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Posted on 05/01/2025 7:55:50 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Recalling a sober moment he had while at Cornerstone Church, Chan said he baptized a kid from a gang but that kid later left though he was quite involved in the church.
"One of my friends asked him, 'Hey, how come you're not at Cornerstone anymore?'
He said 'I didn't understand church. When I was baptized, I thought that was going to be being jumped into the gang where it's like 24/7 they're my family, because I didn't know it was just somewhere we attend on Sundays."
When Chan heard that, he said it made him sick.
"That makes me so sick that the gangs are a better picture of family than the church of Jesus Christ. I can't live with that. … We're going to do something different."
… Bestselling author Francis Chan recently exposed his heart to Facebook employees, detailing why he left the helm of his thriving megachurch in California…
(Excerpt) Read more at fromhousetohouse.org ...
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Megachurches = “industrial religion.”
This was a sobering article. A lot of what he says rings true, not just in “mega-churches,” but in much smaller congregations as well.
Boils down to money and can I post this on social media to look pious.
I think it’s a fair article, but I would definitely balance the article out by saying that we are all human and will never reach perfection on earth, and that goes for the church. Further, let’s be honest, the kids from gangs or the kid from the now ubiquitous broken home is new to the last generation or so it’s going to take some time to figure out how to better minister to these people.
There’s no need to make excuses for people or for the church, but it always strikes me that it smacks as pride to stand back, supposedly above the fray, and level criticism at the Church or at other Christians. As long as Christians and the Church are genuinely striving to be obedient to Jesus then grace should be easily extended. Let’s stop trying to find the speck in others.
This was 2017.
Agreed. Church cliques are ridiculous. Groups of middle-aged adults reliving their high school years. Visitors that are brought in from the community get referred to as “THOSE PEOPLE”. Disgusting. My wife and I went the home church route years ago and never looked back. All are welcome at the church we attend. We will even go out into the detached garage for more room if need be. The funds we raise are used to help the community, versus paying for shiny facilities and rock band equipment.
I go to a large church where I understand that I’m entirely on my own if I have any problems. The church’s role is to offer mental balance, stability, and encouragement. For parents, it’s a place to bring their kids to Sunday school.
I have a bible study in which I understand that I’m entirely on my own if I have any problems. Again the role of the bible study is to give mental balance, stability and encouragement.
I’ve been to many churches in many denominations. This model is pretty much the same everywhere.
I attend the church of Hipshot Percussion. Praise the Lord
The secret to mega-churches that succeed, IMO, is small groups. That is the “real” church, IMO.
Speak for yourself. I get prettier each and every day. Wiser, too.
What, you gave up the church St. Cecelia Posturepedic?
But it would seem that in a large church there ought to be some small groups with good people to build relationships with if you give them a try.
Mega-churches use small groups for fellowship.
Rick O Shay!
So many people who call themselves Christians lack the discernment that comes with the acceptance of the Holy Spirit when a Christian truly turns their life over to Christ. That discernment would enable them to see thru the lies told by the false teachers running these megachurches. I am glad to hear that even one person was able to obtain the level of discernment necessary to break free from one of Satan’s biggest churches.
Even in my small church there are cliques, but I found that Jesus’ solution is always best. I love those who are the cliquest the most, talking even more sweetly to them and listening to their smallest compalints.
After awhile, even there friends start to wonder about them.
The book of Proverbs is all about being a ‘worker bee’; not sure why modern churches push ‘dependency’ on the congregation. We should ALWAYS be willing to help a brother in need, but also excel in independent living.
It sounds like you have never needed anyone’s help at any church you have attended beyond fellowship and mental stability,instruction and encouragement.
That’s excellent.
I’m not blaming church leaders or anyone.
Chan’s point is that churches do not form blood brother bonds as do gangs. But he misses the second part. Gangs form those kinds of tight bonds because they commit crimes.
Now, an exception here is the Amish. They do give considerable real-world support to each other. But again. They have to because they are outside of the mainstream. They also inculcate a culture of hard work.
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