Greg Laurie 07.
I finally saw a poster upclose which said the theme was something like "making God known." But, I've only seen bumper stickers bearing the name "Greg Laurie." Who is it that needs knowing? God or Greg? This seems to be another place for people who are already "christian" to get together and talk about being MORE Christian than everyone else who doesn't attend. I think I'll pass on the piety parade.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
yeah, i thought that was weird, myself. I've been giving them the benefit of the doubt if only because I believe God can work wonders in any situation, but i didn't have any interest in attending, either. Though i think the point (or at least, this is what i was told) was to bring non-Christians so they could hear the gospel...problem is that i'm pretty sure none of my non-believer friends would have been interested in attending a Christian rally. maybe that's just my generation, though. who knows.
yeh, Apex was def. flooded with his stuff, i know he's considered like the younger, hip billy graham, but you are spot on about what it seems to be. Ali and I got so sick of seeing his stuff everywhere, yet i'm thinking, "this is targeted at youth, if i was a youth and a friend came up to me and said, 'hey u wanna come with me and my youth group to hear some guy talk about salvation?' then there's no way in this world i would want to give up a weekend as a busy teenager to hear a guy talk. Yes there might be concerts, and yes I've seen the bumper stickers, but really, is it that big a deal?"
he's adopted the crusade style of evangelism and speaking, but unfortunately, i think he's missed the point that the "come to me and let me help you get saved" mentality is no longer as an effective way to reach people as it (perhaps) once was!?! So if the "come to me" mentality is not effective with reaching youth, then yes i think that you are right that it was a place where Christians could gather in force, let someone else do the evangelism for them (because they were never taught how being brought up on the "come to me, or bring them to this event and the 'minister' will get them saved" mentality), and then feel like they have done their part of fulfilling the great commission!!! (*simply shakes head!)
actually, almost all of your assumptions were hasty and incorrect, my friends. You all know me, and know that i am no fan of bandwagons or foolish modernist apologetics or poorly planned misunderstood presentations of the gospel...
but this 'crusade' for lack of a more culturally sensitive term was actually very well organized to connect persons with local churches and local communities of discipleship, thoroughly prayed over, and efficiently advertised (you all noticed, didn't you?).
i was JUST as cynical, if not more, about the whole thing until i spent significant time deciding whether this was something our church should be part of, and my decision was not hastily made. YES, there were plenty of things that could have been done differently/better (like the bumper stickers), but ultimately about 3000 people used this opportunity as a chance to make a public profession of their faith in the saving work of Jesus. our church has been able to follow up with about 50 of those people, and it's been great to hear their stories and help them find local churches to continue their journey.
but stay cynical... it's the better way to be in most cases :-)
Mr. Dave,
I just point out that that the term "crusade" is his own P.R. on this event: see http://www.harvest.org/crusades/
I believe he uses this terminology as referring to the Big Dawg's (Yes mr. B.G. himself) style of presentation and approach (also N&O articles of that week and interviews). Yes, cynical to a true postmodern is the only way to look at such a heavy-laden modern approach.
I too did much research into this event (websites, asking around, reading articles, etc..), but unlike you decided this was not something my church would benefit from! To each his own. Yes i realize that the "get them in and get them saved" approach does produce some results. but that ideology in and of itself is extremely rooted in a Modern mindset!
I agree that 3000+ people deciding to "get saved" is a remarkable #, however how many of those decisions are
1) going to last as true, life-changing decisions.
and
2) decisions of TRUE discipleship and the responsibility that comes along with that decision?
I give props to your church for following up on the 50 people that you can follow up on, but realistically how many churches and Christians will take a more postmodern approach and seek out these people to hear their stories and experiences that led them to deciding to make such a decision in the first place? How many churches will follow up with this and teach that a decision to "accept Christ" is simply a benchmark in the journey that one has already started, and still has a long way to go? unfortunately, in my experience, your church may be one of the few! (i mean that as a compliment to your church my friend!)
