Tuesday, February 13, 2007

INSTANT EVANGELISM...Another Member Speaks

After each post is a "comment" link. When you click there, you are able to add comments regarding the post.

Comments were sent regarding the "Instant Evangelism" post. They were good and I thought they deserved more space than on just the comment page. So I decided to respond in a post here. The original comment can be read by clicking on the "comment" link on the post "Instant Evangelism."

THE MEMBER SAID:
I understand the concern about going into debt... believe me, it is a concern for me as well. But when you're sitting in a building that is 80+ years old and falling apart... sometimes you need to take drastic measures.

MY RESPONSE:
What drastic measures? Why not fix the problems? Are you saying the problem is too much for FBC to handle?

The Crockett County Court House is over 130 years old and is being used daily. The US Capital building is over 200 years old. Please tell me specifically how the church building is falling apart. What is wrong with the building that can not be repaired? Please be specific. Are the church people incapable of repairing the building? Is the membership so inept that they can not repair the church building? Is the leadership so determined to move that they have convinced the majority that the building can't be repaired?

Are you saying the ENTIRE church building is falling apart? How strange! FYI, not all of the church is even close to 80 years old, not even close!!!

Why not say it this way,
"We are sitting in a strategic location with a beautiful, 80 year old historic building with roots going to the very founding of Crockett County."

That would be far more accurate (and far more honest) than to condemn a building that is only 80 years old.

THE MEMBER SAID:
However, I also feel that the amount of 4 million is a little inflated.

MY RESPONSE:
That is the figure the congregation was given for the new building. I didn't make up that figure.

THE MEMBER SAID:
That is crazy and a foolish notion that FBC Alamo exists ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING ALAMO.

MY RESPONSE:
Please be more honest. I did not state nor imply that FBC exists "ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING ALAMO," did I?

Let me ask you, if you are not reaching more than 170 people in Alamo, what makes you think you are suddenly going to become so evangelical that you reach the entire county...if you are not doing that already? Please tell me what is going to be different? If you can't reach more than 170 people in Alamo, how are you planning on reaching 15,000 in the county? How?

THE MEMBER SAID:
The "Fact" that FBC Alamo hasn't been soul winning is also not a valid point. I believe it was just a few weeks ago that we baptized. And just a few weeks before that I believe we baptized then too. Wait a minute... was it just a few months ago... around OCTOBER in a tent revival that 45 people were saved and several families joined our church. That tells me that GOD IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH!

MY RESPONSE:
In the original post, I stated that the membership has become "stagnant" for the past five years. Where are those 45 people? The attendance did not go up even 10 people, much less 45. Who did follow-up on those 45 people? Where are they today?

Don't forget, it was JESUS who gave the evangelism plan that Baptists seem to ignore. Jesus said FIRST to "make disciples," and SECOND, to baptize them, not to baptize them first then lose them.

THE MEMBER SAID:
He might not be working some of the members lives, but HE IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH! FBC is evangelical

MY RESPONSE:
I repeat, the membership has stagnated for the past five years. If you, if the pastor, if even one church member made ONE DISCIPLE per month over the past five years, then the church attendance would be over 230 members as it was even 20 years ago, not the 170 it is today.

THE MEMBER SAID:
... if some people don't think they will become evangelical when the church builds that is fine... but I see the hand of God working in our people and I see the love of God displayed from so many.

MY RESPONSE:
That's fine for you and your world. However, when this building program began to be pushed through, some church members began to gravitate towards one side or the other and make it a personal issue. Some members stopped speaking to others who disagreed with the pastor. Those who questioned and opposed the abandonment of the current property were ridiculed and scorned by other members and by the staff. Yes, you may "see the love of God" but some folks were so hurt that they left the church or stopped coming to the preaching services. Perhaps you have not been around long enough. Perhaps you just jumped on board and are still on a spiritual honeymoon. Perhaps you are just not paying attention.

THE MEMBER SAID:
If this church isn't evangelical, then tell me why is there a new Sunday school class for young adults splitting at the seams and most of the attendees of that class were not in our church, or any church before that class came into being.

MY RESPONSE:
If you say this church IS evangelical, then please tell me why the membership has been completely flat for the past five years?!? If you say this church IS evangelical, then please tell me where those 45 people are from that revival.

THE MEMBER SAID:
IF MEMBERS IN OUR CHURCH WOULD ACTUALLY LOVE EACH OTHER THE WAY THE BIBLE COMMANDS AND QUIT STIRRING UP TROUBLE, YOU'D SEE MANY MORE PEOPLE COMING TO FBC.

MY RESPONSE:
You act like if anyone questions you or questions your position, they are "STIRRING UP TROUBLE." You seem to think that if anyone questions actions by the church leadership, they are "STIRRING UP TROUBLE."

Perhaps that is why you simply think everything is loving and wonderful. You have surrounded yourself with people who agree with you and who agree with your viewpoints. Either you are blind or you don't want to see the problems or you just think YOU ARE RIGHT and everyone else is "STIRRING UP TROUBLE."

THE MEMBER SAID:
I think there are many valid concerns. However, trying to sway the opinion of others is simply wrong.

MY RESPONSE:
WHY? YOU are trying to sway the opinion of others when you do not allow any oposing view to be stated. Why is it wrong to offer a different viewpoint? That's what you are doing. That's what was done when this whole fiasco began. Why is it right for you and wrong for me?

When this building program began, the leadership and a handful did their best "trying to sway the opinion of others" which you now think "is simply wrong." Please tell me why it is OK for them to express an opinion but it is not OK to express a contrary opinion here? Please tell me why it is OK for them to express their opinion in the church but it is not OK for others to express a contrary opinion in the church? Tell me why? Please tell me why?

THE MEMBER SAID:
Let each man decide for himself what God is speaking to his heart. If the decision comes back that the church feels we should go forward with the building... than get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have.

MY RESPONSE:
That is a pretty self-righteous answer and an extremely arrogant attitude. "get on board or get off." How pompous of you to say that. So are you saying that YOU have all the answers and nobody is allowed to question you?

Brother, in your arrogant boast "get on board or get off," YOU JUST REVEALED WHY the membership of FBC has been suffocated. Your proud and self-righteous attitude is the reason that church has as many people going out the back door as come in the front. That is not evangelism. That is not discipleship. That is SAD!

And you just demonstrated why with your high, haughty proclamation, "get on board or get off!" I am really sorry that is your attitude.

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