STUDY REPORTS ON TOP 100 LARGEST AND FASTEST-GROWING CHURCHES

Christian e-tailing ^ | May 3, 2004 | None named

[Quix]

No doubt it is funny.

AND, GOD

is sometimes VERY satirically, bitingly, mockingly funny in the Old Testament.

HOWEVER, HE'S THE BOSS.

AND, HE DECLARES THAT MOCKERS are not at all in His favor.

We'd best be VERY, VERY, VERY SURE that God is instructing us to speak for Him if we dare to take on a mocking stance.

And even for Him, it seems to be a very, very rare thing reserved for some exceedingly evil and arrogant characters.

[ladyinred]

Dr. Gene Scott, IIRC…

LOL! One of the poorest excuses for a minister around, but one heck of a comedian! (and a huckster!)

[ahadams2]

fastest contracting church? That's difficult to say those most likely to qualify all fudge their figures. My best guess would the the UCC (United Churches of Christ, otherwise known in some conservative circles as Unitarians Considering Christ).

[ladyinred]

While I watch Arnold Murray often, you have to know he is into replacement theology big time. He only eludes to it on his show, and if you pay attention you will figure out whom he is calling the "kenites." He believes they are the actual seed of Satan from the garden of Eden. Not my cup of tea, but he does have good knowledge of scriptures and is a kick to watch as long as you don't get caught up in his real beliefs.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


Quix,


Actually, some folks have speculated that the entire "Word of Faith" whoop-la was an Oral Roberts -- Robert Tilton -- Kenneth Hagan -- Charles Green (New Orlean's Word of Faith TEMPLE) secret-handshake society constructed to maximize "legal" financial income under a legitimate legal entity.


That's all I'll say ... expect that it's very interesting to discover that "your" local church might actually be a "corporation" created in Maryland, with property in Hawaii (of all places, LOL) ...


Did I suggest that you visit "Word of Faith Christian Fellowship" (or whatever they've changed their name to by 2004) ...



Patton@Bastogne



.

[ladyinred]

Joyce Meyer has thankfully renounced her prosperity teaching past.

[SerpentDove]

Two others who are the real deal, not in it for the money: (Click for audio)

Adrian Rogers

and my pastor...

Ed Young

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

I'm willing to take my chances with the Tilton video. Bobby set himself up with his histrionic, fraudulent productions.

[ladyinred]

Did you get your name from Dr. Gene Scott btw? He calls everyone that, at least he used to! LOL

Tilton is a trip isn't he? I can't imagine why anyone would still send him money, but they do!

[lonestar]

Many people don't like these "mega-churches", but the fact is, sheep go where they're fed.

When flooding and tornados hit Houston several years ago, Lakewood Church within hours was feeding and housing people. By the next day they had a tent set up, including veternarians, for animals that had been found injured or homeless.

Meanwhile at City Hall, they were still discussing what to do several days later.

[SerpentDove]

The Tilton video (or at least, ONE version):

WARNING: CLICK HERE FOR POTTY HUMOR(Then click the title)...

[SerpentDove]

For link to Tilton video, see post #71. Guaranteed side-splitter.

[Quix]

Oh,

I think the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) churches are shrinking pretty fast. And they were warned that they would if they didn't start respecting The Lord's priorities instead of RELIGIOUS doctrines of man; running roughshod over humble, devoted, Biblically loving missionaries; overgiven to pride and arrogance and denying Holy Spirit a shred of wiggle room to operate in.

One man (a committee chairman) decided to defy a stern personal warning and died of a brain anyeurism within 30 days of the warning.

If my sources are right, sounds like they are setting themselves up for more Heavenly discipline. But they will not be alone. There are congregations in every denomination which are MUCH MORE INTO RELIGION than into RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. God is increasingly close to lowering the boom on such leaders and groups wholesale. He'll change those seriously wanting to go on with Him. The rest are likely to be tossed on the pruned limb fire.

Some Churches of Christ set themselves up similarly though others are wonderful centers of authentic spirituality. But in general, it's the dead, staid, exceedingly traditional and fossilized groups which are shrinking the fastest.

[anncoulteriscool]

****Enough to make Benny Hinn (not to be confused with Benny Hill) proud.****

I'd rather listen to Benny Hill. LOL!

[Quix]

I just don't believe that.

I've listened to 100's of hours worth of Hagin's tapes. He was authentic. He had some rarely spoken of outs which he noted very briefly in passing. But his rise from his heart trouble death bed as a youth to the spiritual giant he became was authentic and his teachings and ministry were authentic.

