NB: This is an opinion piece of a reader of this blog.

Recently, I came across an Instagram post by Mike Patterson, a leader of the International Christian Church (ICC), in which he compared Kip McKean to Jesus Christ. The post celebrated Kip McKean’s “spiritual birthday” and praised him for his love, humility, vision, and leadership, claiming he is the closest person to Jesus Christ.

While it is natural to admire and respect people who have contributed significantly to our lives, we must never forget that humans are not perfect. Only God deserves our worship and adoration. In this op-ed, I aim to refute these claims and use scriptures from the Bible to demonstrate that it is inappropriate and unscriptural to compare anyone to Jesus Christ.  

Happy 51st Spiritual birthday to my favorite childhood and current preacher, Kip McKean. You are the closest person I have ever met to Jesus Christ in your humility, love, vision, and leadership. It’s rare to see someone with such a powerful anointing of God’s Spirit and who continually transforms getting more fired up for God with age. Love you bro and all you do for God’s people. You are still God’s man for this generation.

Mike Patterson 4/11/2023 via Instagram

The post’s statement that Kip McKean is the closest person to Jesus Christ is misguided and misaligned with the teachings of the Bible. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only way to the Father, and no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Comparing any human being to Jesus Christ, including Kip McKean, is a form of idolatry and goes against the principles of the Christian faith.  

Furthermore, the post’s claims that Kip McKean has a powerful anointing of God’s Spirit and continually transforms are subjective and difficult to verify. The Bible warns us against putting our faith in humans, saying, “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5). The Bible states that we should worship and honor only God, not humans or any other created things. Therefore, the claims made by Mike Patterson that Kip McKean is comparable to Jesus Christ are fundamentally flawed with the teachings of the Bible.  

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus himself says, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). This statement clearly shows that worship and honor should be directed towards God alone, not any human being, no matter how great their achievements or how much they have contributed to society.  

Moreover, the Bible teaches us about the sin of pride and the dangers of idolatry. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” It is essential to recognize that humans are not perfect and are all prone to sin and mistakes. Therefore, we should not put anyone on a pedestal or elevate them to the level of Jesus Christ.  

It is worth noting that Kip McKean, the subject of the Instagram post, has a controversial history within the Christian community. He was the founder and current leader of the International Christian Church, which has been criticized for its authoritarian leadership style and for being a high-control group. The group has been accused of isolating its members from their families, exerting undue influence over their personal lives, and promoting a cult-like atmosphere. 

Given this history, it is clear that Kip McKean is not an ideal leader to compare to Jesus Christ. Jesus was a humble servant leader who came to serve, not to be served, and His teachings emphasize love, compassion, and humility. In contrast, Kip McKean has been accused of promoting a leadership style that is authoritarian and controlling, which goes against the principles of the Christian faith.  

Furthermore, the Bible warns us against following false prophets and false teachers, saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Therefore, it is essential to be discerning and cautious when elevating any human leader to the level of Jesus Christ, as this can lead to idolatry and spiritual harm.  

We must always remember that only God deserves our worship and adoration. Comparing anyone to Jesus Christ is inappropriate and unscriptural, and we must be discerning and cautious when following human leaders. Let us all strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ and live a life of humility, love, and service to others.