Rick Warren Statement

notofworks · #1 01-12-2010, 08:24 AM

"The church that is content with not growing is saying to the rest of the world “ 'You can go to hell.' ” –Rick Warren

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Scott Hutchinson · #2 01-12-2010, 08:31 AM

We should be concerned about growing in a local church situation,but what we should desire is for lost humanity to find Justification,not just to have numbers for numbers sake.The preaching of the cross should bring people in not seeker sensitive programs and such.We need the manifest presence of God to be in our services,so the Holy Spirit can do it's convicting work.

ChTatum · #3 01-12-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

We should be concerned about growing in a local church situation,but what we should desire is for lost humanity to find Justification,not just to have numbers for numbers sake.The preaching of the cross should bring people in not seeker sensitive programs and such.We need the manifest presence of God to be in our services,so the Holy Spirit can do it's convicting work.

The presence of God in our services (and no, we don't have enough of it) will bring people in.

Good post, Bro. Scott.

Praxeas · #4 01-12-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChTatum

The presence of God in our services (and no, we don't have enough of it) will bring people in.

Good post, Bro. Scott.

I disagree.

To begin with evangelism in the bible was always OUT THERE. Evangelism was not about inviting your friends and hoping for a move of the Holy Ghost and for the preacher to be "on"....in fact I think that is one reason why we don't have larger church growth.

Early Pentecostals in the last century regularly had street meetings where they witnessed, did a little preaching, sang some songs and passed out tracts.

I've been in church meetings with the move of the Spirit of God and visitors and seen many receive the Spirit (supposedly) but never return or just not receive anything at all and not return.

The Presence of God is important and actually more important to believers. Like in Acts 4 or 5 when they were refilled with the Spirit, it gave them more boldness, increased their faith. that is what the church needs and that is what the gifts are for mostly and what a church meeting is for mostly...so we can be empowered to go out and be witnesses

Scott Hutchinson · #5 01-12-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I disagree.

To begin with evangelism in the bible was always OUT THERE. Evangelism was not about inviting your friends and hoping for a move of the Holy Ghost and for the preacher to be "on"....in fact I think that is one reason why we don't have larger church growth.

Early Pentecostals in the last century regularly had street meetings where they witnessed, did a little preaching, sang some songs and passed out tracts.

I've been in church meetings with the move of the Spirit of God and visitors and seen many receive the Spirit (supposedly) but never return or just not receive anything at all and not return.

The Presence of God is important and actually more important to believers. Like in Acts 4 or 5 when they were refilled with the Spirit, it gave them more boldness, increased their faith. that is what the church needs and that is what the gifts are for mostly and what a church meeting is for mostly...so we can be empowered to go out and be witnesses

This is true as well and we do have a comission to fulfill.

Cindy · #6 01-12-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I disagree.

To begin with evangelism in the bible was always OUT THERE. Evangelism was not about inviting your friends and hoping for a move of the Holy Ghost and for the preacher to be "on"....in fact I think that is one reason why we don't have larger church growth.

Early Pentecostals in the last century regularly had street meetings where they witnessed, did a little preaching, sang some songs and passed out tracts.

I've been in church meetings with the move of the Spirit of God and visitors and seen many receive the Spirit (supposedly) but never return or just not receive anything at all and not return.

The Presence of God is important and actually more important to believers. Like in Acts 4 or 5 when they were refilled with the Spirit, it gave them more boldness, increased their faith. that is what the church needs and that is what the gifts are for mostly and what a church meeting is for mostly...so we can be empowered to go out and be witnesses

crakjak · #7 01-12-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks

“"The church that is content with not growing is saying to the rest of the world '“You can go to hell.' "” –Rick Warren

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Well said!! If the body of Christ is about His work in the earth, loving and caring, He will add to the body daily!!!

Setting in the four walls, doing our programs, rather than being in the field serving, is not what the body is called to do.

Scott Hutchinson · #8 01-12-2010, 08:45 AM

Churches can have numbers,but you just have numbers and not true Christians what do you have ? A big social club or something.

notofworks · #9 01-12-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Churches can have numbers,but you just have numbers and not true Christians what do you have ? A big social club or something.

Oh baloney. Let's ask a question here.....of the 40,000 members of Saddleback (the church Rick Warren founded and pastors), what's your wild guess of the percentage of "True Christians" among the 40,000. Just give a wild guess. Don't do the "I could never judge" malarkey, because you've pretty much already done that by insinuating many in his crowd may not be "true Christians." So go ahead...what percentage? Just guess.

Sam · #10 01-12-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks

Oh baloney. Let's ask a question here.....of the 40,000 members of Saddleback (the church Rick Warren founded and pastors), what's your wild guess of the percentage of "True Christians" among the 40,000. Just give a wild guess. Don't do the "I could never judge" malarkey, because you've pretty much already done that by insinuating many in his crowd may not be "true Christians." So go ahead...what percentage? Just guess.

I would have no idea.

Are there any reliable stats for the percentage of American Church members who are "True Christians"?

We would have a problem with a question like that here on AFF because we can't even decide among ourselves what a "True Christian" is.

Does Saddleback have "members"?
If so, does a person have to make a profession of faith before being accepted as a member.

The only church I was ever really a member of was a Baptist church in Union Grove, Wisconsin back in 1955. To become a member, I had to stand up in a public meeting (Wednesday night prayer meeting) and give my testimony. Then, anyone who wanted could ask me any question(s) they had. Afterward there was a vote by those present as to whether or not to accept me for membership and allow me to be baptized/immersed. If I remember correctly there were 4 of us who applied for membership that night. When the chance was given for anyone to question any of us, a deacon stood up and said, "I think their lives show that they are saved" (or something like that) so we were all voted in with no challenges.