WAY-FM Program Director sounds off

[spottacus]

So much has been said, I'd just like to distill the Truth here for everyone.

The Gospel is simple, but it's also hard. Simple to explain, hard to accept. And it should be hard, because if it isn't hard, then you aren't really being serious about it.

If we Christians try to give Jesus a cosmetic job to make Him more attractive to the world (some people call this "dumbing down the gospel), then we're cheating Him and the world.

Salvation is the result of earnest seeking and a sober decision. Too many people think it's just a thing to do, a club to join, or a heritage to be observed.

[brent]

So, if people come to a mega church, have a salvation experience, then do nothing to grow, then that is on them. That is not on the hands of the minister.


It very well may be, but not just the preachers. It may be the whole philosophy of the church. You said worship should be about the Glory of God and I agree. It is the expression of the believers delight in God. However, we also worship when the scriptures are opened before us in a way where we see Christ, and not some 10 step method to personal happiness.

If a pastor orchestrates all kinds of exciting ways to quickly build a mega church without having godly men who are capable of being undershephers, that is a real problem. I can't tell you how often I've heard people say, my church is so big, our Sunday School is really our church. I then ask them, "Do you feel your teacher is qualified to be your Pastor?" The answer is almost always no.

The word Pastor means shepherd. The shepherd knows his sheep intamately, and they know him intimately. If a Pastor grows a mega a church without first growing godly men (Elders) who qualified to tend the flock, teach, and are given to the lost art of hospitality (almost no churches emphasize hospitality anymore, even though most ministry in the New Testament church was done in homes.), then this Pastor is asking for a spiritually week congregation that will not be salt and light but will be a stain on the gospel.

I agree with all of that above. Let me say that I work for a Methodist church. We are the fastest growing in the US I believe. We are proving that a mainline church can be effective and alive. We are holding to the original evangelistic Weslyan motif. So we are not big because we are vommiting some new-age gospel.

We have several pastors. The senior pastor has to have his head up, steering, leading, ministering. With such a huge crowd, the church is broken up into mulitple groups of 500. Pastors are assigned to them. We are big on community. Small groups, or Sunday School is where people build the relationships. Then we have over 1,000 volunteers who also meet in small groups. Volunteers have to worship in another service aside from the one that they are working in. I am not saying people can't come and get lost. They can. But again, people can seem to be plugged into a smaller congregation and be just as lost.

This is a matter of us vs. them for alot of people. Our pastor has said many times that he has asked God not to enlarge the church. It all seems so huge and daunting. But God keeps blessing, and we have about 100 to 150 accepting Christ, making a profession of faith and membership each month.

Some small churches may be mega churches in their cities. If you have 30000 people in town, and you have 5 to 10 percent, then you are working in the same percentages as the mega churches. This is a matter of scale and proper management of people, time and resources.

Reality is that people like to be a part of what is alive. When they see an older building in an older neighborhood, and the average age is 50+, and there are a few cars out front, they will go to the larger church that offers more for their family. Children's ministries are the big draw for this generation.

[clyde]

WOW....what a debate....

Yes...the Gospel message is so simple....its truly wonderful...in fact the Bible in my mind is a Love letter to the believer...a wonderful hope for us...
THe Bible also tells to work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling!
I also think of the scripture that tells us that when we are young we need lighter food, but as we grow, we need more substantial sustainance.
I saw the music and ministry of Petra not only as a wonderful witnessing tool, but indeed a wonderful source of Gods word. Their music was always meant to minister and bring life. That is what always brought me back to their music...not only was the music top notch, but they Never waivered in their message. They never saw the need to water down the Gospel or use slick words to cleverly disguise them.
Lets share the Gospel in Love and share Love in all we do! We can change the world, with His love....even if it is one soul at a time!
I dont knock the music of Switchfoot and other bands like them, they are a lot of fun to listen too, I even saw them in concert, but I crave the Love and Ministry of a band like Petra! As I have said before...I pray that they are blessed as they begin their new journies....I know their ministries are not over yet!
Clyde

[charl]

The Gospel is simple, but it's also hard. Simple to explain, hard to accept. And it should be hard, because if it isn't hard, then you aren't really being serious about it.

If we Christians try to give Jesus a cosmetic job to make Him more attractive to the world (some people call this "dumbing down the gospel), then we're cheating Him and the world.

spot on! (sorry couldn't resist)