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Megachurch Myths Revealed
Aug22007 Filed under: Books Author: Tony Morgan
My very own copy of Beyond Megachurch Myths by Scott Thumma and Dave Travis arrived in the mail today. I’ve just scanned the pages and found that some of what I think about big churches…well…I probably shouldn’t think. I can’t wait to dive in.
The book comes with a very comprehensive index in the back. Just about every large congregation that you could think of is probably mentioned someplace in this book. I just did a quick review and found some of my favorites churches to watch including Healing Place, North Point, Granger, North Ridge, Kensington and Seacoast. NewSpring is mentioned six different places in the book, and Perry’s blog is also quoted.
I’ll get you the full review in the coming days, but you’ll want to check out this brand new release from the Leadership Network and Jossey -Bass.
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Tony Morgan is a pastor and the Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church where he develops creative solutions for communications, technology and NewSpring Ministries--the church's ministry that equips other church leaders.
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sam
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:45 am
Isnt this book a little self serving? The forward is written by Rick Warren. Would have hoped for a more unbiased look at the megachurch. I will read the book to see if it is just justification of the pragmatism that many churches employ today.
Just seems self serving because many of these megachurches are selling their “methods” to others.
Read Redefining Christianity by Bob DeWaay and then compate the two. Should be interesting.
tony morgan
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Sam, it sounds like you’re judging a book by its cover. Is it possible, as an exmaple, that you may be afraid of the research documented in this book because it could potentially prove some of your biases are false? I think you’d do well to read it before you criticize it.
tony
sam
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:16 am
The foreward by Rick Warren is a clear indication of what the book is going to be all about. There is a vested interest in this book to be validation for how the megachurches operate and the practices that they employ. We are now seeing the results of the megachurch movement on our youth that were raised in these churches that are now leaving in droves because of the “feel good”, lack of depth methods that were employed by the megachurches that they attended.
To be fair, not all megachurches are bad. Not by a long shot. Grace Community Church, Bethelem Baptist, Covenant Life Church in Maryland, and Capitol Baptist are all large if not technically megachurches that are all very sound churches. And to relate it to some of Newspring’s churches that they are heavily influenced by, Mark Driscoll’s (you know Driscoll, Perry copied him VERY often) Mars Hill and The Village church are megachurches that I would consider attending if I lived near them.
But then you have megachurches like Osteen’s Lakewood, Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral, TD Jakes’ (you know the man who denies the trinity)The Potter’s House, Willowcreek, and Saddleback who are very deserving of the criticisms leveled at them because of what they have created.
The point is one doesnt need to read a book to know what a book is about. Christians should be very discerning and cautious about what teachers that they place themselves under. The foreward by Rick Warren tells me everything I need to know about this book. It is not that i am “scared” to read it but i prefer not to take the time to listen to some apologists justify the man centered methods umm like say having your praise band play “friends in low places” that many of the megachurches employ today.
tony morgan
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 am
Okay, Sam. I’ve let you share your “discernment.” But, just so you know, I don’t have high regard for someone who take shots at people or ministries that they really know nothing about. And, I have less regard for people who hide behind “hotmail” accounts and are unwilling to share their true identity. This is the end of our exchange.
tony