Follow the money!!!!

I dunno - it might be a great outreach to the rest of the Laguna community. I’m sure there are people there who don’t attend church, and maybe they’ll be more inclined to do so if there’s a good church right in their community. It might even be more appealing to certain of them who are caught in that gated-community-snobbery mentality (and hopefully help free them from it).

I can’t help but wonder if launching this new site was God’s will or just an idea that seemed to make sense on paper. I don’t even pretend to know Saddleback’s decision-making process, but I have no doubt that they prayed about the new site. Still, it’s hard to believe that God saw this controversy and built in “attendee ceiling” coming and still gave His approval for the launch. A.W. Tozer said, “When it’s of God, it flows.” From what I can tell, the flow has taken a major hit here.

Does this sound like something Jesus would do?  Staring a new site with built-in barriers seems counter-intuitive for followers of a man who died to break down barriers between slave/free, jew/greek, male/female...can we add rich/poor?  If the “media is the message” can we also say that the church growth “method is the message” as well?  I have no problems with Saddleback and this seems like a misunderstanding, but I did stop to think!

Although I do not have established weekly services, I conduct services numerous times a year in a private enclave where the attendance is typically marginal or unchurched believers and unbelievers.  It’s outreach get a grip!  If no one from the outside ever gets in, those inside may be reached.

However, facilities like this allow people through their gates all the time invited by residents, but not actually escorted.  No doubt that is what will happen here also, if your name is on the list you’ll get in.

Of course the management is going to issue a statement saying outsiders aren’t allowed without an invitation, that’s what everyone who lives there pays them to do, protect their privacy!

The first clue that this is a GOOD idea should be that the media thinks it’s bad…

It is possible that (in their attempt to win people wherever possible to Christ and to help them connect to the Body) Rick and team didn’t think this one out fully, but I remain encouraged by their willingness to reach out when and where others may not.  I guess a half-baked idea that will reach people for Christ is better than a fully-baked one that never gets off the ground (gets killed in the paralysis of analysis stage) or never reaches a new person at all.

Beyond that, I don’t think many people would object to ‘limited circles’ of ministry that serve only singles, only seniors, only teens, only women, only men, only the addicted, or only the incarcerated.  Happens all the time.

“Blind sighted” is actually blindsided.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blindsided

SDS,

Thanks for pointing out stupidity.  I always enjoy it when people do that.

Try to be nicer or I’ll pull an Ezekiel on you!

Todd

Perhaps a slogan for this venue:
the purpose driven life: it’s not about you...(especially if you want to come to the laguna woods...)

Sgillesp,

Educate us and tell us what is wrong with Christians living in a gated community?  What’s behind your motive for suggesting that somehow it’s not right? 

Posted by Sgillesp
Monday, April 06, 2009 at 1:06 PM

I suppose I would be considered harsh if I were to ask what a bunch of Christians are doing LIVING in a gated community in the first place?

Thanks Allen White - Living in the Midwest I had no idea where Laguna Woods Village was… but when you said it is the new name for Leisure World, I knew exactly.  My step-mother-in-law lives there.  And I have gotten past the gate by her simply giving them my name.  As a minister to the 60+ generation, I am delighted that Saddleback is still trying to “win one more to Jesus.” And for those who asked why a Christian would live there, security is certainly the main reason, along with companionship with others of similar life experiences and interests.  It is a wonderful place for her to live.

Growing up, both sets of my grandparents lived in very affluent communities.  One pair lived in a wealthy part of town and went to church in what I would call a modest, normal church.  The other pair lived amongst gated communities and went to a, “rich,” church that was in that area.  And I found two totally different mindsets with how they acted and what I saw, with the former being more humble and servant-minded, and the other I saw as being more about money and status.

So, when I hear a story such as this, my natural response would be to say, “that is so money- and status-based that it is ridiculous.” But, I can’t do that anymore, because that would be wrong.  People with money and without money should be treated equally.  If someone is wealthy and can help God’s kingdom, praise God.  If someone is poor and needs help from their church members, praise God.  And it took me a long while to come to that point.  Treat everyone with the same mind of Christ.

All of that said, if what Chris said in the first comment was true, and that the churches would be only 10 minutes away, then it does seem like they are catering to the wealthy, which does ring an alarm in my head.  It seems like there’s not an equality of treatment.  Is a 10 minute drive really that harsh?  Or is it pandering to the wealthy?

--
CS