The New Wave of Worship can Literally Swamp You
“Suppository preaching sure takes a lot out of me!”
The church pictured above is not Bill Hybels Willow Creek Community Church. His Willow Creek Association requests that for the greatest possible success that churches remove denominational names for their churches. His Willow Arts Conference in 2005 had workshops on Creative Arts Leadership, Technical Arts, Music and Worship, and Drama and Dance. Missing in action was anything related to expository preaching or teaching. Is anyone really surprised to learn that?
Willow Creek is somewhat noticeable in that it doesn’t have a cross on the outside of the building, or for that matter, on the inside either. No crucified life in sight here. Yet they do have four food courts just outside the sanctuary and a coffee bar. One has to have some caffeine in their systems so they don’t fall asleep during the sermon we suppose?
Many of these new churches have skate parks, surround sound audio systems, massive screens so those in the back can make out what’s happening up on stage, and even movie theaters. The under glass pastor in California even has a walk in-drive in church. Bishop Sheen, an infrequent guest once quipped, “We Catholics are not far behind you as we have a drive-in confessional that says toot and tell or go to hell”.
“They WIll heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables”- 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Instead of following what God says about preaching the word, they will follow their own desires much like the last verse in Judges declares- “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes”- Judges 21:25.
“Waiter? I think we have the wrong Bill here?”
Filed under: Bill Hybels
Rod France
Steve Lumbley
Boyd Miller
Darren Crane
Chuck Swanson
Phil Naessens
You know I just have to say here, Doyle Davidson claims that all of the other churches are not teaching anything truly scriptural. While I fear he may be right in reference to this church, I feel that I must point out that Doyle isn’t teaching the Scriptures either. Remember Matthew 7:14; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it;. If we walk upon the narrow path we must be careful not to stray too far to either extreme else we fall off into the abyss that swallows everthing that does not stay upon the path.
EDITORS NOTE: Or as I like to put it, the wilderness of sin lies on each side of the pathway of sanctification. The lure is always there. Some lures are not steep hills but easy paths. Rod France