Free Gas Giveaway’s to Save Souls
May 10th, 2008 by Nathan White
All over the news this morning is a new gimmick by the First Baptist Church of Snellville, where a May crusade will give away $500 gas gift cards, and even a Ford Explorer. Apparently, even the secular media recognizes how shameful this is, as it has hit several major news outlets here in the Atlanta area, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
But the reason of this post is not to lament this new gimmick, which undoubtedly undermines the gospel and the work of Jesus Christ in a profound way; rather, the AJC article pointed out something else that has been a hot topic the last few years:
“The church [FBC Snellville, formerly pastored by James Merritt] has about 9,000 members on its rolls, but only about 2,500 regularly attend Sunday morning services, the pastor [Rusty Newman] said. Obviously, that’s something he hopes to change.“
This mega-church trend, particularly in the Southern Baptist Convention, of having very large memberships but significantly lower attendance has been a concern of Tom Ascol’s for many years. This has led to his annual ‘Resolution on Integrity in Church Membership‘, which has continually been met with little support in the Southern Baptist Convention. I’d encourage those not familiar with this resolution to read up on it at Tom’s blog, and give it a prayerful consideration. I support it whole-heartedly, and pray that it receives a much more serious consideration this year at the Convention.
Bu apparently, Rusty Newman and his staff think that gimmicks such as free gas and car giveaways are the solution to the church’s sagging attendance, rather than the deep repentance and return to integrity that Ascol calls for. I personally find this type of logic absolutely astounding given that common sense tells you that gimmicks will bring in many who will never again darken the door when the prizes are gone. As JM Boice once said, “what you win them with is what you win them to.”
My friends, only the objective word of God can decide on such differing opinions such as gimmicks versus deep repentence (opinions that have serious ramifications either way). Let us honor the Name of Christ we profess and hold His word high and above the philosophies, wisdom, and even gimmicks that raise themselves above knowledge of Christ.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”
Nathan,
If it is not FBC Woodstock then it’s someone else giving away cars and also gasoline. This is not suprising about FBC Snellville because I was on the pastoral staff as the minister of evangelism in the mid 90’s and we did the same stuff but more often.
FBC Snellville was once the largest SBC church in the state in the mid to late 90’s and we were baptizing 800 people a year but the attendance only went up a little. What does this tell us about what we are preaching and how we shepherd. I’m guilty as charged because I was right in the middle of it . They bought me new suits, shoes, dinner cards , and mini Fla vacations on the church card because of our baptism numbers and outreach night attendance.
**** ” And we can work together under the big tent of the SBC “??????????
Scott said:
“And we can work together under the big tent of the SBC?”
As long as we are upfront and honest about our intentions, clear and precise in defining the gospel, and consistent in identifying the ramifications of different beliefs, then yes, we can work together in the SBC. Unfortunately, as you well know Scott, far too many care about politics and pats on the back. Fear of man and the lust for popularity are very power things…
Nathan, not defending gimmicks at all here, but I’m thinking (with Tom Ascol) the larger problem is that, once we’ve got them in the building with the gimmick, then we preach them a pseudo Gospel that tends to multiply false converts.
I mean, I’d maybe give a pass to a gimmick once in a while, if when the people came through the doors, we had a Jonathan Edwards preaching to them.
That’s probably yet another indicator of my woefully incomplete sanctification, but there ya go…
“I mean, I’d maybe give a pass to a gimmick once in a while, if when the people came through the doors, we had a Jonathan Edwards preaching to them.”
I understand this type of thought. We live in an age when image and marketing are the lures for anything. In my town there are many businesses that hire (for very low wages) people to stand on the corners of streets and hold a sign or wear a ridiculous outfit to catch peoples attention. It must work for they keep doing it. This type of attraction (marketing) tells me that people want both entertainment, especially in the form of absurdity, or some sort of gain (free gas)which stroke the carnal natures of our being. The difference though between what the church does and the pizza shop does is that when we go to the pizza shop , we expect pizza. When they are allured to the church, what do they expect to find there? Definitely not church as your grandma did it.
The church is to be unlike the world. It should be different period. Truthfully, the church that stays the same has more appeal to me in this age of constant change. I want something without fluff, in your face marketing, manipulations of my will, etc. I want honesty, constancy, an anchor in the storm—a place and people I know I can count on that will not be blown about by the winds of change.
Change and the manipulations to get people to accept and desire change is only catering to our carnal lusts. It is not necessarily a good thing. We have thrown away everything and now we are paying the price, both economically, environmentally, and through the toll that it places on the human mindset. We panic now when we can not have change as readily. Watch when the availability of food, fuel and homes become harder and harder to get and people can not get “change”(marketed stuff and fluff) as they have grown accustomed to. Life will seem meaningless and empty to them.
Then and maybe then, the church can offer some sanctuary from the hodgepodge of this society and age, in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Gee, I thought we already had free gas give-aways called potlucks.
Wow, I’m glad I found this blog. I too was on staff at FBC Snellville at one time. Their program-driven, gimmick, “get ‘em in” mentatlity astounded only slightly less than their theological shallowness and thoughtlessness. I only lasted 1 1/2 years there before I left to plant a church. Being a person of reformed theological persuasions didn’t help me survive either. Some of Snellville’s staff, including the pastor who preceeded Rusty Newman, showed their true colors when I left to plant. latest gimmick has literally made me sick and kept me up at night with frustration. Reading the different blogs in the city of Snellville reveals that people in Snellville were very put off by this gimmick. People see through the lack of authenticity and see these gimmicks as nothing different than what the local radio station does. Snellville also violated city ordinances with thier large “free gas” sign which itself was a terribly decieving piece of advertising. I am deeply saddened by this trend in churches and am even more saddenned by the dishonor to God’s name that was done by a church that made our God out to be a wimpy, impotent God who needs gimmicks and slick trickery to grow His kingdom. Sad!
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