Comments on: Chasing the Brand and Not Jesus

By: Elwyn

Elwyn — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:49:02 +0000

Personally, I don’t see how the Houstons can really be personal pastors to 20,000 people.

By: neal_taylor

neal_taylor — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:36:25 +0000

Hi Ali,

Just checked and it appears that the blog on blogger has been closed!

Not sure what has happened - I do hope that the blog has been moved to Wordpress or similar, as it would be sad to loose the voice that The Thinking Theologian shared, and from the perspective The Thinking Theologian had!

If anyone knows what happened or where the author or blog has turned up - please let me know!

Thanks again Ali for bringing this up! Thanks for stopping by - hope to have you stop by and share your thoughts more often.

By: Ali

Ali — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:22:58 +0000

Hey there.
Any idea what happened to the Thinking Theologian blog?

By: neal_taylor

neal_taylor — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:31:40 +0000

Thanks Nathan! LOL I do get a fair bit of traffic on here but very few comment, so thanks for taking the time to say something! BTW — I have your site on my feed reader.

By: neal_taylor

neal_taylor — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:23:14 +0000

Thanks for sharing some great comments with us. Sad to say it is not limited to the AOG or Australian Christian Church but a other denominations - near where I live is Cafeforce (Churches of Christ) that seem to have gone this way. Not sure about CityLife in Wantirna and other places, but it seems while some have headed that way others haven't - congregation by congregation there seems to be some major differences in this area.

In the USA, the megachurches are growing - from osmosis - that is absorbing members from other churches, while the smaller ones, trying the "big guys" approach are not succeeding very well.

Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts, feel free to drop by and leave them anytime.

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:42:26 +0000

Hi Neal, just stumbled on this. I am AOG in Sydney but that's where my association with Hillsong ends. Nothing against them, I wish them well but it does make me wonder what is the point here. As you say it appears to make sense as a business model but how Biblical that is, I'm with you there. On the other hand, is the Hillsong brand a bigger drawcard than Garden City or worse yet, Christ Himself? Like you I am saddened about this as AOG Christianity has ceased to be about winning the lost to Christ and more about winning the seeking to an entertaining and wealthy clique. Our church has steered well away from that thankfully but for how long I wonder. Not that I doubt our own board, I wonder if the pressure will come from the top.

Thinking Theologian is also on the mark I feel. I read with interest his thoughts on the Bible college situation. I've felt that for years it's relieving to think that I'm not alone feeling that.

Bless you all, please pray for the church in this nation.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:06:38 +0000

No comments Neal! No-one biting! Well, I’m right with you on this mate.