Wow! What a comment Cathy made. You do realize that I relish moments like this... Let's take these one at a time, shall we? (By the way, thanks for all the support from everyone. It's appreciated. And just in case Cathy doesn't come back, I'm emailing this to her.)
Mr. Horton (author of article) has NO IDEA what he's talking about.
Let's see, I've known (and liked) your pastor for about nine years now. I've visited your church on four different occasions, watched several online sermons, and seen him on the telly a couple times. I pastored at every level in a church. My undergraduate degree is in Biblical Studies. My graduate degree, which I will complete in May, is in theology, of the postmodern variety. My field of interest is the pernicious effects of consumerism on the church, which is to say aberrant ecclesiology. I've written for and about the Church for almost fifteen years now, including for The Covenant Companion, your denominational magazine. I think I might have an idea.
Life Church is a powerhouse for the awesome work of the power of Christ Jesus to change lives. I have attended for 8 years now and know many of the staff and their passion for Christ.
Never said it wasn't. Although I will say it if you press me. It's an awesome work of the power of marketing and the selfish, cracker-ass, suburban cult of the self. Which staff members are you talking about? Cause the staff sure ain't the same today as it was eight years ago when you started attending, is it? What happened to the other folks? Some burnt out. Some sinned out. Some resigned. Why do you suppose? When you enter the machine, the machine usually wins. It's a terrible system. I wish everyone would just suddenly get honest about it.
The book list was a quickly selected list that the pastor reccomends for his staff to read. Why many business books? Maybe because of the pastors belief that most churches today are failing miserably at outreach to the unchurched and he's realized that the "business world" has some effective methods that we the church can learn from and adapt to futher spread the good news.
I think Brandon asked "why quickly?" Good question. Outreach to the unchurched? Are you f***ing kidding me?! Your church is the product of transfer growth. Ask the first fifty people you see at church this Sunday where they came to Life from. I guarantee you that 49 will say some other church. The one guy or gal that doesn't will tell a story about being out of church for a while. We call 'em previously churched. Your rate of conversion growth is identical to that of every other megachurch in the country: less than one percent. If it's above a tenth of one percent, I'll be stunned, so quit patting yourself on the back for shuffling people from church to church.
Also, since you think these business paradigms are so damn good for the church, take a week to educate yourself. Read Kenneson and Street's book Selling Out the Church. It has the other side of the story. Read some real theology. This gospel y'all are peddling over there is no gospel at all. I'll be happy to unpack that for you if you want to engage in conversation instead of hit and run posting.
I didn't realize Billy Graham wrote business books.
Which by the way, the good news is that Jesus Christ came to seek and save lost!
Jesus came to do more than that. He came to return us to the way of Torah. He came to show us a different way to live. He came to free us from the principalities and powers that held us captive and kept us at enmity with God. That means we're free to live lives of grace, generosity, goodness, compassion, PEACE (yeah, sorry, no killing), sacrifice, and obedience. If you're going to preach the good news, give it some teeth, girl. Grace and peace to you. Come back anytime.
Preach it, brother.
Posted by: Kristen M | October 15, 2004 at 07:55 AM
Posts like these are why I read this blog.
That is all.
Posted by: Brandon | October 15, 2004 at 08:24 AM
Oh, and another thing.
"The suburban cult of self."
Greg, this is pure genius. Can you claim this notion yourself?
Posted by: Brandon | October 15, 2004 at 08:26 AM