Comments on: Free Gas Giveaway’s to Save Souls

By: scott morgan

scott morgan — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:49:46 +0000

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 “??????????

By: Nathan White

Nathan White — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:44:49 +0000

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…

By: Gordan

Gordan — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:03:58 +0000

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…

By: fred

fred — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:44:38 +0000

“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.

By: Thomas Twitchell

Thomas Twitchell — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:34:04 +0000

Gee, I thought we already had free gas give-aways called potlucks.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 May 2008 02:30:26 +0000

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!

By: SBC Petro-Evangelism? « chadwickivester

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[…] SBC Petro-Evangelism? Check out Nathan White’s post about SBC Evangelism Gimmicks Strategies! […]

By: Gas Giveway Interview | Shepherd the Flock

Gas Giveway Interview | Shepherd the Flock — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:18:29 +0000

[…] I was contacted last week by a member of the Associated Press in regards to a blog article I had written earlier this year, Free Gas Giveways to Save Souls? […]