We had the News and Review, a very liberal and agenda drivne news mag visit us without knowing.  They visited 80+ churches in our area and what they said of us and the family of churches we are a part of was very affirming to our mission.  They also asked if we would be willing to be a resource for their readers.  The owner/editor of the news mag said he had 380,000 readers and was afraid they would die alone.  In our meeting he stated that of the 80 or so churches he visited, only the Bayside churches were ones he actually felt he coud reccomend to his readership.  That was cool.

I found it interesting that the author did not share any personal opinion regarding the church visit.  “Just the facts ma’am”.  I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it is interesting.

Actually had it happen in my church about six years ago.  Local paper was sending a person to visit churches and write about it.  I discovered it one day about two months after the visit.  It was a favorable article and even got the point of the sermon right.

Oh.... I almost forgot.. Chances are the reporter might have been confused at what type of church they were actually at..

I’ll leave it at that…

The far more liberal Seattle Stranger conducted a far less objective investigation in the far less churched Seattle last month. 31 writers visited 31 places of worship in one weekend. They provide some very eye opening perspectives of church from those who are admittedly hostile to Christianity.

What was disturbing to me was to read the unkind comments about a newspaper doing what a newspaper is supposed to do--give information. (my rant could be about how news is scewed by the media, but let’s leave it at what their job is supposed to be: printing accurate information and letting the reader make the decision!)

Anyway, we don’t know the background of the person visiting the church to report.  I can see this report being of interest to someone who might be considering visiting a church and being uncertain about what it is like.

And then we have several twits impugn the writer (on the kansas.com forums) for not being more religious!

No wonder the world has decided it doesn’t want or need the church! No wonder we are seen as a bunch of unloving, small minded, people who are against anything.

My pastor used to say, “Why are we surprised when the world doesn’t act like Christ?  They have never been Christians, but we HAVE been sinners.” In other words, we should understand their lack of understanding and lostness....instead we rail at the darkness instead of bringing light and love!

But I am hurt (and angered) by those who say they have the light and instead still curse those in darkness instead of bringing the light and dispelling the darkness.

Unfortunately, these are dark days in many churches.  God help us.