The mirrors thing works at one of our (many) Mexican restaurants.  I always think I’m in a crowd of hundreds (translated that to thousands in the church) when I’m just looking at my neighbors twice.

It’s all about the appearances, I guess.

JOB,

Wow… you’re on to me.

If Rick Warren combined services and took out chairs and said he was growing, I’d write about it.

If Granger put mirrors up on the wall to make it look like there were more people (when there weren’t), I would blog about it.

And if Andy Stanley divorced his wife, then asked her to come back to speak once a month to help pump attendance, I’d bargain to say that I’d write about that here too.

There was nothing theologically discerning about this post.  You’re the one, JOB, who brought up anything about ‘camps’ and theological discernment.

No, JOB, you don’t really get me at all.  If you read further here at MMI; you’ll find that I don’t shy away from talking and writing about things that I think need to be written about.

You’ll notice:  I didn’t call Randy White a heretic; or any other number of names that many other websites use.

Read on, my friend.  Sorry… but on second thought… you really DON’T get me. 

Leonard,
I don’t recall Jesus saying that?

---"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
---"Woe unto you, ye blind guides....”
---"Ye fools and blind....”
---”...ye are like unto whited sepulchers....”
---"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers....”
fishon

If you add some ‘smoke’ with those mirrors, then you will have a new definition of “smoke and mirrors”!  A made for TV soap opera!

Forgive me for this shallow response, but I am still trying to figure what holds the roof up at Church Without Walls.

1.  Blocking your internet broadcast will only make “lazy Christians” turn to another broadcast.  Besides, not everyone that watches on t.v. or Internet is a lazy Christian.  Some may be seekers or the truly sick and shut-in.  I’d reconsider this move if I were him (not that I’m advocating his ministry--which I’m NOT!).

2.  The strain of preaching twice??  That’s what sabbaticals are for.

3.  He wants the people’s focus to be on Christ and not him, yet his sermon texts (or at least the one mentioned in the article) point to him and his troubles.  Little hard to focus on Jesus when every sermon points to self.

4.  Kudos to the former members who chose not to comment but rather “preferred to move on”.  That’s best.  5.  Paula preaching there once a month??  If they can get along well enough for her to be in his pulpit, why couldn’t they salvage their marriage?  Just another dysfunctional relationship flaunted before the Church that will make it easier for people to get a divorce and just go on as if everything’s okay.

This was a very interesting article.  However, it just reinforced my frustration as a part time staff pastor and a believer, that we’re so busy DOING church, that we aren’t HAVING church.  I’m glad that Without Walls is doing well, but I have to say that is a commentary on the congregation, as much as it is on the pastor.  My sister’s church recently removed their pastor as the result of an extra-marital affair.  Are they hurt and disappointed?  Sure.  But the core is strong and they are all still together.  The church should be about the people in it, more than the person leading it!

My first response was “Sick.”

Really, this is a very unhealthy group in my opinion.

I can’t even imagine what it must be like to lose a child to cancer; nor can I imagine the heartbreak of divorce. I have no idea what’s happening with the loan - who is right and who is wrong (always two sides to every story!) - but I do know that grief and loss brings a change of heart - I lost my sister to cancer this year, and I am sure that I am not the same - I am wounded, hurt, and sad. I will pray that your grief will be softened, by the forgiveness you will show to others through the power of the name you preach for - Jesus. He’s the only one who can help.