For example, it happens that just this week I downloaded some material from Jim Cymbala teaching Sunday’s at The Brooklyn Tabernacle. I’m big fan of his. Our family visited the church one Easter. What I noticed in listening to this studies is that, as a natural consequence of his personality and that of the people in the church, they do clap for good points in the sermon, he does prompt (whether he needs to or not) for “Amens”. But it is all very genuine. It isn’t forced, it isn’t manipulative. He does get fired up and excited, but that’s because he’s a New Yorker and the child of European immigrants.

So, I see what your saying, but let’s be careful in our generalization not to expect people to be not genuine at first blush. If they aren’t, it will show with time. All that to say, I get ya.

It’s a phrase we have here in the UK, I’m not sure whether you have it or not…

“The empty can rattles the loudest.”

When the message lacks depth, when it lacks genuine wisdom, when it lacks true authority, when it lacks real direction, when it lacks authentic experience and when it lacks the humility of discovery, the politico, the opinionate and the demagogue have one final resort… bluster.

When we get riled up and rattled, and shout buzzwords, and scream for an ‘amen’, we’re simply leading people into being impressed by fervency, by the false impression of authority, by the appearance of hyper-spirituality. But its just an illusion. I’m not commenting on specific individuals or occurrances in specific denominations either way but instead asserting a generalism: that I’ve not yet come across a single case where I was convinced that this approach which seems to carry so much virtue to the new-generationalists these days, is anything but pyrotechnics masking limited talent or a dire lack of content and material in the ‘performance’, the ‘showmanship’ that is – supposedly – ‘anointed’ ministry.

This bluster lacks the reason, it lacks the rationale, it lacks the self control, it lacks the maturity, it lacks the educated leading, it lacks the care and consideration of genuine expounded authority gleaned from years of humble experience and the hands-on learning process where the ‘message’ makes the leap from being ‘bulletpoints of principle’ to being a roadmap to a deep, quality-filled experience of an exciting journey.

This isn’t a ‘law without love’ issue, or a ‘fire and brimstone without grace’ issue… This is simply, in a vast majority of cases, a ‘right man vs wrong man’ issue… a ‘hirelings vs shepherd’ issue… a ‘master vs amateur enthusiast’ issue… a ‘look at me vs learn from me’ issue. Perhaps its a contrast between rhetoric and revelation.

The ‘church’ is no different to the world of politics. We can run round all day trying to ‘sanctify’ our efforts generalistically based on the perception of ‘good intentions’ but at the end of the day maturity dictates that through learning, experience and understanding we step beyond the ‘I’m still trying naively and haplessly to do the right thing’ and into the ‘I know what the right thing is and I’ve actually grown up a lot from where I first began.’ ‘He means well’ doesn’t really have a place as a mitigation amongst those who profess to be doing the work of leadership ministry and taking account for feeding the souls of men and women. The ‘good intentions’ argument covers a multitude of sins, as it were, when it comes to the difference between excusing our self-ishness and indulgence in our ministries, and actually functioning with the maturity, sobriety, self-control, wisdom, reasonableness, humility and seriousness with which Paul charges us as ministers, to function in the work of the Gospel.

I don’t even see it merely as a difference in ‘style’, I see it almost entirely as a difference in maturity, and in a contrast of degrees of self-confidence, self-assertion, and in some cases pride. It’s easier to preach ‘at’ than to preach ‘amongst.’ Its easier to rapid-fire instructional bulletpoints than it is to open yourself up to being made a fool of, as you attempt to expound something deep and meaningful from the word which requires you to put yourself on the line and say, on behalf of your congregation, ‘I’m going to unlock deep treasures that might be hidden in this, to enrich your diet for you on your behalf, because you might not be so inclined and so capable, and I want to see you really grow.’

I know Christians that follow these type of ministers, and they’re full of catchphrases and mantras and methodologies and metaphors… but open the Bible up around them and start to look for something of substance, and they’re totally lost.

I subscribe also…but some who have posted here… I don’t believe have heard a whole message or have actually gone to an Acts 29 church or Mars Hill. That is why I asked the question.

I loved your blog….you were just asking a question. You were not taking up sides…how refreshing.

I have asked myself the same question…

One differential that should be pointed out is that Acts 29 is reformed in their Theology…They attract people who also see theology in this way…They are not hyper Calvinist…

Some who have grown up in Calvary have experienced a left theological leaning in the youth…additional these groups are trying to be so relevant that they are not much different from a social club at High School…they play Death Cab for Cute and Rage to the Machine at youth(I actually like some of this music, but as one high school student told me he can listen to this any time)…the leaders believe it make the youth feel comfortable…then after a dose of secular music there is some “worship music” then a quick message about doing good works…and by the way no need to bring your Bible….Then some of these people find Acts 29 and they are thirsty…I am not saying all CC are like this but this is something that I have experienced and others as well…I love what Greg Laurie said in his biography that he was attracted to his Christian High School group because they were different…I wish every youth pastor would read his biography.

I think Acts 29 and Mars Hill can serve as a reminder to be relevant while proclaiming the whole Gospel… I am thankful for this influence. If you have gone to an Acts 29 you will find that they are packed with young people loving Jesus…loving a long services…worship music that has more then 7 words that expresses the Deeps of Gods love…and young people carrying their large ESV Bibles… additionally they have the Lords Table every week..This should encourage youth ministries at Calvary….and other churches…be relevant but teach…don’t be scared the young people will leave if you are not authentic they will leave anyway..be bold… and LOVE JESUS

Corby thank you for asking the question….Missy

Great comments Missy. Good stuff to chew on. Keep it coming!

was a child who went to the tent meetings they were wonderful, they were very ,very intense. People were passionate…

There are many different styles in CC Pastors, I personally know of some, my dad being one.

The below quote by Driscoll to me explains the attraction to many to the Acts 29 movement… I love this quote….

“There is a strong drift toward the hard theological left. Some emergent types [want] to recast Jesus as a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. In Revelation, Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is a guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up. I fear some are becoming more cultural than Christian, and without a big Jesus who has authority and hates sin as revealed in the Bible, we will have less and less Christians, and more and more confused, spiritually self-righteous blogger critics of Christianity.”

—Mark Driscoll, Relevant Magazine[10]

I attend a CC… the people love Jesus and proclaim the whole Gospel… I don’t care if it is a CC,or an Acts 29 or something else, it just so happens that it is a CC.

The Lord has Blessed CC and is still Blessing CC.

Now additionally something wonderful is occurring in Acts 29… it is a movement that is also Blessed….let all of CC be happy, another movement…its is wonderful. We are part of Gods Church…he is building his church. …I Thank the Lord for these brothers who are passionate about Jesus, may all of us who call Jesus Lord be bold to proclaim him…and may we be authentic…

I don’t believe our Lord wants us to be a monolith…I believe he wants us to express him in our uniqueness.

Not attending Warm Beach this year…. too cold!!!!!