THE FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL CHURCHES (Saddleback Church - "Purpose Driven" - is No.1)

Virtueonline ^ | Aug 1 05 | Contributed by Dr. John N. Vaughan

[So Cal Rocket]

I expect the Rick Warren bashers will show up on this thread within 30 minutes.

[Bosco]

Just as an FYI... I'm going to be reading a new book titled "Why Men Hate Going To Church". Just got the notice that it's on reserve at the library and will pick it up tonight.

[PaulaB]

14% Southern Baptist

Proud part of this percentage....if the Devil has anything bad to say about...bring it..I'm ready!!!

[Millee]

Brooklyn Tabernacle, led by Jim and Carol Cymbala, had only 15-20 people attending when they arrived in 1972. The church was literally birthed out of a prayer meeting. Carol started a choir a year later with only nine people; today, the choir exceeds 250 members and is internationally famous.

I love this choir! Does anyone know if they ever go on tour? I have several of their cd's & would love to see them.

[Cecily]

Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint you.


http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/15_principal_errors_of_purpose_driven_life.htm

[So Cal Rocket]

OK, so I was 26 minutes off.

[A. Pole]

The author means by the "churches" THE CONGREGATIONS/PARISHES.
And interestingly enough no Catholic or Orthodox parishes are listed.

[TheBigB]

Southern Baptist bump! :o)

[k2blader]

Perhaps the Catholics can start their own list?

[Always Right]

Catholics excluded from the list?

[since1868]

bump for later.

[PaulaB]

Thanks B :)

[A. Pole]

Catholics excluded from the list?

"They are not Christian" :)

[rockthecasbah]

We need a Saddleback style church here in the Bay Area. Lots of lost souls here to harvest.

[wildcatf4f3]

Most influential church here is "Mechanical Repair shop of OH GOD! WHY IS THIS CAR SO HARD TO WORK ON? Why hast thou forsaken me?" ok ok i'm calming down now.......

[PaulaB]

***LOL***

[Zechariah_8_13]

Just as an FYI... I'm going to be reading a new book titled "Why Men Hate Going To Church"

IMO, because so much of "contemporary Christianity" has softened the image of God, of Jesus, and of men. Too much passivity. IMO, a result of the culture at large. I'd be interested to read the book. Who's the author?

[Always Right]

"They are not Christian" :)

As if all denominations don't have their own problems. I have never understood anti-Catholics.

[newgeezer]

THE FIFTY MOST INFLUENTIAL CHURCHES (Saddleback Church - "Purpose Driven" - is No.1)

. . .with the goal of ranking the nation's fastest growing churches and churches with more than 2,000 weekend attendance.

With a beginning like that, I wonder how hard it would be to pare the list down to represent some 30 or 40 churches to be avoided at all costs. ;)

I just read last week where Rick Warren is alleged to have written something to the effect that "doctrine doesn't matter" on page 34 of his Purpose Driven Church book. Or, it may have been the Purpose Driven Life. In either case, I plan to look it up soon. Sometimes, context is everything. We'll see.

On a related note, this past Saturday my dad mentioned that, while he hates the thought of going to church, he watches Robert Schuller (the Crystal Cathedral guy) once in a while. {{shudder}}