Comments on: Church is Different Than Shopping

By: Byron

Byron — Thu, 21 May 2020 08:58:29 +0000

In reply to Mr Jesperson. As I said, I do agree to a point with you, maybe to a significant point.

By: Paul Oyler

Paul Oyler — Wed, 20 May 2020 14:36:06 +0000

I shared this article – https://www.kevinathompson.com/go-wal-mart-not-church/ – the other day, it makes many of the same points that you do.

(I’m a bit behind on going thru my Feedly feeds)

By: Mr Jesperson

Mr Jesperson — Tue, 19 May 2020 16:27:54 +0000

In reply to Byron. I see this as the normal state of church, especially in the West. Way too much passivity. A false division between professional/laity. A lot of wasted resources. A whole way of looking at and doing things that is not Jesus' way. There are a few trying to be different than all of that. But the way is narrow and restricting to get there. The easy road is wide and easy to take. Jesus said that. 95% of what calls itself Christian or of our God is not really. And in that nothing has changed since Jesus' day. Of all the religious authorities only a tiny percentage appear to have not wanted to kill Jesus. That is why I see that much of that is in the process of quickly going bankrupt. What is actually of God will not. Let's see how much is actually still left in 2030...

By: Byron

Byron — Mon, 18 May 2020 14:26:30 +0000

In reply to Mr Jesperson.

We seem to be talking about two different things. This is the type of comment to which I was referring:

“To me it has become very clear over the last decade that church, as we call it, has been about having a good social club with a great deal of passivity, too much expected of the head pastor, and just generally about pleasing someone else who is definitely not God.”

I’m not speaking of surviving financially, which is apparently what you understood me to be saying. No…I am rather concerned with the massive brush with which you paint “church” as being a “good social club”, etc.

Now understand, I share some of your critique and concerns, but I react strongly against ascribing to (apparently) the totality of “church” such inferior and unworthy motives.

By: Mr Jesperson

Mr Jesperson — Sat, 16 May 2020 12:48:54 +0000

In reply to Byron. I have a background in accounting and have been involved in looking over the financial statements for an international Christian ministry. I had many lunches with a former pastor of mine who was head of the local ministerial association. He kept telling me how many of the pastors were complaining about barely being able to meet all of their obligations. This was before the current crisis. Now they are not meeting and they have no active programs. So please explain to me your own expertise and how you know that most churches are going to survive with what is going on. I am listening...