Dangerous

I have spent the last week reading through Dangerous Church by John Bishop, pastor of Living Hope Church. This book is part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series. Since I have enjoyed reading other titles in the series, anticipation was high that this book would really challenge me as a leader in Christ’s church.

First, I would have to say that this book is primarily designed for church leaders, not the average Christian. However, since I believe that the church is a “leader incubator,” I think there is value to curious believers in reading books like this one. In fact, I repeatedly experienced déjà vu while reading the book since its points were clearly greatly influenced by one of my mentors Rick Warren at Saddleback Church.

Next, this is solid stuff that the church in America needs to return to often. Face it. We experience drift. Even if we start out with the right plan and motives, humans are prone to disregard their dependence upon the Lord. He expects us to be in intimate fellowship with Him as we seek faithfulness in our actions; for us, everything should flow from a right relationship with our Lord. But that’s not what our lives, and frankly our ministries look like. And Bishop’s book is a strong call for the church to return to her biblical roots and mandate. The church exists to rescue the lost. It is the responsibility of leadership and the work of every believer. Any program or event that does not advance these points is irrelevant at best and an abomination at worst.

Now, I’m just guessing, but I’d say that Bishop has roots in the Baptist tradition. I venture that guess because of his tendency to over-state the singularity of purpose of the church, namely toward evangelism. It’s an appropriate topic for discussion since the church in America is culturally marginalized and evangelistically impotent. However, saying that the church exists to make converts is part of the current problems with the church. We tend to over-simplify things and artificially compartmentalize the functions, even the purpose of the church. As I stated earlier, the church is a disciple-making factory. It is not an evangelistic crusade that is focused on raised hands and wet heads.

One final criticism before closing (read later this week for the most significant thing I took from the book). Bishop is a devout advocate of the Attractional Model of church and his anecdotal stories provide the practical justification for his views. His church launches satellite campuses in six-packs, even internationally. There isn’t a Missional bone in his body, despite his insistence. When he writes about congregants reaching the lost, he means inviting people to church. Ironically, he does discuss their inability to plant a campus right across the river from their hub due to cultural differences. But the discussion comes in the context of a “Don’t give up when faced with failure” encouragement. If he would take his own advice and take “everything” to the Lord as negotiable in order to expand the Kingdom, maybe he would realize the problems inherent in the satellite movement. It’s not that satellites are wrong, but they certainly must acknowledge and reflect the indigenous culture.

OK, see you later this week for the big thing that God spoke to my heart through the reading of Dangerous Church….