Now the 2nd generation out--including his son--as far as I could tell 24 years ago--seem to have either become arrogant or arrogant AND jumped off the cliff with Hagin Sr's teachings.

But Hagin Sr's teaching if you listened carefully and didn't try to read too much between the lines--was mostly VERY STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BIBLE. If you argued too much with it, you ended up arguing with the Bible. And, I think Copeland has stuck pretty close to The Bible. But the rest of Hagin's disciples . . . I don't have a lot of confidence in.

AND, THE BIBLE

DOES SAY--I WOULD THAT YOU PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH

EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.

THAT'S A BIG CAVEAT. But it

IS

THE BIBLE.

AND, I believe, though they do not, that God has exceptions. Hagin Sr acknowledged that in a story about the elderly prayer warrior who had cancer. Hagin prayed for her repeatedly. He knew her to be a great woman of great faith etc. She still died. Hagin asked God about her and God told him essentially that it was none of Hagin's business to not think of it or mention it ever again. And, Hagin refused to talk about it other than to tell the story once.

But all his 2nd level disciples would make one think such was NEVER the case or if it was, it was because of a lack of faith. Hagin Sr knew it was not for lack of faith. But the 2nd level folks seem to deny that possibility AT ALL whether about healing or wealth vs suffering or whatever.

I think that's making of good Biblical principles into a formula or idol in their own right and God is not well pleased with that, at all, IMHO.

I think Oral Roberts originally started out of a good heart and earnestly sought to serve God. I think he eventually may have believed his own press reports too much and may have refused to listen to wise counsel and exhortation too much out of such pride.

[Quix]

Certainly your choice/right.

I do hope you bear in mind that choices tend to have consequences.

[mfccinsd]

LOL...that was my thought as I read it too. Got on the website to try and see what they were really trying to say, and it (www.outreachmagazine.com) says that it's more than 30 now exceeding 10,000 worshippers.

THE EXPONENTIAL CHURCH
Twenty years ago American mega-churches (more than 2,000 in attendance) numbered just over two dozen. Today, they exceed more than 830, with more than 30 now exceeding 10,000 worshippers—launching a whole new category we call the “giga-church.” This growing number of large churches is also indicative of a shift in church attendance. Today, fully 3 million church attendees go to a mega-church vs. 897,000 only 10 years ago. Thirty-five of these churches are less than a decade old. The landscape of the Christian church is changing faster than at any other point in American history."

[Quix]

Glad to hear it. I hadn't heard of that.

Doesn't surprise me.

Billy Graham's org didn't want it widely known--but they eventually ended up working primarily through the Assemblies of God when they went into a locale--they tried to work through any church that would cooperate with them but they tended to put their initial and greatest weight through the A of G because they found from hard experience that such earnest believers as TENDED to be in such A of G churches would pray more and GET THE WORK DONE promptly, responsibly, caringly.

[BurbankKarl]

*sigh*

LOS ANGELES – The 100-member Hollywood Lutheran Church has installed a sexually active gay man as its pastor, defying the church's national leadership, which ordains gays and lesbians as ministers but only if they are celibate

Sunday's installation of the Rev. Daniel M. Hooper was met with cheers and applause by parishioners but was not recognized by the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

"This congregation has welcomed me and has welcomed my partner," Hooper said to more than 100 supporters who attended the ceremony. "This congregation has torn down the barriers and asked other Lutheran churches to do the same."

Hooper, 56, said he has been in a committed non-celibate relationship with his partner, Carl Hunter, for nearly 28 years.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with 10,700 affiliated churches and approximately 5 million members, could expel the Hollywood congregation. But Hooper said he's hopeful the move will prompt the nation's fifth-largest Protestant congregation to recognize the ordination of sexually active gay ministers.

Officials with the national organization did not attend Sunday's ceremony.

The Hollywood congregation is not the first Lutheran church in Southern California to install a sexually active homosexual as a pastor. The Rev. Jennifer Mason, a 41-year-old lesbian, was installed last month as pastor of the Central City Lutheran Church in San Bernardino.

Both Hooper and Mason had been ordained as ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but were removed after the national organization learned both were in committed same-sex relationships.

[ahadams2]

hmm, interesting - as far as I know, nationwide, WELS is holding firm.

Question: are you Lutheran or from a Lutheran background? In other words are you familiar with Lutheran theology?