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John Lynn was certainly dedicated and laser-focused on things that mattered to him. Whether it was biblical research, books that he authored or basketball at Emporia......John wanted everyone within earshot to enter into his world of interests. He was our Emporia Campus Corps Coordinator my last year in-residence and would turn our noon lunchtime into an hour of teaching. Other times, he had stories to make us laugh. I agree with those who suggest keeping this as a memorial thread. Critiquing someone's life's choices publicly upon death is what twi-leadership would do.... especially when way corps died. It was grating and disturbing, not comforting and supporting. This is a time to comfort and eulogize a man who was deeply dedicated and passionate about life. May the God of all Comfort bless the Lynn family and loved ones in their sorrow.

I never knew John personally, but I know quite a few people here did. To them and to his family and friends I offer my condolences.

Let's do this: Since we do not have direct evidence that John avoided masks or the vaccine, and we don't have evidence of why, let's avoid the topic. BUT If he died of lung cancer and continued smoking while preaching about how smoking has never been linked to cancer except by anti-freedom junk scientists, we would mention it and it would not be controversial. You would be offended if I tried to stop the discussion. So the topic is not off limits. But evidence, please, or let's just not go there. Some people are turning every possible subject into politics. Let's not. We'll make mistakes as we try to navigate this, but let's start with something we can agree on: no hearsay. If you didn't hear him say it, or have it on "tape," leave it off GSC.

I consider John Lynn my friend from the state of Indiana. Sad to hear him breath his last natural earthly life breath. About two months ago on July 29th, I sent John and his wife my biblical teaching book titled: "Our Loving Savior Jesus Christ". As payment John sent me one of his books: "Is There Death After Life?", that I agree with. A good book and in working with two other authors, they wrote a number of biblical teaching books. Simply, John has the hope of a future eternal life with Jesus Christ our loving savior. When Jesus Christ returns as 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 teaches.

I didn't meet John, personally. I do remember rather vividly, though, a teaching of his on grace. He was a pitcher, presumably for his college baseball team. "There I was -- up by a run in the bottom of the ninth. By SOME STRANGE TWIST OF FATE, the bases were loaded with nobody out. I struck out the next two batters with six BLAZING fastballs. At that point, the first baseman told me that with two out, he wouldn't be holding the runner on. Of course, I knew that. After two pitches to the batter, I could see the runner at first with a big lead, so I completely forgot what the first baseman had told me. I wheeled to throw to first, and life went into slow motion. I couldn't throw to first, because the first baseman wasn't there. I couldn't hold on to the ball, because that would be a balk and bring the tying run in. So, I threw it to the RUNNER. Reflexively, he caught it, then dropped it like a hot potato and started running. The umpire called him out for interference. Game over. Grace: being completely in the wrong but coming out smelling like a rose." Rest in peace, John. George

This thread is what you guys will make it. It was deliberately left open and we very deliberately chose not to read the riot act before it started. Keeping it uplifting and constructive is the mature thing to do. I tried to express my thoughts without getting insensitive [insofar as his faith gave way to stubbornness, let his legacy be a warning]. Others, trying to do the same, drew the line in a different place. There was no rule against that, but as a community, GSC seems to be coming together to say, as one of you put it, "not cool." John put himself out there as a public figure. You do that, you take the hits. He knew that better than anybody. I've disagreed with him to his face, and we were still cool with each other in the short time we knew each other. How "cool" we keep this thread is up to us. I admired his dedication, his wit and his teaching style. I didn't admire everything he said about God or politics or public health. But I will say without hesitation that he did everything in his power to serve and promote the God he worshipped. Whether he did it wisely or perfectly or even well is not for me to judge.

Knew all of them back in the day. Angela is balanced, intelligent, and nice. Vern is nice. But that didn’t stop him from mark and avoiding all the r and r group. Niceness doesn’t matter when they have sold their soul in service to a cult. Anyone who crosses them will meet the same type of action. Not because of lack of niceness. But because they are misguided with respect to the household of God and their positions in the body of Christ. Ask Vern about the new advanced class book called Just the Way it Was. Or Angela. Whitewashing away adultery and murder really.

Fair enough Raf. Being as this is more of a memorial thread, I apologize for opening that can of worms. Not the place for it at this time. I do express my condolences to Christine and Elizabeth.

Yeah, this. Just how in the heck this became a platform to push masking and vaccines is beyond me - should we blame John Lynn for being dead without a vaccine or mask? This sort of stuff makes me not even wanna post here. And I mean that with all love and respect for those who chose this thread to push those agendas - not cool.

A. A complicated man with a complicated legacy. In many ways, the embodiment of my post-TWI determination not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. He truly believed, as many of us once did, that we were privileged with something extraordinary but imperfect, and he dedicated his life to improving it. Along the way he embraced and promoted some indefensible stuff, and he defended it with a stubborn passion that would be admirable in the service of a more worthy cause. When he met me, I felt broken. He did his best to heal my heart, to restore the sense of spiritual family I lost at a time of personal crisis. He refused to judge me or condemn me. I admire his dedication. As it gave way to stubbornness... let his legacy be a warning.

We didn't see eye to eye. I wish his family well. I did like his sense of humor. And he led the charge against the way. Opened the eyes of many.

Looking back......I realize why wierwille's corps nights were so disturbing. Why?........Wierwille would NOT ALLOW corps or clergy to exit easily. Those highest on the rung, he had to publically strip them of authority. Wierwille had to label them....tripped-out, copped-out or possessed. If leaders left with integrity intact, then they could take others with them. Leaders were NOT ALLOWED to simply exit twi.

Here is the whole article. I decided to bold-face some of it....to emphasize common ground in cults. Behavior control.......monitoring what you do and with who you associate Information control....monitoring what you read and criticizing all "worldly" information Thought control........monitoring your thought processes and short-circuiting critical thinking Emotional control......monitoring and downplaying all emotions of hurt, grief, anger, etc. check.....check.....check.....check