCC. Several of these charges include bad morals and ethics, claims of negative social control, and an alleged lack of free speech. Our members have expressed great frustration over this, because in BCC the prevailing attitude is that Christianity is a solution for interpersonal relationships, and not a problem.

Respect for individuals

BCC is constantly evolving in many aspects, and 96% of members agree that our organization has developed positively in the past 10 years.

The faith community should be a good place for its members, and their individual experiences treated respectfully. Because of this we have improved our systems for giving feedback and report negative incidents.

BCC wants to be clear in our expectation that NRK respects us as a religious minority with the right to maintain our identity. We do not accept that our members are stigmatized via Norway’s state TV channel because they have chosen to belong to the Christian community in BCC.

There are several indications that NRK Brennpunkt’s approach to this documentary is directly influenced by people whose agenda is to damage BCC. Several of the allegations below are also practically identical to what is described in the Psy-Group report, which NRK has possession of. It was designed by agent Emmanuel Rosen after a meeting with Ben van Wijhe who is named as a client, Jonathan van der Linden, mentioned as a key player, and his lawyer. Because of this, it is extremely important to us that all the facts are on the table.

How are the ethics and morals in BCC?

Below we have compiled some of the statements and allegations from NRK Brennpunkt concerning the topics of ethics and morals, along with what BCC actually believes. We also show how Psy-Group’s report has formulated corresponding allegations.

READ: We have asked our members their opinion about the allegations.  

Free speech and social control

Claim from NRK Brennpunkt:

We have heard from several sources – both current and past members of BCC – who say there is restricted freedom of expression, and they experience negative social control in the community.

From Psy-Group’s report on BCC:

“the sect employs distorted psychological pressure on its members”

The reality in BCC:

BCC is committed to being a healthy and positive faith community for our members. In the survey which was sent out in connection with the Brennpunkt program, members responded as follows:

  • There is restricted freedom of expression in BCC: 80.8% completely disagree with this statement. 1.4% agree.
  • There is negative social control in BCC: 87.7% completely disagree with this statement. 0.9% agree.

Our morals and ethics

Claim from NRK Brennpunkt:

The morals and ethics preached in BCC are negative, which in summary are that “one must deny his own will” with the goal to get rid of “our own sinful nature”.

From Psy-Group’s report on BCC:

“Believers are obliged to strangle every emotion and instinct: you must not cry, you must not shout, you are forbidden to have sexual relations, clothing, and food that is not basic.”

The reality in BCC:

NRK has not asked BCC to account for its preachuung, moral standpoints or ethics. We have also not experienced any interest from NRK for information or documentation that could shed light on this topic. NRK Brennpunkt makes a claim about the overall perception of BCC’s morals and ethics, but how is it possible to make such a statement without any reference to what is preached and taught in BCC?

In “What is central to BCC’s preaching?” we put it this way:

  • In BCC we proclaim that the love of God is revealed through the commandments Jesus gave us in the Sermon on the Mount. These are laws of life that are given for the benefit of both individuals and society.
  • We proclaim that Jesus’ salvation is not only for the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God, but also to lead us into a lifelong process of salvation. We believe that after being reconciled by Jesus’ death, we will then be saved by His life.
  • In Luke 9:23, Jesus Himself explains what it means to be saved by His life: “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
  • In this way, those who follow Jesus’ call will experience the cross as a force that, little by little, abolishes thoughts and actions that have a negative impact on both interpersonal relationships and our relationship with God.​

In the survey which was sent out in connection with the Brennpunkt program, members responded as follows:

  • The morals and ethics preached are experienced as negative features of BCC: 93.2% completely disagree with this statement. 0.8% completely agree with this statement.

Salvation and perdition

Claim from NRK Brennpunkt:

All those who are not members of BCC are “lost”, there is no hope for them, and the only way to salvation is if one shares the faith and theology of BCC.

From Psy-Group’s report on BCC:

«Just before the world is destroyed, Jesus will return to earth and take with him to heaven and eternity only the believers of the sect.»

Virkeligheten i BCC:

Our websites have articulated it this way:

  • In BCC we believe that in the end, every person will be held responsible for his life to his Creator. And we believe that even though God is righteous in His judgements, He is also a merciful and gracious God. This is described in the Bible:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

In the survey which was sent out in connection with the Brennpunkt program, members responded as follows:

  • 87.3% completely disagree that those outside BCC are “lost”. 1.1% of respondents agreed with the statement.

Brainwashing and criticism

Claim from NRK Brennpunkt:

BCC is also criticized for being one-sided, that growing up in the church subjects you to brainwashing, and that there is no room to question BCC’s beliefs and theology, especially sources point out that there is no room at all to criticize Kåre J. Smith because he is the spiritual leader and therefore infallible.

From Psy-Group’s report on BCC:

«The sect employs distorted psychological pressure on its members.»

«The cult leader is Kare Johan Smith. (…) K is the grandson of the sect’s founder, a Norwegian citizen, who defines himself as a “prophet” and claims to have written a more important book than the New Testament.»

The reality in BCC:

Our Values, also published on our website, are expressed as follows:

  • The Bible is the foundation of what we believe in and based on its teachings we want each of our members to feel complete freedom to make their choices based on personal faith and inner conviction.

In the survey which was sent out in connection with the Brennpunkt program, members responded as follows:

  • I experience that those who grow up in the church are exposed to brainwashing: 93.5% completely disagree and 0.4% completely agree with this statement.
  • There is no room to question BCC’s beliefs and theology: 81.8% completely disagree and 1.6% completely agree with this statement.
  • There is no room to criticize Kåre J. Smith because he is the spiritual leader and infallible: 79.8% completely disagree and 2.1% completely agree with this statement.

The treatment of those who choose to leave BCC

Claim from NRK Brennpunkt:

People who have left the church are mistreated, especially if former members criticize BCC publicly.

From Psy-Group’s report on BCC:

“The sect is characterized by fragmentation and cruel separation within families. Children come out against their parents when they leave the sect. Members of the sect are not allowed to attend funerals and family celebrations.”

The reality in BCC:

In Our Values, which are published on our webpage, we express the following:

  • BCC members should be characterized by attitudes and lifestyles compatible with esteem and respect for other people, whether they share our beliefs or not.
  • We as a religious minority respect individual rights to make personal choices according to established social rights regarding political freedom, sexual orientation, and family life.
  • We want to be positive contributors to society, both as a central organization and as local congregations and individuals.

In the survey which was sent out in connection with the Brennpunkt program, members responded as follows:

  • BCC mistreats its former members: 84.4% completely disagree and 0.8% completely agree with this statement.

 

We will return with more information about the other allegations made by NRK Brennpunkt.