Bill Gates on Church Attendance
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, June 14, 2005
- Viewed 742
- (49) comments so far
Seems like a common criticism. Kind of goes along with the 'church is boring'; 'I don't get anything out of church' mindset that many non-Christians feel about the church.
So what is the church and it's believers to do to reach people who think like Bill Gates?
Many churches have done a great job at making church relevant, interesting, and applicable to conditions that unsaved (yes, sinners) are going through; only to be criticized by other Christians for guess what... being relevant and watering down the message.
Many churches have concentrated on meeting felt needs: more topical messages; trying to relate to real-life issues that people are having in today's society. Find a need and fill it; only to be criticized by other Christians for being humanistic, centering on man's needs and not Christ.
FOR YOUR INPUT: So my question... how would you approach Bill Gates? If you're church is not being relevant or meeting felt-needs of unbelievers, how would you get past his criticism that your church is not worth his time? How do you convince someone who has everything (earthly speaking) that he needs Christ?
In an interview with TIME magazine, Bill Gates is quoted as saying: "Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning." Of course, by "Sunday Morning" he’s talking about a church service. To Bill, church and religion are not worth one hour of his time. It’s just good time management.
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Tom James on Tue, June 14, 2005
I’d approach Gates with the simple gospel message that it is not about my needs or his needs but all about God. I’d begin with Romans 3:23 and ask him if that verse had any validity with his life. Then assuming his answer was positive we’d walk through the gospel presentation with him and confront him with the truth that he (and all humanity) need a Savior and that Savior’s name is Jesus.
I’d not approach him about “church” because what we’d be talking about is not a religion but rather a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I think many pastors get hung up in their presentation by stressing the religion / denomination / church too much and not talking enough about knowing Jesus personally.
BeHim on Tue, June 14, 2005
I would ask Bill if he has rules in his corporation that he expects his corporate managers to uphold and follow?
What would you do if your corporate managers broke your rules every day and taught others how to do it?
What if you couldn’t fire them but had to suffer through it. What would you do?
We’ve all heard the statement or something like it “as long as you live under my roof, you live by my rules”.
Why do we consider God to be any different?
Is is right or wrong for us to institute rules to items and issues we hold dear? Is it wrong for God to require His creation to live by and obey His rules?
BeHim on Tue, June 14, 2005
Now the question Bill, is what are God’s rules and are we breaking them?
And as important (more so even), what is the consequence for breaking them?
Just as there would be consequences for your managers breaking the rules, there are consequences for you and I breaking God’s rules.
BeHim on Tue, June 14, 2005
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, meaning eternal seperation from God in a place commonly known as hell.
I’m sure you would agree, the consequences for disobeying God are much greater consequences than that of what you managers would face. But the concept is the same.
God has requirements as do you.
It’s your company and you expect/demand compliance to your rules and regulations.
The same is true for God, It is His creation and He demands/expects compliance to His rules and regulations.
But here is the kicker Bill. None of us… not one man, in all of mankind can comply.
The Bible says “there is none righteous, not one”
So… we in the end are ALL lawbreakers. Enemies of God. Haters of rules and regulations (especially those that disagree with what we think or want).
Only God could make a way for you and I to be made right with Him. Only God could not only comply to the rules and regulations but found them in Truth so as to solidify their condemnation. Meaning, you can be set free from law and condemnation through Jesus the Christ, as His Blood fulfills the requirements of judgement and passes over those who are covered by His Blood.
Nothing on earth is like it. We couldn’t do anything to redeem the rebellious managers… all we could do is condemn them all the more. BUT GOD can set them and you free from Condemnation.
There are literally hundreds of Scriptural requirements for a person to go to heaven and Jesus fulfilled them all, none greater than dying on the Cross (a requirement) and raising from the dead (another requirement) and much like raising the dinosaurs from the dead in Jurrasic Park with the blood from a misquito, so we too will be raised from eternal death by The Perfect and Eternal Blood of Jesus Christ.
