tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post3070749317241533420..comments2023-06-01T10:52:44.280-04:00Comments on The Gospel-Driven Church: Six Flags Over JesusJaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-49391398756095620692009-11-09T19:07:41.766-05:002009-11-09T19:07:41.766-05:00When I lived in Knoxville I attended one of the me...When I lived in Knoxville I attended one of the megachurches. Our youth group had to run in the 150's - at least. When I went to college the whole congregation was 300. I didn't know what you could possibly do with that few people. Now I know :)Amber Leehttp://www.amberpeace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-20546569875531645222009-11-06T11:29:21.056-05:002009-11-06T11:29:21.056-05:00I am sure you know by now, but your post made it t...I am sure you know by now, but your post made it to Challies! You the man!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08667260957073406891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-40072743731475413252009-11-06T10:13:19.205-05:002009-11-06T10:13:19.205-05:00I may be ministering in post-Christian Western Eur...I may be ministering in post-Christian Western Europe, but "How many are you running?" gets asked just as much over here. It comes from both nationals and Americans, and as a missionary it's one of the constant questions were asked from our supporters. Honestly, if we were able to report hundreds of conversions here, it would generate more donations to our ministry--for a building.C. Hollandhttp://www.missionaryconfidential.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-87508787543979452602009-11-06T00:35:32.626-05:002009-11-06T00:35:32.626-05:00I think The Village in Dallas is growing pretty fa...I think The Village in Dallas is growing pretty fast and they managed to get a massive new building for 10ish million. (Not 100% sure of the numbers.) And they were refusing to go into it if they didn't meet the number of pledges they needed because if the members for whom they were creating this space didn't feel the need to contribute then obviously they weren't making the message about what church membership is about clear to them. <br /><br />And the church I go to up here is tiny and meets in the Sunday school area of a bigger church. But it's growing and it's attracting young people, which up here in anti-religion Montreal is nearly an impossibility without Jesus moving. <br /><br />It's not about the building. It's about the message within it. Jesus attracts. Giant gaudy buildings intimidate and create resentment.prinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03208208987226715826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-11419153506430263892009-11-05T22:14:02.732-05:002009-11-05T22:14:02.732-05:00We used to belong to a small church with a pastor ...We used to belong to a small church with a pastor who was obsessed with building a family life center, believing that the location of the church at an intersection would make this growth visible to passersby and they'd come to our church. He had a whole "If you build it, they will come" mentality. However, he rejected all suggestions to put showers in the FLC so we could host the local homeless through Interfaith Hospitality Network; he only wanted college kids and young professionals.<br /><br />The building still hasn't been built and that pastor has left the church to work in a secular position. By contrast, the church we attend now has a FLC; the gym also serves as dining area for Wednesday night dinners and the Sunday morning early worship service. Would bet it didn't cost anything close to $130 mil.Sara's Soaps 'n Suchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879961289229982637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-63497761814214406332009-11-05T13:16:59.599-05:002009-11-05T13:16:59.599-05:00fred said: So, everyone who is commenting negativ...<b>fred said: So, everyone who is commenting negatively about this building, you all meet in a your home-church leader's garage or a high school gym, right? No, you meet in a building. I'll bet your church just isn't growing like this one, and there's nothing wrong with that....unless you're comfortable with the same 100 people in a church for 10 years, which seems to me like if noone new is coming in, there might be a problem, especially in a big city. Maybe the Dallas church focuses on growth, which could be bad, or maybe God is blessing them with thousands of people who want to worship God together at the same place at the same time. Is there something wrong with that in and of itself? I love worshiping with 10 people and with 10,000, but they are very different experiences. Not better or best, but different.</b><br><br><br />FBC Dallas runs about 10,000 in membership. I'm betting they average a good bit less than that in actual attendance. According to this, there were 3200 in attendance the day their current pastor started two years ago: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/081207dnmetjeffress.29472158.html<br /><br />And according to this, they don't average 5000 a week in Sunday attendance: recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1809.pdf<br /><br />By comparison, a church I attended in Nashville that averages over 3000 in Sunday attendance spent about $12 million on a facility. It's very nice and quite comfortable...not opulent, but not some cheap metal building thing either. They'll probably be expanding within the next 5 years, but it'll probably involve another $12 million max to accommodate growth.<br /><br />$130 million is just insane. I've seen local Anglican and Catholic parishes build amazingly beautiful Gothic-style churches complete with pipe organs for less than a fifth of that.<br /><br />To me, this is just a stunning lack of good stewardship. The only two options aren't "meet in a rented storefront or high school gym" or "build Happy Funtime Jesusland" for a bazillion dollars.Ragamuffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16102860882549986216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-33937808170053414232009-11-05T11:24:39.772-05:002009-11-05T11:24:39.772-05:00Like you said Jared, this isn't just about bui...Like you said Jared, this isn't just about building a building. We all recognize the need to have a place to meet and sometimes(but maybe too much?) we build a structure for this purpose.<br /><br />Its that spiritual growth is being inextricably linked to bigger numbers and bigger structures. Its that we think we need glitz and flash in order to attract those on the outside to come in - where they can then receive the good stuff that can only be found inside. And which is dispensed by the paid professionals.Brianhttp://www.asmallfaith.