Comments on: Willow Creek Repents http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/ posts, links, and whatever else Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:28:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: catherine http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-708 catherine Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:58:42 +0000 http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-708 Well said. We agree! Well said. We agree!

]]> By: marcus http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-659 marcus Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:50:04 +0000 http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-659 I'm by no means saying that Willow Creek is wrong for doing what they've done. In fact, for a long period of time, I think Willow Creek was probably doing the exact right thing for the culture. Willow Creek is the perfect model for reaching baby boomers. But times are changing. Culture is changing. The methods and practices of a Willow Creek have probably been on a decline for nearly a decade. I think the world we live in today simple doesn't respond to slick programs designed to get people participating. It might get them into church. It might get introduce them to Jesus. But I think what Hybels, et al, are discovering is that these types of things don't create disciples of Christ. Essentially, Hybels found the perfect formula to create fans of church. I know several Willow Creek members who are genuine in their commitment to their church but spiritually immature, not because they don't want to grow. It's because they haven't been given the tools, teaching, or experience to do so. This is where I would insert my advertisement for emergent / missional / post-modern models of church, as taught by Bob Webber, Brian McLaren, et al. But I'll let you guys fill in that blank. I’m by no means saying that Willow Creek is wrong for doing what they’ve done. In fact, for a long period of time, I think Willow Creek was probably doing the exact right thing for the culture. Willow Creek is the perfect model for reaching baby boomers. But times are changing. Culture is changing. The methods and practices of a Willow Creek have probably been on a decline for nearly a decade.

I think the world we live in today simple doesn’t respond to slick programs designed to get people participating. It might get them into church. It might get introduce them to Jesus. But I think what Hybels, et al, are discovering is that these types of things don’t create disciples of Christ. Essentially, Hybels found the perfect formula to create fans of church. I know several Willow Creek members who are genuine in their commitment to their church but spiritually immature, not because they don’t want to grow. It’s because they haven’t been given the tools, teaching, or experience to do so.

This is where I would insert my advertisement for emergent / missional / post-modern models of church, as taught by Bob Webber, Brian McLaren, et al. But I’ll let you guys fill in that blank.

]]> By: catherine http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-658 catherine Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:33:57 +0000 http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-658 I was at a conference where Bill made this announcement actually, and showed us the data and thinking that went into it. You know I'm FAR from being a mega-church type Christian, and each time I go there, its against my desires. But, I always end up being impressed. They don't do things perfectly, but who does? They are doing what they do with the right heart, and its helping a lot of people nobody else is reaching out to. I was at a conference where Bill made this announcement actually, and showed us the data and thinking that went into it.

You know I’m FAR from being a mega-church type Christian, and each time I go there, its against my desires. But, I always end up being impressed. They don’t do things perfectly, but who does? They are doing what they do with the right heart, and its helping a lot of people nobody else is reaching out to.

]]> By: twosquaremeals http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-656 twosquaremeals Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:57:39 +0000 http://www.thegimmick.com/wordpress/2007/10/25/willow-creek-repents/#comment-656 Wow, I am stunned. And happy. Perhaps things are changing. Imagine an America without mass-marketed, entertainment-driven churches. Could it happen? We can always hope. Wow, I am stunned. And happy. Perhaps things are changing. Imagine an America without mass-marketed, entertainment-driven churches. Could it happen? We can always hope.

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