Posted on 01/13/2014 4:06:18 PM PST by not2be4gotten.com
Edited on 01/13/2014 6:49:08 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
The dark side of attractional ministry is that it
(Excerpt) Read more at adammclane.com ...
I know this an issue that Freepers are concerned about.
I thought this was very well put and from an insider.
From an article I read in the Christian Standard
Taking the attractional model to the extreme can be dangerous. And I would be the first to admit there are some churches with big crowds that have watered down the gospel to get there. But don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.
Taking the missional model to its extreme can be dangerous as well. Sometimes what you see when you get there is just as disconcerting. Sometimes you see a little community of critics, cynics, and church-haters who spend more time writing books and blogging against the church than reaching out with the love of Jesus.
The problem I see in many of these ministries is that is creates a follow the leader mentality. That is ok if the Leader is God through the teachings of His Son.
God likes a flat organizational chart. Everyone is to have their own connection to the boss, not through another human being.
I specialize in research relating to charismatic congregations and cult techniques. Most are merely utilizing stage hypnosis techniques in a religious setting.
My Pastor 2 weeks ago talked about a camp he was a councellor at when he was a young man. He said they did everything they could to reach the kids they could think of. They even some semi-pro athletes in saying how their batting average went up when they started praying through Jesus.
It wasn’t until 1 kid the other boys made fun of who had cerebral palsey came to the front and painfully and slowly said, “I love Jesus, Jesus loves me, so I love you!” He siad tears were in those kids eyes, and it wa sa differnt camp after that. That there is Christs love and the Spirit!
tough times make us all look for easy solutions. \———————
Even in good times the easy path is attractive.
12 Characteristics of an Attractional Church
from Ministry Today
1. Empowering leadership. Leaders of attractional churches do not try to build their own authority to become all-powerful—exactly the opposite. One of their most important tasks is to help Christians develop greater degrees of empowerment, which, according to God’s plan, already belong to them.
2. Gift-oriented ministry. God has already determined which Christians should best assume which ministries in the church. The role of church leadership is to help its members identify their gifts and integrate them into ministries that match their gifts.
3. Passionate spirituality. In healthy churches, the way genuine spirituality is expressed is not as important as having a faith that is actually lived out with commitment, fire and enthusiasm.
4. Prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting were regular disciplines of the early church, but they are two of the most underutilized and misunderstood faith practices of the present-day church. Lead your congregation in prayers of praise and petition, and make fasting a habit as a means of sacrificial praise, obedience and trust.
5. Compassionate, need-oriented evangelism and missions. When a culture of compassion for the needy permeates the local church, the light of God will shine in their hearts. Jesus’ passion was and is to relieve the pain of people who suffer.
6. Endurance, tenacity and perseverance. Endurance in the face of hardship is the sign of a good soldier and the mark of a true follower of Christ.
7. Functional structures, location and logistical arrangements. Attractional churches constantly examine themselves by asking, Does it work? Is it obvious, easy and strategic? Church structures should never be an end in themselves, but a means to an end—which is to win souls to Christ. Healthy churches change—or lay to rest—whatever does not measure up to this requirement.
8. Inspiring worship. When early Jews first heard the good news of God’s grace, there were outbursts of joy and praising God in the streets of Jerusalem. This contagious exuberance spread throughout the entire known world, fueled by one thing: the apostles’ doctrine, the message of Jesus Christ.
Today, people who attend inspiring worship services declare that the church service is not only inspiring and exhilarating, but fun—and they return for more.
9. Holistic small groups. Many healthy churches have developed a system of small groups in which individual Christians can find intimate community, practical help and intensive spiritual interaction. These groups become the essence of the true life of the church as participants apply biblical insight to the everyday issues of the participants.
10. Giving and sharing. As we learn to give to the church and share with others, we tap into the goodness of God and His provision. A giving culture is an expression of the nature of God.
11. Establishing and maintaining loving relationships. Unfeigned, practical love endows a church with a much greater magnetic power than all the marketing efforts of this world.
12. A Bible-based foundation. Without this attribute, your church is just another social club. Sure, the first 11 are key components of an attractional church, but a foundation of biblical preaching and teaching is the absolute source of life-giving nourishment.
Given these dozen characteristics, it’s time to assess: Is your church an attractional church? Is it refreshing, relevant and relational?
- See more at: http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/features/19072-the-attractional-church#sthash.wWJCaOFl.dpuf
The author was subjected to bad management.
That is wat really happened at his church.
I can see both sides of the argument. There is nothing wrong with having nice music and a nice place to have a meeting - the youth I had played and made most of the decisions with the band etc. They have to be discipled through so small meetings where teaching, discussion, reading and praying are the foundations for continuing on after. I found that the youth who faithfully attended the small group all continued on with their faith while maybe only 50% of the others did. Those that stayed went onto bring more people to Christ long after I left - they did it, with God, themselves. I suppose the true test is whether you are trying to get them to emulate Christ or yourself.
Mel
Either way (in your case)the example set had them arriving at the same place. 8-)
One of the other things besides enthusiastic support for gayness that made me leave the United Methodist Church after many generations of family was the Christmas when the little five-year-old angels in the nativity play were bumping and grinding up on the altar. Looked like an episode of Dance Moms on Bravo. Just sickened me, especially the “hot ‘n’ tough” look on one little five-year-old’s face as she wiggled her hips to the rock’n’roll Christmas music selected by the pageant choreographer.
My white house-cat got that same slutty look on her face one time when she fell into the coal bin and became ashamed of her fur that was too filthy to clean herself. Unlike other times, she tolerated a bath in the sink.
It’s the same with truly reverent worship. Even (properly raised) children can appreciate it.
U too bro!
Miss ya - will be ready for second fix soon!
Bless ya always
Melsec the Impertinent
Recovery has been a lot slower than imagined and I sort of had a fall just after New Years but Praise Jesus in all things - I will get there!!! Still feel like I won the eternal jackpot!
Seems to me he is saying in a more polite way than i would that the Churches were set up to first preach the Gospel.
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