It seems as though Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of the Chicago-based mega-church, Willow Creek, recently collided heart first with Morgan Spurlock, writer and producer of the 2004 documentary, Super Size Me.
According to a recent, multi-year study on the effectiveness of their programs and philosophy (as discussed in the newly released Reveal: Where Are You?), Willow Creek has "made a mistake". Bill Hybels notes,
"We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become 'self feeders.' We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own."He further goes on to mention,
"Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn't helping people that much. Other things that we didn't put that much money into and didn't put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for."In the first place, I would like to praise Bill Hybels and others for revealing the truth and talking openly about their findings. Beauty is found in revealing the 'whole truth'. Furthermore, I want to state at the outset that I am not ripping on Willow Creek or Bill Hybels, but rather using their own findings to continue the ancient conversation on the state of the Church.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of being a part of a local community church in west Michigan and I believe they did, and are doing, a great job at giving people the stuff they "are crying for."
From my perspective, they had no problem in being seeker sensitive and carefully avoided becoming consumed as seeker driven; as was/is the apparent philosophy behind Willow & many other like-minded churches. However, they pointed out that the question which needs answering the most in this philosophy is, "Are you willing to allow some people to walk away?" (Matthew 19.16-22). And this is usually and exactly the opposite of the seeker-driven, and sometimes emergent, mindset.
That is to say, we cannot fathom allowing someone to walk away. And so we sacrifice discipleship to obtain evangelism and/or fellowship. When in reality, discipleship includes both...
Something of new concern to me, and on the heels of said philosophy, is the attraction to the "Fastest Growing Churches". It scares me really. Not so much the specific church itself but the attraction from other churches and leaders.
Have we really become that obsessed with the American culture that we think fast, easy, and mega (read: super-sized) are appropriate words to describe growth? That's McDonalds' deal! And have we already forgotten the words and images of Spurlock, that this approach to life would leave us unhealthy, obese, and immobile? Whatever happened to quality, depth, and maturity? I submit to you that the true test for the "fastest growing church" will be in 75 and 100 years, not next week.
It used to be that the height of Salvation was not at the beginning, "getting someone saved" - but at the end, when they stand before God and he rewards them for walking the journey ever upward on a straight and narrow path. And the walking is known as discipleship: the "working out" of salvation.
There is nothing particularly wrong about the larger churches, or any church for that matter; so long as they have not abandoned the way, or cost, of discipleship. What good does it do America to have millions of Christians if most of us remain babies for the entirety of our lives? We need to stand once again on the platform of Deitreich Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis; walk again the path blazed by Jesus of Nazareth. The path of following. It's a verb, not an event. Salvation is glorious and immediate - but it is also upward and ongoing.
Feel free to join the conversation...
Cheers.
9 comments:
awesome post man, I have been irritated, no, outraged at churches in my own community that I have seen grow only in numbers and focus on what the next big idea for attracting more people into the doors. When I talk to members I see no evidence of spiritual growth and discipleship. The church is to blame because a new believer isn't going to fully understand that there are more steps needed to be a true follower of Christ. I like what you said about discipleship involves fellowship and evangelism!
thanks bill. appreciate the feedback, too, brother.
The truth is also that when we stop at salvation, and we are not showing people the act of continuous surrender then they are left wanting and wondering why their relationship with Jesus isn't all they long for. I know in my own life that I had trusted Jesus with my salvation, but had neglected to give him all that was within me and everything I do. There were still many things I considered my own. I was miserable. Surrender takes place EVERYDAY, not just when realize that Jesus is the one and only way to Heaven. Continuous surrender will keep us moving and growing. Going OUT where Jesus wants us instead of sitting stagnant in one gianormous church. Sorry this is so long. The post really struck something in me. Thanks a HEAP. 8-)
We do have to be willing to let some walk away . . . and we need to be honest up front that when you give your life to Christ, you sign up for a life time of conflict. We do not tell new believers that and we do not prepare them to grow. I think Jesus was "sensitive" but He was "driven" by the mission His Dad had set him on. I could go on and on, but I am grateful for those who face their shortcomings and share them with others so they can be held accountable in the future.
agreed paul. thanks man.
I'm finding within the youth group I am with now a bunch of students who call themselves Christians and have settled at salvation and don't seem to desire more then that. They are content in not being involved, content in not making a difference, and they are missing out on God. My goal is to disciple them, when they choose to grow in their relationship with God everything else will fall into place.
I appreciate your post, for sure. What was really refreshing was not bashing Willow. Man, I'm tired of that already. People (with long pent up frustrations) are really criticizing Willow hard. It makes me sad.
Having been to the 'REVEAL on the Road' two weeks ago, I believe that it is precisely what you blogged that compelled Greg Hawkins and the Willow leaders to do this work. They, too, believe strongly that salvation is not just at the beginning. They are concerned with growing mature disciples. Yes, they are 'seeker-obsessed.' What this means is that they have MORE people to help grow toward maturity. Clearly, they are concerned about this more than numbers in weekend attendance. What's more, they're Kingdom-minded! They didn't have to share their findings... but they knew that others in ministry would benefit.
I wonder if they knew how much flack they were going to catch for doing this good thing.
Neil, thanks for your feedback! I have visited Willow several times and I would agree, that Bill Hybels (and team) are definitely more concerned with the growth of their people than the growth of their church - if that makes any sense.
At any rate, thanks again for stopping by.
Justin,
Having been to Willow numerous times since 1990, I have always been blessed by Bill Hybels' heart for souls AND discipleship. I have never interpreted anything they have done as being heavy on evangelism and light on discipleship. I always felt that their goal was to make fully devoted followers of Christ -- and that involves a lot -- start to finish.
Thanks, Dude!
REV
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