Comments on: Six Flags Over Jesus

By: Chris Land

Chris Land — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:08 +0000

I am all for expanding for growth, but this is insane. All I can say is the church is consumed in greed. The pastor of FBC Dallas was the pastor of FBC Wichita Falls, the city God put me, and all you hear about him is greed and controvsary. I think he is only making a name for himself and not glorifying God. In a way, he is his own idol. I can do a lot with $130 million and giving it to further the gospel would be one of those things I would do with it. I think the church is going down a path that will lead people to hate Jesus and not come to Him in faith for salvation. If you ask me, I think the pastor and Joel Osteen are in the lines of preachers that care to make a name of themselves and not glorifying God.

By: Heart of Darkness: The Prosperity Gospel | Missions Mandate

Heart of Darkness: The Prosperity Gospel | Missions Mandate — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:34:05 +0000

[...] For a look at a similar expression of this mentality: First Things: Six Flags Over Jesus [...]

By: Product Placement in the Pulpit » Evangel | A First Things Blog

Product Placement in the Pulpit » Evangel | A First Things Blog — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:14:54 +0000

[...] Dallas: the epicenter of evangelical awesomeness. [...]

By: Megachurchianity « Triangular Christianity

Megachurchianity « Triangular Christianity — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:36:25 +0000

[...] November 11, 2009 Andrew Ford Leave a comment Go to comments Jared Wilson writes about a 130 million dollar new church building in the buckle of the Bible Belt: Dallas Texas. He [...]

By: “…evangelicalism with more cowbell” « Lane Corley

“…evangelicalism with more cowbell” « Lane Corley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:58:38 +0000

[...] “…evangelicalism with more cowbell” Posted on November 9, 2009 by Lane Corley Six flags over Jesus by Jared Wilson. [...]

By: six flags over Jesus « Interstitial

six flags over Jesus « Interstitial — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:18:25 +0000

[...] tip to Challies for the link to Jared Wilson and hat tip to Jared Wilson for the links to the comparison and the title [...]

By: Spanky

Spanky — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:23:26 +0000

Will they be able to open the roof on fair-weather days?

By: Six Flags over Jesus…An Excellent Title of an American church. « Doulos

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:07:29 +0000

[...] But, wait, it’s spiritual oasis…that’s a load of crap. These people are wasting resources in the name of comfort, not of Jesus Christ. Have they looked at the economic climate? Don’t they know that people are out of work? What about starting churches in another state? What about training another generation to take the gospel to another area with resources to support the ministry? Why not give it to families to move into another community, so they can bring Jesus to people who may not know them? [...]

By: Kat

Kat — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:11:10 +0000

Very interesting post. If they are truly just updating facilities, why can’t they portray it as such? Instead, it seems far too flashy and as if a lot of pride has gone into it.

Not that I’m saying they are prideful, but it certainly appears that way and that’s the problem I have with this building.

I personally don’t understand the megachurch mentality. I am a small church (less than 50 people) girl and probably always will be. My pastor’s teaching is excellent and the fellowship is amazing. We have a drive to evangelise and there’s always ways to serve and be served.

By: Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:30:33 +0000

I seem to remember something about knowing we are Christians by our love. Perhaps some modern translation misprinted that as “by our flashy buildings”? So is it if Christ be lifted up, or is it if a weird looking cross on a Christmas tree fountain be lifted up?

By: Jared Wilson

Jared Wilson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:34:05 +0000

Is there a dollar value where we cross the line into sin?

James, I was wondering the same thing. Is there a monetary line over which any defenders of this building campaign would say, “Well, that’s too much”?

Is there such a thing as a church being extravagant, show-offy, grandiose? If so, what does it look like?

For my part, I have stated in the post that I personally don’t care usually about money. It’s not about money. I don’t fault churches building buildings.

It’s the spirit and rationale behind this thing that is a red flag. Opulent fountains, “evangelistic windows,” an “oasis” in downtown, keeping up with the big buildings of the downtown area.

Here’s the issue: The number of megachurches is increasing in America. That would be a fine statistic if the number of professing Christians wasn’t decreasing.
Everyone from Michael Spencer to Tim Keller is predicting the collapse of Bible Belt cultural Christianity in the next generation.

Something must change.

Or we can keep on keepin’ on. And see more of the same.

It’s not the $130 million. It’s what the $130 million signifies about what we think church is and what it’s supposed to do.

By: Dan Allison

Dan Allison — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:51:59 +0000

My friend’s daughter served as a missionary this summer at an orphanage in Kitgum, Uganda. When she arrived the children had no mattresses. They slept on dirt floors. She e-mailed her father here in the States, he sent an e-mail to his personal friends and scrounged up enough money to buy some mattresses so that these precious children, made in God’s image, didn’t have to sleep in the dirt.
Let me cut through the beeswax. We are the church. A beautiful building can serve as a nice public witness, but it can be done for a lot less. Some of God’s most important work is done in the ramshackle, storefront, inner city churches in this country, in neighborhoods where respectable right-wing Republicans wouldn’t be caught dead.
Are there no homeless people in Dallas? Are all the widows and orphans provided for? Do all the sick in Dallas have adequate healthcare?
Give me a break. This thing is an abomination, and on the Day of Judgment, not one stone will stand. And I don’t apologize for saying so. Neither should any of you.

By: Tim Irvin

Tim Irvin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:50:51 +0000

The first thing W.A. Criswell did when he went to First in Dallas was to purchase prayer benches and have them installed on all the pews. His philosophy of ministry was that all things, including worship and the Christian life in general, should be approached with prayer.
I would be willing to bet that there are no prayer benches in this new facility.

By: James

James — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:44:40 +0000

Not that I am agreeing with what FBC Dallas is doing but I am curious to know if anyone has a figure on what the monetary limit should be for a God honouring church expansion?

$100,000,000; $50,000,000; $1,000,000; $500,000; $100,000; $0?

Is there a dollar value where we cross the line into sin?

Please include any bible references in support of your answer.

By: A little of this and a little of that

A little of this and a little of that — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:48:29 +0000

[...] Read about a Church that could be called a Six Flags over Jesus Here [...]