How? We have to ackowledge we are lawbreakers. We have disobeyed and rebelled against God. We must repent (turn away) and decide to longer want, willingly to rebell against God but rather do as He wishes.
Believe in Jesus Christ by learning all that He has done for you and I and confirm your faith in Him.
Make Him LORD of your life. As a King would be, make Him commander and chief of your life. Obey Him. Follow Him.
That’s what I would say to Bill, or something like that.
Al on Tue, June 14, 2005
Why should I care what Bill thinks? If Bill has no concern for his mortal soul, should I spend nights worrying about changing the Gospel so he finds it relevant?
I am reminded of the young rich man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life, after Jesus gave it to him straight, he walk away… notice this – Jesus didn’t run after him and change his demands so the young man would be his disciple. The scriptures also record that Jesus loved him, yet he did not diminish his demands to suit his audience.
I fear our attempt to make the gospel relevant is nothing more then making the gospel less relevant and life altering.
Maybe the reason Bill sees the church as a waist of time, is because of the people coming out of the church are the same as when they went in! He is a man who traffics in production and change – maybe he sees no real change in those who go to church?
IMHO
Mark Copeland on Tue, June 14, 2005
“The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him.” So it would surprise me if Gates found religion/church worth the investment. A person of his genius and business accumen wouldn’t be occupied w/ foolishness.
It interests me that our first assumption when the church is characterized as boring by the unchurched is we are doing something wrong. I contend the issue is w/ the unbeliever.
Bill Gates will be reached the way most people are - a loving relationship w/ a follower of Christ who shares the good news w/ him. Then the Spirit opens his understanding to accept Christ - voila!
In my experience, things religious take on new meaning from that point on. I disliked church and religious people until I became a Christ follower. Funny how differently I view those things now.
Whether our Sunday Worship is boring or meaningful is a different question.
Mark
Todd Rhoades on Tue, June 14, 2005
Al said:
“Why should I care what Bill thinks? If Bill has no concern for his mortal soul, should I spend nights worrying about changing the Gospel so he finds it relevant?”
I never said changing the gospel. Methods maybe. The message, never.
Todd
Rick on Tue, June 14, 2005
Given the opportunity to speak with him I would ask him if he’s found “true” unconditional acceptance and love, purpose and meaning in life.
If he said “yes” I would say ‘great’ and ask him, in what, he had found them?
then I would listen for the moment he would admit he really hadn’t found “true” unconditional acceptance & love, purpose and meaning.
If he said “no” I would say ‘great’ and tell Him about the one in whom I’ve found them.
BeHim on Tue, June 14, 2005
I can’t believe what I’m reading. When the masses were reached through Rick and Joel, everybody was on board, now asked what would you say to an unbeliever nobody presents The Gospel???
So my question… how would you approach Bill Gates? If you’re church is not being relevant or meeting felt-needs of unbelievers, how would you get past his criticism that your church is not worth his time? How do you convince someone who has everything (earthly speaking) that he needs Christ?
Ricky on Tue, June 14, 2005
Quote:
“Kind of goes along with the ‘church is boring’; ‘I don’t get anything out of church’ mindset that many non-Christians feel about the church.”
Like many “non-Christians feel about the church?” I think you can add quite a large number of believers who share that same mindset.
The question that should be asked is “Why is the church failing to impact society?” Answer: Because it looks too much like society, in its structures (i.e., business model) and its disrespect of its “employees” (i.e., congregation).
Gates sees only corporations and so when he looks at what is wrongly called “church,” he sees another corporation, with its politics, infighting and lack of appeal. Why would he want to go and be a part of something he engages in every day?
Quote:
“So what is the church and it’s believers to do to reach people who think like Bill Gates?”
Live in such a different way, the way that Jesus told His disciples to live, like we REALLY do love one another and defer to one another and serve one another and give to one another (not an organization) and…
How was the First Century Church able to make the impact it did throughout the known world? By living so differently, so oddly, so like “this is not my home,” that it caught the attention of those in the world, drawing them to Christ.