Understand, i am not cynical about the man and his message as much as I am about the approach taken. I for one was hoping that the Crusade approach was going to retire with the big man himself. Billy G. played his role extremely well in a modern society, and was undeniably influential to millions of people around the world! however, as we shift paradigms, i regretfully say that this approach to ministry in general is becoming less and less effective. It is my job to be cynical of modernity's influence on Christianity, and any approach henceforth, because the people that i am continually ministering to are themselves cynical to ALL of Christianity, no matter what paradigm it draws from because that is the postmodern nature.
again, not arguing the validity of you or your church's experience at that event, just clarifying location from which my view point emerges! again, I pray that your church's continuing relational follow-ups will produce even greater results in the individuals that that single event ever could!!!!
ps. i am always astounded by the use of numbers to gage the SUCCESS of a Christian "event".
From his own website: http://www.harvest.org/crusades/
Raleigh, NC Crusade:
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 41,500
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH: 2,471
I'm glad that numbers are the defining factor of success in the Christian institution!
i certainly believe that our perspectives are more similar than this particular event's discussion would have us appear... in fact, i agree with every position you've stated, and every observation you have made, both the explicit and the implicit!
i think you are completely accurate in saying that the purpose of your post (and the purpose of mine, though i didn't clarify so eloquently) is to clarify the context for your perspective.
as stated in my more brief comment, our church did decide to join in the pseudo-community of 250+ churches to 'support' and advertise the event. when i first heard about the opportunity, i decided to go to the regional meetings in order to find reasons why we shouldn't be involved, and why this event would not succeed in our area.
after conversing with several different people in the organization, and seeing in-depth the kind of vision they have for the events, 'crusade' is more of a misnomer than it would first appear. i think they keep that term because of its appeal to baby boomers... i really can't think of any other reasonable defense on their behalf :-(
contrary to appearances, the vision for this event was not a "get them in and get them saved" vision. as it was explained to me, in an honest dialogue with one of the coordinators, the vision was for persons in local churches to use the event only as a tool, as a means, to share the gospel with friends, neighbors, and relatives. there were bible study curricula available and regional prayer meetings in which church leaders were encouraged to challenge their church members to begin building relationships in their community before and after the crusade, and just use the event as a chance to talk about the gospel (evangelical) in a hopefully nonthreatening environment (as opposed to a church building).
you're right in questioning the "numbers" - both the mentality and the figure itself. and like i mentioned, the only ones i can speak for are the 50 or so with whom the elders at my church have had contact... i have no CLUE how many other churches actually did follow up, or even understand why it is necessary... but i do know that my church has taken the call to discipleship seriously, and these who have professed to take it seriously as well will at least have the opportunity to share their story with us. i'm trying REALLY hard to believe that we're not the only Triangle church that's doing this, though :-)
what astounds me, in a sad way, is the fact that out of 42k people there, there probably weren't more than 3k that had needed to hear the gospel that way anyway. i didn't get the impression that churches in the area were actually encouraging their members to bring non-Christians... almost everyone i spoke to in passing were just going for the concerts, and when i mentioned bringing people who needed to hear the gospel presented, most made faces or passed over it...
proof that on the whole, the methods used (crusading, rock concerts, sell-out arenas) were probably not consistent with the vision (sharing the gospel with those who might not have heard) and instead just made for a fun weekend for youth groups who can't afford concert tickets.
Interesting assessment at the end of your comments!I admire your bluntness in your last statement. IMHO, just more proof that "the old ways" of ministry are dying in the eyes of those we are trying to reach, quicker than we can convince people the need to depart from the old ways and be creative in new, and more importantly, EFFECTIVE ways of reaching people. I'm not saying that this "event" wasn't useful for people, I'm certain it was, however, when Christians talk numbers they forget to add up the number of people that they aren't effectively reaching!
Again, i am grateful for your church's attention to follow-up relationships. I know that in the church i was serving in at that time, follow-up would not have even crossed most people's mind (with the exception of those who would see it as solely the minister's job to do the follow up, and not the community's responsibility as a whole)!
Yeah, my parents listen to a Christian Radio Station here in Charlotte and I have to listen to that bastard Greg Laurie and his Harvest Crusade Mumbo- Jumbo. He is full of crap. I don't care for his bumper stickers at all.
Post a Comment