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    Bill Hybels Responds to “Reveal” Criticism

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    Go, Bill!

    You can watch a video of the interview here, or read some other commentary on this interview from Dave Ferguson or Tony Morgan.

    A couple of things for your input:

    1.  What did you think of Bill’s response?  Clear?  Will it have an impact?  Was it necessary?

    2.  It seems that much of the push-back seems to come initially from Christianity Today.  Is there a rub between CT and WC?  Or is CT just looking for a scoop to get more readers?  Any thoughts?

    A couple of weeks ago, Christianity Today ran an article entitled, "Willow Creek's Huge Shift" (subtitled Influential Mega Church Moves Away from Seeker Sensitive Services). Here's how the article started: “After modeling a seeker-sensitive approach to church growth for three decades, Willow Creek now plans to gear its weekend services toward mature believers seeking to grow their faith." Recently, Jim Millado sat down with Bill Hybels so that he could respond. It seems that from Bill's perspective, enough was enough, and it was time to set the record straight. Here are a few comments from Hybels on the situation (and on other reports that have come out from Reveal). You can also watch the video of the interview...



    "I think it was an unfortunate article that was written without a proper understanding of what we’re actually doing these days. I mean, we have had the same one sentence mission statement for 32 years. We’re trying to turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Christ. We have never been more committed to either side of that mission statement. Some of the changes we’re making right now around Willow are to increase our evangelistic effectiveness. One of our big three strategic plan initiatives right now is raising the risk level as we point people to faith in Christ."

    You might remember the first blog post that got all this controversy started was from Christianity Today's Out of Ur Blog. Their initial blog post was titled, "Willow Creek Repents". Hybels responded to that blog post as well: "I think every evangelical knows that’s kind of a loaded up term, and I think someone wanted to get some action on a blog, and I think it was very unfortunate and quite disingenuous to title the article that way. But such as it is, I will be the first to say we learn and grow at Willow. We make no apologies for wanting to get better at leading this church."

    Comments

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    1. Leonard Lee on Thu, June 12, 2008

      Wendi, it is not Friday try no to be so funny.

    2. JOB on Thu, June 12, 2008

      And if they have multiple services I could go to each service and be set for a month.  I would sell the knives on ebay.

    3. DanielR on Thu, June 12, 2008

      JOB, and from Leonard’s “antics” would make the assumption that he was not preaching the true gospel, or that he and his church is in any way unbiblical?

    4. JOB on Thu, June 12, 2008

      Daniel,


      If you’re going to hand out incentives to get people to church so you can share the Gospel with them, when you do so please don’t call it a “miracle” when attendance is high.  I was a youth pastor for awhile and the best attended events always had Pizza.   Jesus fed the five thousand after they listened to him all day.

    5. CS on Thu, June 12, 2008

      I’ll have to be honest and a little blunt here.  When I hear things like, “Come to our church because we’re giving away gas cards, Nintendo Wiis, or motorcycles,” I have to ask myself, “Is the Gospel of Christ not interesting or relevant enough to draw people in?”


      And to counter Leonard’s point that, “None of the arguments given hold water biblically,” again, I look to James 4:4 about bringing in worldly things and the enticement and lure of worldly things into the church to bring people.  I’m not talking about going and meeting people in the world with some of the knowledge of the world to reach them (Acts 17), I’m talking about bringing and incorporating those elements into our worship.


      —


      CS

    6. Wendi on Thu, June 12, 2008

      Ah, but in the Matt 15 feeding of 4000, Jesus had used the gimmick of healing (can’t call it a miracle since it was the incentive to get them to come to Him) to gather crowds for three days, requiring nothing of anyone before He healed them, not even evidence of faith or repentance.  Once His gimmick worked, THEN he multiplied the loaves and fishes.  Was it a miracle then JOB?  He didn’t make these guys and gals listen to Him for three days before feeding them.  In fact, He just sat on the hill to rest and the crowds started coming.  He didn’t even ask them to follow Him.  Wonder why not?


      I work for a para-church youth ministry and we have always believed that pizza is anointed food, created by God for ministry purposes. 


      And CS, nearly everything we have in church today would be worldly for the 1st century audience.  Owning buildings, having organs and sound systems, FT paid pastors, computers, e-mail, internet . . .   You have chosen which “worldly” things are acceptable.  If you’d done that simply for your own ministry that would be fine, but you are imposing you definition onto all of Christendom, and that my friend is sinful judging.


      This is comment 92.  We’re closing in on 100.


      Wendi

    7. Leonard Lee on Thu, June 12, 2008

      Wendi, you are correct.  Pizza is an anointed food but to much will make me too well rounded.  I am certain that some “worldly” things are only worldly to those who want them to be. 


      Notice all how poorly the use of James 4 was given here.  Completely out of context and not on point.  Just an argument for the sake of nitpicking.   Another reason to not engage with these guys.  Heaven forbid that hurting families get grace and help at church.  How worldly can you get?  We certainly know people who cannot get to church because of the high gas prices, cannot get to work and are struggling greatly.

    8. JOB on Thu, June 12, 2008

      Jesus didn’t want people following Him for the wrong reasons.  If you want to feel free to call them incentives.


      “26Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. “


      And how many times did He instruct those who He healed to tell no man?


      Leonard and Peter I know completely out of context.

    9. DanielR on Thu, June 12, 2008

      JOB, you’re right, Jesus did not want the people following Him for the wrong reasons, in John 6:27(NLT) He said “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”


      In this passage Jesus was talking to the mass of people, unbelievers who had sought Him out.  He was sensitive to the (felt) physical needs of the people and fed them, then He cautioned them not to follow him for what he could do to meet their physical needs, but rather for what he could do to meet their spiritual need (salvation).  I don’t know if I’d call the bread and fish “incentives” but it does sound like Jesus was “seeker-sensitive”.


      http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif

    10. Eric Joppa on Thu, June 12, 2008

      I’m the 100th comment! Wooo Hoooo!!!


      Not I have to make this count. After I am 100 that is.

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