Get the picture?
Ricky on Tue, June 14, 2005
Todd asks:
“So my question… how would you approach Bill Gates? If you’re church is not being relevant or meeting felt-needs of unbelievers, how would you get past his criticism that your church is not worth his time? How do you convince someone who has everything (earthly speaking) that he needs Christ?”
I would first approach him in order to befriend him and not look at him as a potential “notch in my belt,” which I think is the reason why many fail to impress their lost co-workers as it pertains to leading them to Christ.
Instead, by truly becoming intent on being his friend and living THE life before him (i.e., being “salt”), I’m convinced that that would open the door to discussions as to what is fulfilling in life. It would be this discussion that would then open the door for Gates to possibly see that all of the money he has doesn’t do anything to quench the deep hunger of his soul.
I would also agree with him as to his remarks about the “church,” which would hopefully foster a discussion as to what the Church really is (and it ain’t what Americans have made it!), and then to introduce him to people who gather under the Headship of Christ and let him experience what true church is.
The rest of totally up to the Holy Spirit.
Todd Rhoades on Tue, June 14, 2005
BeHim,
I don’t have all the answers. (That’s why I pose so many questions). But I use Bill Gates as an example because there are literally millions like him. They have all they need. They find Christianity totally irrelevent. And they’re totally self dependant, so much so that they’ve never given Christ a second thought.
These people will not get saved in your average church, cause they will never step in the door because of their preconceptions.
And they won’t listen to strangers that try to push religion on them, because there is no relationship. no friendship. no trust.
Here’s what I think is a great scenario… at least it’s what I see happening the most:
1. Of course we can’t leave out the work of the Holy Spirit who draws individuals to Himself. This is something that noone’s mentioned yet. That’s imperative.
2. There has to be a Christian somewhere who takes time to invest in the Bill Gate’s of the world. Show them that they don’t really have it all. Model the love and the joy and the peace that Jesus has provided in their life so that the person will, sooner or later, take notice. This can be done in the workplace, at the family reunion, at the ballpark or at the Y.
(I think we’d both be together up to this point).
3. I think the church can have a positive effect in winning this person to Christ as well. That’s I think where the relevance comes in. After the one-on-one relationship is there and there is an element of trust; all of a sudden there is a connection that can be made between this person and Christ and the church. Actual conversion might happen one-on-one in evangelism; or it might happen at a weekend service of a church. In this way, the church can come along side the person in the marketplace and assist in moving the person closer to Christ and to become a Christian.
It’s late (and I’m tired) but that’s how I would see it working. (Of course, God could cause Bill Gates to wake up cold out of his sleep and repent!)
Todd
Ricky on Tue, June 14, 2005
Todd said:
“They find Christianity totally irrelevent.”
Todd, it’s because we’ve confused Christianity with “churchianity.” And because we’re confused as to what it means to live a discipled life, how can the lost find the way?
Christianity and churchianity will not save anyone. Only Jesus Christ can. Living that way (it requires that we die) is the only way that people will see Jesus in us and when He is lifted up in our lives, not our words, then He will draw men to Himself.
Todd Rhoades on Tue, June 14, 2005
Ricky said,
“I would first approach him in order to befriend him and not look at him as a potential “notch in my belt,” which I think is the reason why many fail to impress their lost co-workers as it pertains to leading them to Christ. Instead, by truly becoming intent on being his friend and living THE life before him (i.e., being “salt”), I’m convinced that that would open the door to discussions as to what is fulfilling in life.”
Absolutely, Ricky. (Hey, for once we agree!) I think relationship is key.
Todd
tlange on Tue, June 14, 2005
Prove to him that it is a beneficial use of time versus his opinion of it being a waste of time.. What about the verses that talk about “If a man shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul” Gates has achieved a lot in the world’s perspective, but he is spiritually bankrupt!
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