Sojourner: But...I'm Not Dead!
Blogger Brad Williams has just posted an article on "Dead Churches" that I am in total agreement with. I am growing to believe that NAMB, the State Convention, and local Associations are biting the very hands that feed them when they downplay the importance of the established churches and emphasize only new church starts (I wonder, which churches give more to their Associations and the CP?). New church starts, I might add, that are contrary to the gospel because they elevate the "affinity group preferences" (read: demands of self-absorbed consumers) over the claim of the gospel to deny onself and follow Christ. If the rich young ruler met a contemporary church planter strategist on the road today, he would not hear what he heard from Jesus: "Go sell all you have, and follow me." He would hear, "We have a new work started just over here in the suburbs that is strategically targeted to meet the needs of your socioeconomic dempographic."
I am grateful to Brad Williams for having the courage to give the lie to all the rumors of "deadness" in established churches. Click here to read it.
Here's to the gimick-free gospel of pastors and churches who have decided to forsake the applause of men in exchange for the applause of heaven.
1 comment:
Russ,
You know my position on this topic. I agree with Brad and your comments regarding his article.
In fact, I was talking about this very thing this past Sunday when preaching from Acts 10. Peter's ministry to Cornelius was a wonderful example of the gospel breaking down the walls that have been built between people groups. Yet, with our cowboy churches, biker churches, suburbanite rock band churches, all we're really doing is putting the walls back up.
BB
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