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-42131358253651610472009-11-05T10:57:16.819-05:002009-11-05T10:57:16.819-05:00I've always thought too much emphasis is put o...I've always thought too much emphasis is put on buildings in the American church. How much is too much money to spend on a building? I don't know. But I think we should ask that question a lot more than we do.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277364381136109821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-64033408783820040522009-11-05T10:30:51.848-05:002009-11-05T10:30:51.848-05:00Though I am not as young as you Jared, I am as res...Though I am not as young as you Jared, I am as restless and reformed. My heart couldn't be more with you on this issue. I think you can be large without being idolotrous,(witness Mark Driscoll) which is what most megachuches are. They are working FOR God. But He is not "served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Acts 17:25 We need another Reformation. Semper reformanda!Drew Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-15893730400187035142009-11-05T08:41:59.013-05:002009-11-05T08:41:59.013-05:00I'll bet your church just isn't growing li...<i>I'll bet your church just isn't growing like this one</i><br /><br />Fred, that's the freebie.<br /><br />Anything else along this line -- which does not serve the cause of the bigger/better/faster church growth mania anyway -- and your comment will not be approved.<br /><br />Joel Osteen's church is growing like crazy. So is the Reverend Moon's. The Mormons are growing in number.<br /><br />Praise Jesus for all that, eh?<br /><br />Numbers = success, or Big buildings = success is the lie at the heart of this sort of extravagance.Jaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-12252849483918631502009-11-05T08:34:05.349-05:002009-11-05T08:34:05.349-05:00So, everyone who is commenting negatively about th...So, everyone who is commenting negatively about this building, you all meet in a your home-church leader's garage or a high school gym, right? No, you meet in a building. I'll bet your church just isn't growing like this one, and there's nothing wrong with that....unless you're comfortable with the same 100 people in a church for 10 years, which seems to me like if noone new is coming in, there might be a problem, especially in a big city. Maybe the Dallas church focuses on growth, which could be bad, or maybe God is blessing them with thousands of people who want to worship God together at the same place at the same time. Is there something wrong with that in and of itself? I love worshiping with 10 people and with 10,000, but they are very different experiences. Not better or best, but different.Frednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-66388673483606712142009-11-05T08:17:58.956-05:002009-11-05T08:17:58.956-05:00I can't help thinking like a numbers guy at ti...I can't help thinking like a numbers guy at times, because that is what I do. How big is this church? I have no idea. Let's assume there are 5,000 families willing to contribute. They would need to ask each family for $26,000 -- yikes!rdsmith3https://www.blogger.com/profile/13254214591510433785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-46341908621363884232009-11-05T01:35:44.559-05:002009-11-05T01:35:44.559-05:00GrossGrossWilliam McMurtryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04200109009192019851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-66390156041816933692009-11-05T00:12:58.670-05:002009-11-05T00:12:58.670-05:00"As I look around downtown Dallas, I see spec..."As I look around downtown Dallas, I see spectacular temples of commerce, of culture and of government – many new, some restored to former glory, and all intended to stand for generations. The Kingdom of God needs a home to equal them – a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown."<br /><br />-cut and pasted from their home page.<br /><br />So unbelievably sad-the Kingdom of God needs a home? Really? ArrrggghhhhUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18041711965040909812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-38868769225964300672009-11-04T22:25:45.286-05:002009-11-04T22:25:45.286-05:00Amen, amen, and amen. May Francis and his tribe in...Amen, amen, and amen. May Francis and his tribe increase indeed.Jason_73https://www.blogger.com/profile/03897032251222417504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-65212616905824080792009-11-04T21:03:40.706-05:002009-11-04T21:03:40.706-05:00The impression I get from watching the video on th...The impression I get from watching the video on their site, is that of a private club that is building state-of-the-art facilities for the benefit and comfort of their members and guests.<br /><br />It also looks like the only thing passers-by can see through the glass is people walking.<br /><br />I'm sure the church does some good in the community of Dallas, but I wonder how many of the least of these in that city could be helped with $130 million.Fred Shopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993039629949819266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-3782207242343411432009-11-04T19:53:53.826-05:002009-11-04T19:53:53.826-05:00From that FAQ link:
"There is no doubt that t...From that FAQ link:<br />"There is no doubt that this is a “God-sized” project."<br /><br />Um. I think that's blasphemy right there. Is it not?<br /><br />And as a girl who grew up with a disdain for the church, this stuff makes me cry inside. It is what everybody up here hates about Christianity all tied up with a big bright blue $130 million bow. And a cherry on top. But some sort of rare, expensive cherry that tastes the same as any other cherry.<br /><br />The fact that this giant church among others turns non-believers so off the church is a giant beacon to me about how Gospel it is.<br /><br />/end rant (sorry)prinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03208208987226715826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-27651036361713118492009-11-04T18:30:13.566-05:002009-11-04T18:30:13.566-05:00I hear you, my brother, and while I think church g...I hear you, my brother, and while I think church growth through conversions (making disciples) is good, it frustrates me when churches think of buildings as missional. I used to do that too, unfortunately.<br /><br />I know that I don't have a church to preach in, just the deck of a ship, so I might be biased, but this is unfortunate, to say the least. We're making some big mistakes here.The Navy Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116964729906856912noreply@blogger.com