Have We Finally Hit Peak Attractional?

[rlvaughn]

Have We Finally Hit Peak Attractional? by Tim Challies

So Ed Young is at it again. Last week he announced a forthcoming sermon series titled “Wrastlin’” and did so through a video that is nothing short of absurd. “Over four weeks this September, Ed Young and Fellowship Church welcome four legendary guests from the world of professional wrestling – Ric Flair, The Undertaker, The Million Dollar Man, and Sting!”

This series may represent “peak attractional,” which is to say, it may mark the moment the attractional church model finally hit rock bottom (though you could probably make the case Young already achieved that the day he got into bed with his wife on the church roof). I’m almost afraid to ask: Can the model possibly become more of a parody of itself?

 

[Reynolds]

Have We Finally Hit Peak Attractional? by Tim Challies

The million dollar man and Sting have wonderful testimonies about their salvation. I had heard Flair is a new convert. I have no clue about undertaker.

 

[Jerome]

Nothing new.

Concept promoted in SBC's Baptist Press decades ago:

Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives

"pastor Tom Melzoni has proven he will do almost anything if means an opportunity to share the gospel. After all, not many pastors would be willing to be body slammed by a 235-lb professional wrestler. Melzoni, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, did just that July 3 during a special Sunday night barbecue and service. Melzoni, billed as the Powerhouse Parson, took on Chris Whaley, the Masked Saint, who has recently graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and has wrestled professionally for about eight years. The Tennessee pastor emphasized the sole objective of the event, which attracted 1,000 people, about half of whom were youth, was to 'bring people under the influence of the Gospel so they might have the opportunity to have eternal life.'"

 

[Yeshua1]

The million dollar man and Sting have wonderful testimonies about their salvation. I had heard Flair is a new convert. I have no clue about undertaker.

Well, jesus commanded us to go everywhere with the good news!

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Back in Bible College, we had a chapel speaker who had wrestled as one of the 1960s follow-ons to Gorgeous George. He saved and in due time he hit the sawdust trail. Early on, He went to his pastor and asked him what invitations to speak should he accept. His pastor said any of them. But, preach a good strong Gospel message. Those who wanted you just for your celebrity won't invite you back.

 

[Jerome]

Back in Bible College, we had a chapel speaker who had wrestled as one of the 1960s follow-ons to Gorgeous George.

Is this him?

Professional Wrestler Profiles - Gorgeous George Grant (aka 'Darling Danny')

 

[tyndale1946]

Where was the main attraction?... Jacob and the Angel!... Brother Glen

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Yeup.

Is this him?

Professional Wrestler Profiles - Gorgeous George Grant (aka 'Darling Danny')

 

[Aaron]

God bans pride and exhibitionism from worship and evangelism.

 

[Jerome]

Southern Baptist church lady Dawn Maestas (youth worker at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church) was GLOW wrestler 'Godiva' back in the day:

Orange County women remember their time as Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

“I was a bad guy,” Maestas said. “I got to do the hair pulling, eye-gouging and hitting people with a chair. My character was arrogant and self-centered.”

Maestas appeared as a wrestler on many televisions shows and posed in Playboy. She then shifted gears, working as a fundraiser for non-profits like the Discovery Science Center. Then she got a job as an outreach coordinator for Saddleback Church....“So many girls have come up to me and said, ‘I wanted to be you,'” Maestas said.

Retired wrestlers Angelina Altishin "Little Egypt" (left) and Dawn Maestas "Godiva" (right) arm-wrestling at CKO Kickboxing in Tustin, California

 

[MartyF]

"The average local church of 200 or 300 people can only look on with envy."

I see the local average church dipping below 100. Despite the few hermits, I feel that most people like to be around other people - especially in a city. Otherwise, they would choose to live in the country like me. So, a mega church with lots of people is more popular because the people like being around large crowds of people.

Many small churches seem to be surviving on life support. In today's society, people are looking to have relationships and attachments and sermons are going to increasing not going to be the glue that holds them together. The Sunday morning sermon is what will slowing die.

"While we wait for the attractional model to finally and blessedly go into decline," seems like wishful thinking and not particularly healthy either.

Marty

 

[quidam65]

I used to attend FC in its heyday. I recently went back (before this series was announced). What I saw was a church in decline, trying to stay relevant (much like Grizabella from Cats).

Literally 1/3 of the auditorium is physically blocked off, so you're forced to sit up front (better camera angles of fewer empty seats). The crowd watched a video and didn't have the sense to at least clap when the crowd in the video did so.

They're getting hurt by two other SBC megachurches (the traditional-style Prestonwood and the Reformed Village Church) and even more so by the charismatic Gateway (which is only five miles away, and has better music plus their pastor doesn't have to resort to stunts like this).

 

[Reformed]

The Sunday morning sermon is what will slowing die.

No. What is dying are those churches who substitute preaching the word of God with theatrics and gimmicks. The prophet Amos spoke truthfully:

Amos 8:11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the LORD."

Attractional churches are good at doing what the term describes - attracting people. They do a miserable job of making Christ-like disciples, and in the end, that is all that really matters. Give me a local church with 50 people who are dying to self and putting on Christ (Romans 13:14) and I will show you a church mightier in the works of God than 1,000 who know everything there is to know about the WWF.