Free Republic

Want to fatten a church for slaughter? The steps are below. This is a true story. 1. Launch a “church for people who don’t like the church” with a dynamic leader with big ideas and self-help teaching. 2. Care less about biblical depth, discipleship, and leadership character than inspirational messages, excitement, and creativity. Make sure the success is built around the leader’s “brand” so that he and the church are largely synonymous. 3. See the place attract large crowds. 4. See the success go to the leader’s head. Make excuses and accommodations as his short temper, control issues, and lack...

The “seeker-friendly,” or “seeker-sensitive,” movement currently taking a host of evangelical churches by storm is an approach to evangelizing through application of the latest marketing techniques. Typically, it begins with a survey of the lost (referred to by a leading church in this trend as the “unchurched,” or “unchurched Harry and Mary”). This survey questions the unchurched about the things their nearby place of worship might offer that would motivate them to attend. Results of the questionnaire indicate areas of potential changes in the church’s operations and services that would be effective in order to attract the unchurched, keep them...

Pastor Andy Stanley is defending his approach to preaching amid questions from prominent evangelical leaders who contend his methods undermine the Bible's authority and pave the way for unbelief. In a lengthy article in Outreach magazine on Friday, the pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, responds to his critics and affirms that he believes in biblical inerrancy. What he is doing, he argues, is changing the angle from which he speaks to more effectively engage a post-Christian society, particularly millennials who have left the Church. Controversy arose in light of Stanley's recent sermon series wherein he argued...

NTEB has reported extensively on the growing Chrislam movement. Started by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, it has grown dramatically and now has infected many hundreds of churches and denominations all across America. A group called Faith Shared is now spearheading the move to merge Christianity with Islam, and in the process provoking the very judgment of God down upon us as a nation. The following is taken directly from their website: “Faith Shared asks houses of worship across the country to organize events involving clergy reading from each other’s sacred texts. An example would be a Christian Minister, Jewish...

This weekend, the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston along with Christian communities in Atlanta, Seattle, and Detroit will initiate a series of sermons that have been designed to produce an ecumenical reconciliation between Christianity and Islam. In addition to the sermons, the Sunday school lessons will center on the inspired teachings of the Prophet Mohammad. Qurans will be placed in the pews next to the Bibles. The concept of Chrislam, now embraced by such preachers as Rick Warren and Robert Schuller, appears to have emerged from a program on the meaning of “love your neighbor” at Grace Fellowship Church...

As a 17-year-old boy, I had looked for truth and answers in this world and found none. Then, to my own amazement, I found myself completely won over by the bold, unashamed witness of a group of committed Christians on my high school campus. People could have tried to be cool and win me over, but it would have never worked. I'd had enough of "cool" in the crazy home I was raised in to make me choke. I had pretty much seen it all, and nothing to me was lamer than people trying too hard to be cool. The...

Non-Christians are more receptive to the Gospel today than at any point in recent American history, according to one research team. Tue, Apr. 08, 2008 Posted: 15:19:18 PM EST Non-Christians are more receptive to the Gospel today than at any point in recent American history, according to one research team. "We are seeing a new level of curiosity among those who are seeking out religion – and we rejoice that people are willing to hear about Jesus," said Sam S. Rainer III, who heads Rainer Research. While Rainer said he finds the increased receptivity among non-believers encouraging, the problem lies...

Several Central Jersey churches are ushering in Holy Week — the week preceding Easter Sunday — with a variety of new and unusual programs, some of which will tap into entertainment value to plug parishioners into enlightenment.Concerts, plays and dinners are just a few of the programs on the Christian worship menu this week, along with inventive ways of pursuing prayer.Celebrate Recovery, the biblical-based 12-step program at Community Christian Chapel, 211 Route 206, Hillsborough, will follow its 7 p.m. meeting on Good Friday with a concert by Nashville-based Christian rock act Kathleen Carnali……The combined United Church of Christ/Presbyterian Church USA...

Easter Sunday is less than a week away and most churches have already laid out their strategies on how to reach the unchurched and non-believers during arguably the most important Christian holiday. Mon, Mar. 17, 2008 Posted: 09:44:22 AM EST Easter Sunday is less than a week away and most churches have already laid out their strategies on how to reach the unchurched and non-believers during arguably the most important Christian holiday. But in case a little help is still needed, C. Michael Johnson, president of Breakthrough Media, suggests 18 factors that can “really” impact a church or ministry’s Easter...

What people such as Bill Hybels and Rick Warren have done is created a genie they cannot put back into the bottle. Thousands of pastors have followed their methods of "do whatever it takes to attract the crowd" without ever considering how this waters down the message of sin and its consequences. These pastors now realize that the "cookie" that attracts the crowd must get bigger and better or the crowd will stop coming. Gimmicks such as a McDonald's theme service, using Christian mimes and comedy nights are a mockery to the house of God because they never challenge the...

Editor's note: Jay Bakker, son of former Praise The Lord leaders Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner, is minister of Revolution Church and subject of a new documentary series, "One Punk Under God," on Sundance Channel. Marc Brown is a Revolution staff member. NEW YORK (CNN) -- What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity. While the current state of Christianity might seem normal and business-as-usual...

Hordes of people will go to church today. But many will not go back until next Easter. To lure those casual worshipers into regular attendance, pastors have brainstormed some flashy approaches for today's services. In Cooper City, Flamingo Road Church will offer $10 Starbucks coupons to newcomers. At Spanish River Christian Church in Boca Raton, an elaborate stage show will transform the story of King Tut's death into a Christian parable, complete with three pyramids that revolve to become three crosses. Trinity International Church in Lake Worth will drop candy from a helicopter to waiting children .

<p>I have not seen this film (it has not yet been shown to the general public). I have seen the trailer and I have read many reviews, both by Christians (for and against) and in the media. Putting all those together, I want to enter into a question and answer session in an attempt to explore this issue.</p>