3 Lies of Church Growth
My friend Charles had this link on his blog. Interesting perspective. I don't think the lies are intentional ... so do we call them lies or misconceptions? Misconceptions might be more accurate. Worth reading nonetheless. I think Adam McLane is mostly right in what he says.
http://adammclane.com/2008/07/10/3-lies-of-church-growth-experts/
http://adammclane.com/2008/07/10/3-lies-of-church-growth-experts/
posted by Morris at
2:08 PM
3 Comments:
Where these concepts are shared by those who mean well but don't know any better, I would agree with you. But insofar as these concepts are perpetuated my marketing schemes designed to produce profit in the "religious industrial complex", I would agree with McClane that they are appropriately called "lies."
Take a look at this link and when you hear the word "worship" insert the words "church growth" and see what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRKCmYuCWA
Charles,
Thanks for the dialogue. I agree that if they are perpetuated by people who know better, then we would have to call them lies. I guess I just try to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that their intentions may be as pure as I pray that mine are -- understanding that I myself am at the same time a participant IN as well as a victim OF the fall. I guess I've been a little naive that way almost all of my life.
I'm familiar with the Brian McLaren video you referenced, and resonate strongly with what he says about our consumeristic approach to worship. For people involved in ministry leadership, it can be a fast track to burnout ... or a slow one ... but that's where it tends to lead in the local church. And its strong tendency is to lead to burnout whether one is participating in it (always chasing the next new thing, afraid that someone else will have the next 'best new song' before we will, or that we will miss out because we don't use the next 'best new song' quickly enough after it hits the charts), or striving to do ministry without participating in it. Its where we live.
Peace, my brother.
I love seeing this post resonate. By "lie" I truly do mean both a lie (insofar as an intentional misrepresentation) and a use of the marketing term coined by Seth Godin in "All Marketers are Liars."
I don't have a problem with people trying to grow their churches though. And I don't have a problem with any method that reaches people with the gospel. :)
But I do have a major problem with the idea that you can grow your church with a formulaic approach to running a church.
Thanks for reading my comment!
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