What is wrong with the Church Growth (CG) movement is that it is pragmatism. It defines what is good as that which works. It denies the power of God and relies on man-centered methods to increase numbers in the church. More are ...being brought into the visible church, but more are ~not~ being brought into the kingdom.
The gospel is not preached by CG for fear of making 'seekers' uncomfortable. CG dictates that we must make 'seekers' comfortable at all cost. There is no mention of Hell and punishment for sin. The only gospel CG teaches is 'God loves you.' That is the CG gospel message! Anything beyond that may make people uncomfortable and turn away 'seekers'.
You can invite your unchurched neighbors to a financial seminar at your church so that they will want to come Sunday morning to see video clips of movies, hear jokes, see inactments and hear a watered down message, but don't call this evangelism, or church for that matter. Without the gospel you do not have evangelism, or a true church.
The sinner, aka seeker, is only entertained and accepted in a group as he is. 'Unchurched Harry' is encouaraged to form attachments, join the softball team, teach, join committees etc. in order to get entrenched in the social club CG calls 'church'. In this way CG has only succeeded in increasing the number of goats in their assemblies.
According to the Church Growth Version (CGV) of the bible:
"I am a debtor to a target group. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to help those who are in my target group. For some may be ashamed of the gospel, and friendship is the bridge to becoming churched for everyone in my target group," (Ro. 1:14-16a, CGV)
or...
"How then shall they become churched if they do not believe God loves them? And how shall they believe He loves them when they have closed their mind? And how shall they have their minds opened without friends meeting felt needs? And how shall they meet felt needs unless they are sent? ... So then becoming churched comes by friendship, and friendship by meeting felt needs." (Ro. 10:12-17, CGV)
As you can see by that reductio ad absurdem, CG methods are contrary to scripture. Rather, "Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.'" (Jn. 6:26-27)
The gospel is not preached by CG for fear of making 'seekers' uncomfortable. CG dictates that we must make 'seekers' comfortable at all cost. There is no mention of Hell and punishment for sin. The only gospel CG teaches is 'God loves you.' That is the CG gospel message! Anything beyond that may make people uncomfortable and turn away 'seekers'.
You can invite your unchurched neighbors to a financial seminar at your church so that they will want to come Sunday morning to see video clips of movies, hear jokes, see inactments and hear a watered down message, but don't call this evangelism, or church for that matter. Without the gospel you do not have evangelism, or a true church.
The sinner, aka seeker, is only entertained and accepted in a group as he is. 'Unchurched Harry' is encouaraged to form attachments, join the softball team, teach, join committees etc. in order to get entrenched in the social club CG calls 'church'. In this way CG has only succeeded in increasing the number of goats in their assemblies.
According to the Church Growth Version (CGV) of the bible:
"I am a debtor to a target group. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to help those who are in my target group. For some may be ashamed of the gospel, and friendship is the bridge to becoming churched for everyone in my target group," (Ro. 1:14-16a, CGV)
or...
"How then shall they become churched if they do not believe God loves them? And how shall they believe He loves them when they have closed their mind? And how shall they have their minds opened without friends meeting felt needs? And how shall they meet felt needs unless they are sent? ... So then becoming churched comes by friendship, and friendship by meeting felt needs." (Ro. 10:12-17, CGV)
As you can see by that reductio ad absurdem, CG methods are contrary to scripture. Rather, "Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.'" (Jn. 6:26-27)
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