How the unchurched view Southern Baptist

October 28, 2006

Incredible study done by NAMB’s CRM department headed by Ed Stetzer. The report reads:

The North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research studied the attitudes and perceptions of the lost regarding Southern Baptists. The results of this study provided insights into the mindset of those outside our churches. Based upon their attendance at a church-but not necessarily Southern Baptist-service within the past six months, respondents were asked their impression of Southern Baptists (Favorable, Unfavorable, or Not Familiar).

In addition, broken down regionally, the study shows:

Although the positive perception of Southern Baptists in the South was the highest for any region, the negative impressions were actually higher than the positive. In other words, the surveyed unchurched in the South who have an opinion about Southern Baptists were more negative than positive.

When broken down by age:

We also examined the survey results by age and willingness to “visit or join” a church. The same pattern was found from the last study-younger adults were substantially less willing to visit and join a church if they knew it was an SBC church.

Well guys, we have a lot of work to do. This confirms my experience in talking with the unchurched. That’s why I almost refuse to tell them we’re a SBC church. Too much baggage.

Written by David Phillips · Filed Under SBC

The Forgotten Ways

October 27, 2006

This is the title of Alan Hirsch’s new book that will be out in Dec. Being a D Min student and George Fox, it not only was on our reading list this semester, but Len Sweet got us advanced copies. I’ve read the introduction and the first chapter, and I must say this: the INTRODUCTION alone is worth the $$$. I’ll let you know more as I read this weekend (hopefully!)

Written by David Phillips · Filed Under Books, Misc

Why faith spreads

October 16, 2006

My blog reader today had an entry from Bob Roberts, Jr. Roberts wrote the book Transformation: How Glocal Churches Transform Lives and the World, which I thought was a good book. Anyway, his entry today was a result of a discussion that he and Alan Hirsch had over the weekend on why faith spreads. Thought I’d share it:

Alan Hirsch and I have been hanging out this weekend and have talked, debated, evaluated and had a blast the past 3 days. Last night, we were talking about movements. Why did movements in the early church grow like they did? Why has China, and now parts of India, exploded like it has? This isn’t meant to be comprehensive at all, but, as we talked, three things really stand out in my mind.

First, everywhere these movements spread, they were generally more communally based societies. When the head of the household came to faith, so did everyone else. Ho Chi Minh was right when he told Stalin Communism would work better in Asia than Europe because of the communal element and the power of ideas.

Second, Christianity was new. This meant that it didn’t have centuries of history, Ecclesiology, denominations, and personalities to pollute it like we have had. Thus, the DNA of the church was stronger and more viral allowing it to take hold and spread. In short, it was powerful when applied.

Maybe a third, and this one would really needs to be researched, it’s more sociological in nature. Since the beginning of time, man has felt this sense of wanting to be and do significant things. How could he do that in the first few millennia? He could only be in government. When Christianity spills out of the Jewish confines into a broader Gentile context, it gives humanity a chance to love, serve, give, and count all the things that really matter. No other religion or government prior to that point allowed that. Could this be why, as Rodney Stark writes in The Rise of Christianity , faith spread from a few thousand to millions by its second century? The first example of a classless society was Acts–that’s pretty radical, more than today, given the time, context, and everything else.

Maybe a fourth–one other thing that has really struck me. I’ve always said we start with planting the seed of the Gospel in society and then the church emerges. Alan’s formula is: Christology + Missiology = Ecclesiology. That’s what I’ve said–Alan just said it better and more complete. I have been stunned, visiting with some Ph.D. missiologists in our church, that many people, missiologist, and theologians start with Ecclesiology first!!! No wonder there are no movements in the West!

Written by David Phillips · Filed Under Culture, Leadership, Ministry, Misc, Theology