Willowcreek and Jimmy Carter<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
By Jan Markell
www.olivetreeviews.org
 
 
I am in favor of church growth and mega-churches, IF the church growth is built on solid gospel preaching, telling the truth, exposing error, and protecting the sheep from the false teaching that now abound.  Such mega-churches do exist today though some critics will say they are ALL employing marketing gimmicks that are questionable.  I agree, some marketing tactics are not particularly healthy. I don't agree that all mega-churches should be suspect.
 
A big leader in the church-growth movement is <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Willowcreek Church under the leadership of Pastor Bill Hybels. August 9 to 11 they had their annual Leadership Summit at their church.  There were 80,000 in attendance, and the program was beamed into 176 sites via audiovisual technology.
 
This event troubles me and here's why.
 
One of the guests was former President Jimmy Carter.  On the Willowcreek Web site it states, "Jimmy Carter has done more since retiring from the office of president than most people accomplish in a lifetime. The author of more than 20 books is recognized worldwide for his leading work in conflict resolution, diplomacy, and humanitarian work."
 
Conflict resolution?  Hasn't Carter roamed the world bad-mouthing America and standing up for dictators? And what diplomacy?  It has not been pro-American!  His "diplomacy" when president was to let the Shah of Iran fall and welcome in the war on terror via the Ayatollah Khoumeini in 1979.  He then bungled the rescue attempt of our hostages because he would not consult with Israel and get their advice on landing American helicopters in the Iranian desert.  He so weakened our economy that only Ronald Reagan could pull the country back together. Those are elements of his "legacy" and diplomacy.
 
The Willowcreek Web site then goes on to list Carter's prominent books, but they leave off his outrageous book, "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid."  Shortly after the book was released some months ago, twenty staff members of the Carter Center resigned acknowledging that the book was full of fiction and lies.  Additionally, it is bitterly anti-Semitic.
 
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting In America (CAMERA) ran a full-page ad in the New York Times itemizing the errors and refuting them.  They called on Simon and Schuster to correct the false claims in the book.  But because of space limitations and the sheer numbers of errors in Carter's book, those ads could only highlight a fraction of Carter's falsehoods. Some of the fact and fiction is outlined by CAMERA at this link: http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1273 
 
But the greater question is what possible spiritual input and spiritual growth could have been imparted by Jimmy Carter?  If any of you heard the presentation live or via the TV feed, let me know.  If church annual conferences are to feature men and women who cannot contribute to church spiritual growth, then I say they are a total failure.  I don't need to attend an annual church conference featuring Carter and Colin Powell.  They are not going to teach me how to live a victorious Christian life in an evil and fear-filled world. They are not going to help me better understand my Bible.  They are not going to inspire me to share my faith.
 
And if these aren't the missions of the church, what are?  It surely isn't "Carter diplomacy."
 
RADIO THIS WEEKEND-August 18 – 19: Talk show host Ingrid Schlueter, author Brian Flynn, and I will discuss some of the continuing deceptions that rage in our churches causing many to abandon the church in utter frustration. This is the most-frequent e-mail I get from around the world: "Do you know of a good church in my town?" God isn't finished with the church but during this time of the great falling away, it seems our churches are the first to fall when they should be protecting and nurturing the sheep.