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    Top Ten News Stories for Christians in 2007

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    1. Taliban takes Korean short-term mission team hostage, killing two

    2. Atheism tops the bestseller charts

    3. Presidential campaigns start early, with some faith surprises

    4. Ruth Graham promoted to glory

    5. Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture, homosexuality

    6. Three Christians tortured and killed in eastern Turkey

    7. Lions of the Religious Right pass away

    8. Francis Beckwith returns to Catholicism

    9. Campaign to oust NAE’s Richard Cizik fails

    10. Supreme Court upholds 2003 federal partial-birth abortion ban

    What do you think?  Any you would replace?  And with what?

    These are according to Christianity Today... take a look and see what you think. We've discussed most all of these at MMI over the last year... some seem bigger to me than others. I wonder... what do you think is missing?

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    1. CS on Wed, December 19, 2007

      The biggest news story you missed was about Willow Creek coming forth and sharing that all of their programs focused on seeker-sensitive messages failed to produce true Christians, people who are completely dedicated to Christ.  This story is the biggest in 2007 as it has major ramifications for millions of people in thousands of churches across the nation, and ultimately affects the eternity in which people will spend their time.



      CS

    2. Todd Rhoades on Wed, December 19, 2007

      Way to overstate the Reveal study, CS.  In fact, we have talked about that here this year.  Check the archives.

    3. bishopdave on Wed, December 19, 2007

      I think a major story was missed in that heated name-calling theological arguments on blogs can immediately be brought back to civility by showing videos of a chimp doing a belly dance.


      http://youtube.com/watch?v=MsmBNTE-xDg

    4. eric wright on Wed, December 19, 2007

      Ted Haggard was this past year, right? That was pretty problematic news.

    5. CS on Wed, December 19, 2007

      Todd:


      Perhaps I did overstate it a little, but it should have been in the Top 5 positions on the list.  When pharmaceutical companies came out and revealed that drugs they had been making for several years were not healing people and the side effects were even more harmful than helpful, it gained national headlines.   This is the same with the Willow Creek model of seeker-sensitive programs and their results.



      CS

    6. Peter Hamm on Wed, December 19, 2007

      CS. That is NOT what Willow said in their REVEAL study. But, for me as a church leader, it is one of the big “events” on my list of news stories this year, on that I will agree with you, as it will help me better understand how to reach this current generation with the Gospel and how to disciple them better. (Our church is part of the next phase of this study in January and we are very excited about this learning opportunity.)


      Comparing Willow’s assessment of what to do about the dissatisfied and stalled segments of their churches to a pharmaceutical company that has marketed a harmful drug is more than a little ludicrous, don’t you think? Did you read the study? Or are you just commenting, as so many have, on what you heard about it from people who might have already had a prejudice against WC and the way they do church? Be honest now…

    7. Leonard on Wed, December 19, 2007

      I am not sure it makes the list of top stories for me but it was pushed into the top by those people who never read the report but felt the need to slam Willow anyway.

    8. Wendi on Wed, December 19, 2007

      My opinion . . . even though this list is from Christianity Today, it reflects what the secular media picked up on and considered newsworthy within the evangelical/Christian community.  The Willowcreek Reveal study is hardly something the secular media would consider newsworthy, anymore than is the relentless and exhausting attacks by watchdogs who envision themselves as the gatekeepers of American Christendom. 


      Regarding #2 I say “hmmmm – books ABOUT atheism?  Which books?  If this is correct, what does the trend a reflection of?  Is it some cultural trend that we should pay attention to?” 


      And interesting that the passing of Ruth Graham played differently in the media that the religious right lions.  I didn’t think that the media was unfavorable to “the lions,” but I thought Ruth Graham’s passing played out as an American loss.  Probably evidence of Billy’s (and Ruth’s by association) ability to remain disassociated with politics and singular in focus.


      And CS – I hope you will honestly answer Peter’s question.  Did you actually read the whole WC Reveal study?


      Wendi

    9. CS on Wed, December 19, 2007

      Peter:


      I read through the material produced on the official Reveal web pages and listened to Bill Hybels and Greg Hawkins.  And my point wasn’t directed at the “stalled and dissatisfied” groups, but to the other four categories in their “spiritual continuum”.  Bill and Greg said that their programs were very popular with the unsaved and people who “believe in Jesus,” but failed to support or produce people who were fully dedicated Christians.  That is what I cite as being the biggest problem with their programs.  The same programs they admitted were used by many churches, on which they spent millions of dollars, and countless man hours.—


      CS

    10. jimmy on Wed, December 19, 2007

      I agree with Eric.  The problems that New Life in CO have gone through in the past year are EPIC.

    11. Peter Hamm on Thu, December 20, 2007

      CS,


      I’ve also heard two presentations on the study, looked at the material on the web site, read through the REVEAL book, AND I am part of a church that is participating in the next leg of the study. I urge you to consider reading the book to understand it better.

    12. kent on Thu, December 20, 2007

      From my take, #1&6;are the beginnings of a new trend, whether or not this is one of the top stories for 2007 I don’t know.


      Elections start way too early for me. I am not paying attention for another wek at least.


      I wouldn’t place the passing of anyone in my top 10 stroies.


      The rest didn’t seem to be earth shaking to me. But I might have a different scale.  As far as the Reveal discussion goes, the information was helpful to and insightful to me in my church. I find Willow and Hybels willing to take risks and put themsevles out there. I may do some things differently but they have my undying respect. They are also much more effective than I am in any measurement platform.

    13. Brian on Thu, December 20, 2007

      #2 Might not be as high on the list if Christians would not argue with each other

    14. Camey on Thu, December 20, 2007

      Brian,


      I’m inclinced to agree with you.


      Merry Christmas all year long!


      Camey

    15. Jan on Thu, December 20, 2007

      I think the recent shootings at YWAM and New Life should be in the top 10.

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