Fellowship Church's "Wild" series

[admin]

Looks like a controversy is brewing at Fellowship Church in Grapevine over their new "Wild" series.


Posted by Ericka Mangravito Tapper:
Fellowship Church had a live lion and 4-day old lamb at their Easter services on Sunday in order to make a point in the most dramatic way possible. Worse, they are now planning an entire "Wild" series where they promise to have live animals on site such as an elephant and gorilla. The use of these poor animals as "props" and to garner attention is beyond cruel. All comments saying so and pleading for them to reconsider (and there have been hundreds, if not thousands so far) to Fellowship's FB page are immediately deleted so they are censuring the opinion of the community. Please speak out to Fellowship, http://fellowshipchurch.com/fcconnect community leaders, members of the church, etc. and insist this cruelty stop before it goes any farther.

[Common Sense Al]

Sounds like another bad idea to me (like the "3D Christmas", but I bet this will be more controversial).

[YellowRose]

Have the masses become so entertainment-focused that churches must have shock and awe campaigns to get people in the door? What happened to a simple, but loving message about the Word that has more impact and power than any sideshow?

Sign of the times.

[skiing1974]

business as usual.

[delila]

I made the call to PETA and the media. I am not going to stand by and not do anything and watch these poor animals suffer for some damn churches entertainment. This has got to stop. What in the hell is wrong with the guy that runs that big mega church? Does he have any compassion for animals or does he just want to bring in more people to bring in more money? I have always thought that this church was a bit "off" but now I am sure that it is. Really, who does this type of thing and think its a good idea?

[josh]

Funny...the FC haters have to come out at least twice a year in order to feel important. I wonder if anyone here knows anything at all about the lion that was part of the sermon? Perhaps aything about its background, or its treatment or anything at all...?

Is it the fact that a lion was in a cage that is so upsetting...or that it was at church? I suppose I get it if you are a hard core PETA person and spend this type of effort protesting all events such as the circus...zoos...etc. My guess though is the biggest problem is that it was at church. Because that somehow does jive with YOUR understanding and beliefs on how church "should" operate.

Anyone care to share the motivating factors for the outrage here?

[josh]

I made the call to PETA and the media. I am not going to stand by and not do anything and watch these poor animals suffer for some damn churches entertainment. This has got to stop. What in the hell is wrong with the guy that runs that big mega church? Does he have any compassion for animals or does he just want to bring in more people to bring in more money? I have always thought that this church was a bit "off" but now I am sure that it is. Really, who does this type of thing and think its a good idea?

For the sake of argument, assuming that 1 person attended FC over Easter only because they heard the buzz about this church that was a "bit off" and because of that they ended up giving their life to Christ. I wonder...do you think it was worth it? If not, how many changed lives are needed in order to make being an original communicator of the Gospel worth it?

I am amazed at the so called Christians who focus more on the form of communication than the outcome. Jesus was an original communicator. He used all sorts of forms from analogies, to evidence based, to parables, etc. Yet...2,000 years later some people think that the only acceptable form is the one that puts people to sleep the fastest.

I care about outcomes.

[JKTex]

What in the hell is wrong with the guy that runs that big mega church?

Big MEGA church = Big MEGA money $$$$

Can I get an amen?

[delila]

Josh WWJD about the cruelty of those animals???!!! Would he be ok with this? There are many, many other forms of speaking to the public without putting them to sleep, animals are not needed. The superficial values that our country has perpetuated has permeated into the church and now this is what people expect. Do you really go to church to be entertained or do you go to hear the word of god? If I want to be entertained I go to Las Vegas, not to Fellowship Church.

[Common Sense Al]

Funny...the FC haters have to come out at least twice a year in order to feel important.

I don't see any "FC haters" here, just people questioning their judgement & strategy for "bringing people to Christ".

Anyone care to share the motivating factors for the outrage here?

I would guess it has to do with using wild animals for props, and doing it unnecessarily some might say.

[Common Sense Al]

For the sake of argument, assuming that 1 person attended FC over Easter only because they heard the buzz about this church that was a "bit off" and because of that they ended up giving their life to Christ. I wonder...do you think it was worth it? If not, how many changed lives are needed in order to make being an original communicator of the Gospel worth it?

I am amazed at the so called Christians who focus more on the form of communication than the outcome. Jesus was an original communicator. He used all sorts of forms from analogies, to evidence based, to parables, etc. Yet...2,000 years later some people think that the only acceptable form is the one that puts people to sleep the fastest.

I care about outcomes.

You care only about outcomes, eh? Then you would be OK if they had a porn fest and mass orgy if it brought one person to Christ? It would be worth it in your view, right?

The ends does not justify the means. Jesus never performed immoral acts to communicate his message or to get to an end. If he had, then don't you think something would have been wrong with that, even if you agree with the outcome?

[josh]

For the sake of argument, assuming that 1 person attended FC over Easter only because they heard the buzz about this church that was a "bit off" and because of that they ended up giving their life to Christ. I wonder...do you think it was worth it? If not, how many changed lives are needed in order to make being an original communicator of the Gospel worth it?

I am amazed at the so called Christians who focus more on the form of communication than the outcome. Jesus was an original communicator. He used all sorts of forms from analogies, to evidence based, to parables, etc. Yet...2,000 years later some people think that the only acceptable form is the one that puts people to sleep the fastest.

I care about outcomes.

You care only about outcomes, eh? Then you would be OK if they had a porn fest and mass orgy if it brought one person to Christ? It would be worth it in your view, right?

The ends does not justify the means. Jesus never performed immoral acts to communicate his message or to get to an end. If he had, then don't you think something would have been wrong with that, even if you agree with the outcome?

Atta boy Al...never fails that you take a topic to the level of absurdity every time. DONT BE A FOOL AL...of course I dont condone imoral acts. Do I really need to state that little caveat when talking about winning people to Christ? WOuld that make sense at all? You are solely responsible for derailing half of the topics on this mb with stupid comments like that. Give it a rest.

[josh]

Josh WWJD about the cruelty of those animals???!!! Would he be ok with this? There are many, many other forms of speaking to the public without putting them to sleep, animals are not needed. The superficial values that our country has perpetuated has permeated into the church and now this is what people expect. Do you really go to church to be entertained or do you go to hear the word of god? If I want to be entertained I go to Las Vegas, not to Fellowship Church.

If you view any animal that is not freely in its native wild habitat as "cruelty to animals" then I understand your outrage. At least you are consistent in your views. However, since I have not seen any posts from you about animal cruelty up until now I think there may be a bit more to this than that.

Isnt is funny that not a single person has asked what the sermon was about....? Much easier to get outraged at perceived animal cruelty I suppose.

[Common Sense Al]

Atta boy Al...never fails that you take a topic to the level of absurdity every time. DONT BE A FOOL AL...of course I dont condone imoral acts. Do I really need to state that little caveat when talking about winning people to Christ? WOuld that make sense at all? You are solely responsible for derailing half of the topics on this mb with stupid comments like that. Give it a rest.

Sheesh... you said/implied yourself that you didn't really care what/how it was done if one was brought to Christ. And you said "I care about outcomes."

One good way to show that one's logic is bad is to use or extend the same logic in such a way where it is clearly obvious that it's bad... and then you call that stupid.

Well I'm glad that it seems that you care about more than just outcomes, at least I'm hoping that's what you are saying now.

[Common Sense Al]

Isnt is funny that not a single person has asked what the sermon was about....?

What would the relevance of that be with regard to the perceived problems of using wild animals as props?