Diana Butler Bass on Willow Creek

I know that some of my readers don't like DBB. I know that some don't like that I like DBB. But her post on Jim Wallis' God Politics blog is worth a read! In it she reflects on Bill Hybles (of Willow Creek fame) recent statements that what they hoped would happen out of their programming, hasn't; namely for all the new folk walking through the doors, relationships to God and to neighbor haven't been deepened. A real eye opener I think, and DBB is fairly graceful in her post ;-)

Here's an excerpt:

"After an extensive study of their congregation (and several similar churches), Willow Creek's leaders concluded participation in programs did not inculcate Christian discipleship and that they had spent "millions of dollars" on programs thinking that they would help people grow—only to find that there was no real increase in parishioners' love for God or their neighbor.

"We made a mistake," says Hybels: "What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become 'self-feeders.' We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own."

Notice what Hybels says is missing: intentionality, practice, and vitality."

Read it all at God's Politics - Jim Wallis blog, faith blog, religion, christian, christianity, politics, values