A Moment of Irony

In a moment of irony, right after I first published this post about churches shrinking when actually preaching the gospel, I received an email inviting me to a conference called The Large Church Initiative.

Here is a list of the keynote speakers, many of whom I know personally and have much respect for their accomplishments and leadership skills.

Now, I should not have received that invitation–it is a conference only for those who serve churches with 1000 or more members and 350 in worship each week.  I do not serve such a church.

I looked through the website.  Most if not all of they keynote speakers lead powerful churches who have active social impact ministries and have done much, much good for the world.  I genuinely applaud them and rejoice in those accomplishments.

I also could not find one word about a call for greater personal holiness, more profound prayer lives, or recognition that following the way of Jesus almost always leads in one way or another to the loneliness of the cross.  I saw much about the need to develop vision and strategy and better leadership skills.

I support what they are doing–I understand the need for rapidly growing churches and full coffers–mission efforts are funded, apportionments expand greatly, and many, many lives are touched.  But I keep wondering–does this make the kind of disciples that will lay down everything for the sake of the gospel?

Will I do that?  Monday morning musings are definitely on a roll here.