A recent Christianity Today article by Collin Hansen called “Fire and Nice,” highlights the “feisty collection of influential churches” in the Twin Cities.
Here in the Twin Cities, we have a hodgepodge of churches from theological extremes. We have fiery Calvinists (Bethlehem Baptist – John Piper), postmodern emergents (Solomon’s Porch – Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones), philosophical open-theists (Woodland Hills – Greg Boyd), evangelical leaders (Wooddale – Leith Anderson), prosperity preachers (Living Word – Mac Hammond) and baby boomer mega-churches (Eagle Brook – Bob Merritt). Of course there is even everything in between.
Why plant a church in a city with all these evangelical options? There are many reasons that I have outlined elsewhere (and will continue to highlight). However, let me touch on one more point here in light of the article above.
A picture of a mega church in the Twin Cities
I agree that the Twin Cities do not need more new churches just to have more churches. If I planted a church that is hip and cool, and preached the good news that God wants you to be rich, then I added to the area a community of greed-centered heretics. The Twin Cities does not need more churches that add to the confusion, this metro area needs more churches that are centered on the mission to glorify God through the testimony of the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ. There are certainly churches that are centered on this mission, but there are also many that are not. My prayer is that this plant will be centered on the gospel of God’s grace in order to be a new church that blesses the Twin Cities rather than confuses it more.
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See also the Star Tribune article “Rock of [younger] ages,” which highlights the church culture among the 20-30 somethings of the Twin Cities.
“In his sermon at Substance last week, the Rev. Peter Haas started by “hammering on a couple of Bible verses,” but eventually got around to what he called “the meat and potatoes stuff. The answer is not always just ‘You need to have faith, brother.’” ”
Are there ear piercing sirens and blinding lights flashing for everyone when they read this or just me??
I pray wonderful blessings (not the prosperity type) on your church plant. I pray that you would continue to preach the gospel as you have come to understand it, and continue to resist temptations towards easy success and popularity. May you and your family be strengthened and encouraged through unity within the universal Church, and may you continue to challenge many/most of our “Western” conceptions of the beautiful bride of Christ that promote wealth, individuality, and the abuse and constant oppression of the poor, the weak, the sick, and the oppressed. Blessings brother.