Clarification
Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : April 5, 2005
I’ve irked some people with my previous post. In my post, I say that the examples offered by Willow Creek as they move towards multiculturalism will be worthless. That isn’t meant to say that they suck and they’re worthless. I’m not saying that at all.
My point is that their experiences
will be worthless because no one else can mirror their process. In
other words, the way they arrive at at multiethnicity will be
fundamentally unduplicateable. I am glad they are moving in the right
direction. Where they come from doesn’t destroy the good they can do
now. However, it is difficult to take them seriously as a guide in this
area, since they made the change after amassing great resources and
clout, and they made the change in such a way that only mega-churches
can duplicate their process.
So, my statement of their example being worthless is in regards to
their contribution to church systems implementation, not in regards to
their example being one worthy of emulation. Does that make sense? I tend to exaggerate and overstate, but I wanted to be clear about what I am overstating. I am saying that they won’t be a worthwhile guide for other churches in this area, not that they stink…though I do think they have their fair share of issues.
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Well, there was this guy in the New testament who liked to overstate things for effect, too…
For what it’s worth, though, I knew what you meant.
Oh, and I may have just stepped in it myself, too, with my own megachurch post. Oh, well…
pat k, who do you mean when you say a guy that overstated things for effect in the NT? I’m pretty sure you don’t mean Jesus, because my impression is that Jesus always said exactly what he meant. Do you mean Paul?
Wow - I just saw this. Sorry I didn’t respond earlier.
Yes - I meant Jesus. Obviously.
Jesus uses hyperbole alot. Not to say that Jesus uses hyperbole has often led people to concluded that he didn’t really mean alot of things that he said…like his statements about wealth, the kingdom, etc. HOwever, even when he uses hyperbole, it is obvious that he’s stating it strongly to make his point abundantly clear.