Fractures in the Franchise

During our recent extended vacation, we attended church #3 on the 2006 CR list of most influential churches.  (By the way, notice that former Collierville Bible Church youth pastor, Tim Lundy, is leading church #26 on the list - way to go, Tim!) We also attended several other mega-churches that are following the paradigm pioneered by churches like Willow and Saddleback, the trend setters emulated by thousands of contemporary churches across the globe.  Because so many churches draw from this model, it is significant that an important Willow insider like Greg Hawkins has uncovered a disturbing truth.  Hawkin's report, according to Bill Hybels, is a shocker and capable of producing sleepless nights for pastors, including himself.

I applaud Willow Creek for being willing to ask tough questions of themselves.  The book which captures insights from the study, titled Reveal, Where are You?, promises to send shock-waves of paradigm shift throughout the franchise.  I find Reveal interesting as an explanation for the numbers of mega-church refugees who come to Collierville Bible Church longing to go deeper with God.  I wonder if it will also become for thousands of churches the "next big thing."

Comments

[RLF]

Isn't it ironic? Churches desire to be "big" and "successful" and are looking for the "next big thing." I wonder if the Bible has anything to say about what the goal of the Church, the Body of Christ, should be about. Hmmmm...

[Jeff]

Wow...I thought I was the only one....

Because I WANT to centered in Christ. I WANT the Bible to be the prizm in which I see life. I WANT to live today, each day, to glorify God as much as I can. And as much as I love church, it doesn't help me figure out where to go from want to action. And I fluctuate from centered to stalled because I feel like I'm grasping at straws and I never feel like I've got the right one.

[Alex Marshall]

I'm impressed that Willow Creek is willing to be so self-critical. I think that says something commendable about their leadership and desires. It should be really interesting to see what innovations come out of this research, what they come up with as the best way to encourage and engage more mature Christians. I suspect they will try and balance that with continuing to reach non-Christians and new Christians, which may be a very cool thing to watch (if they find an effective way of doing it). Will have to keep my eye on this, thanks for pointing it out, Jim.