While I don’t represent this organization, why wouldn’t one want to have an atheist share their perspective. Isn’t much of life about relating to, sharing with, and learning about others.
Hi Annette, I don’t think the point is to try to get people who are atheists to come to church, but rather to see what we as Christians can learn about ourselves from someone like Hemant (or you?) giving us his perspective. Sometimes Christians can get pretty insulated, and insulation causes all sorts of problems. It’s unfortunately easy to try to surround yourself with people who think like you, which does no service to what ‘church’ is supposed to be about. A film director I spoke with recently made the comment that he’s found that when a movie features some sort of stereotype or caricature of a group or ‘kind’ of people, it usually stems out of the fact that the people making the film just don’t really know any real people from that walk of life. All this to say, we Christians greatly need the perspective of people who wouldn’t otherwise be showing up at a church gathering.
I’m curious, were you put off by the lingo about ‘products and services?’ I think that’s said in jest, but I could see how that might get the wrong idea across, that this is about marketing church.
I must apologize to you because I was angry when I asked the question. I think God is trying to teach me humility. Honestly, I prayed that God would give me understanding. He didn’t give me understanding about what you’re doing, but He did give me peace and understanding about some things in my own life…like humility and the reasons behind my anger. So, thank you for being kind in your reply and if you felt a jab when you read what I said, I’m very sorry.
In reply to the “products and services”, you’re right, it’s so true that it is funny. There is so much about your organization that I do agree with. As for myself, I’m somewhere in between the “come to Jesus” and the “come to church” evangelism. I know somebody out there can’t wait till I finally submit to being labeled, but I hardly think that will ever happen.
Comment by: Annette Burkett
1Why an atheist? Why would you want someone like myself to decide what church I might want to go to because of a review written by an atheist?
Comment by: Tim Rice
2While I don’t represent this organization, why wouldn’t one want to have an atheist share their perspective. Isn’t much of life about relating to, sharing with, and learning about others.
Comment by: erin
3Hi Annette, I don’t think the point is to try to get people who are atheists to come to church, but rather to see what we as Christians can learn about ourselves from someone like Hemant (or you?) giving us his perspective. Sometimes Christians can get pretty insulated, and insulation causes all sorts of problems. It’s unfortunately easy to try to surround yourself with people who think like you, which does no service to what ‘church’ is supposed to be about. A film director I spoke with recently made the comment that he’s found that when a movie features some sort of stereotype or caricature of a group or ‘kind’ of people, it usually stems out of the fact that the people making the film just don’t really know any real people from that walk of life. All this to say, we Christians greatly need the perspective of people who wouldn’t otherwise be showing up at a church gathering.
I’m curious, were you put off by the lingo about ‘products and services?’ I think that’s said in jest, but I could see how that might get the wrong idea across, that this is about marketing church.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
4FYI “products and services” IS said in jest and is funny because we all know it’s true
Comment by: Annette Burkett
5I must apologize to you because I was angry when I asked the question. I think God is trying to teach me humility. Honestly, I prayed that God would give me understanding. He didn’t give me understanding about what you’re doing, but He did give me peace and understanding about some things in my own life…like humility and the reasons behind my anger. So, thank you for being kind in your reply and if you felt a jab when you read what I said, I’m very sorry.
Comment by: Annette Burkett
6In reply to the “products and services”, you’re right, it’s so true that it is funny. There is so much about your organization that I do agree with. As for myself, I’m somewhere in between the “come to Jesus” and the “come to church” evangelism. I know somebody out there can’t wait till I finally submit to being labeled, but I hardly think that will ever happen.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
7Annette
Thanks for leading us with your openess and humility