You can find the article here, at the Resurgence blog.
Driscoll speaks of the phenomenon of “Conference Christians” who go from spiritual mountaintop to spiritual mountaintop at the various inspirational conferences one can attend.
Humorous and powerful – Driscoll’s specialties. Well worth reading.
You might also check out SBC Today’s “Top Blog Posts of the Week” with links to some very good articles that have been out there that you might have missed.
Driscoll writes:
“They have a pseudo elder board that they self-select from their favorite preachers and authors. This allows them to not submit to a local team of actual spiritual leaders who know them, but rather just defend themselves by appealing to their heroes, who would be embarrassed to see how they were being used by conference Christians.”
This from a guy who formed a coup and ousted his own accountability “elders”.
I’m glad to see he is willing not only to needle the traditional Bible Belt Christian culture, but also the more contemporary conference addicts. I’m so pleased he was willing to point these things out that I’m tempted to ignore the obvious dig regarding his impressive familiarity with wine tasting etiquette.
When you consider that the same people attend the conferences led by the same people all over the country, you have a massive echo chamber developing. Is it just me, or are we seeing the same speakers at all the big conferences now?
Our leadership goes to the Willow Creek Leadership Summitt every August via video feed at a local church because it is in town and we can do it together. That has been a good thing because we are able to bounce ideas off one another.
I have not been away to a conference in several years. I really am not interested in being preached at by a bunch of big names I don’t know and can’t interact with. Last summer, I audited a class on Ephesians/Ecclesiology at NOBTS for a week. I got to hang out with a bunch of other students, talk to the professors, have lunch with several of the church planters in NOLA, and have a great experience. It was FAR better than any conference I’ve ever been to – much more informative and interactive.
We ordained a young man in our congregation last year. The speakers at the ordination were his dad, his pastor in college days and our pastor.
We did not intend this, but we saw our first Bible Conference developing before our eyes.
Our pastor has been with us for 18 years. He helped found the church. Left a big work (which barely supported us), took a pay cut. We had 10 people. No building. $25,000 in the bank.
The other 2 men had been at their pastorates for over 30 years each.
People who labor effectively and quietly in little known places are often the best people to hear preach. They gave a great challenge to this young man as he started off on his journey after ordination.
I am not against hearing from people who are really gifted, talented, smart and creative. We all benefit from tapping into that.
But the men who pastor and lead their churches over many years, often through difficult times and with no notoriety, are a valuable resource to the church.
Some day, I would be interested in attending a conference made up of people like that.
Just a quick question for anyone willing…
“Where in the Scriptures do we find a defense/support/justification for all these Bible Conferences?”
I have some issue with the explosion of Bible Conferences going on today… But for now I am just asking an honest question here.
Grace for the Journey,
Greg, it depends on what you mean by defense/support/justification, and what you mean by “conferences.”
It a little like asking, “Where do we find defense/support/justification for flying in an airplane?”
If one’s definitions are not too narrow, then I think the many “convocations” of Israel would give support for conferences. Of course, that does not then support, “conference Christians” which is the point of this post.
Frank,
I am referring to those who have made a profession out of being “A Conference Speaker”… and those who follow these Conference Speakers as Neo-Prophets. (I could give examples, but there is not need to do that here).
Grace fore the Journey,
Greg, I think you make an important distinction, and I agree with you (not that my agreement validates anything).
That would cause me to conclude that there is great value in gathering to gain mutual support and instruction from those who God has set aside as “apostles” in the church.
This is worlds away from the “celebrity circuit riders” as you point out.
I think one could make the case that the speakers at these conferences are simply trying to use the spiritual gifts they possess in a way that glorifies Him. Of course, pitfalls abound (see post Living for Heaven’s Amen by D. Miller).
Greg, it’s right next to the justification for blogging.
🙂
🙂
Mark…. Now that was funny 🙂
What I am really concerned about is members setting up under the authority of men (and women) who they really do not know anything about, other than their carefully groomed public image. These people are subjecting themselves to the teachings/influence of “a stranger”… and I simply cannot find any justification for that in the scriptures anywhere… actually I find a warning not to do so.
Grace for the Journey,
I wonder where they get the money to go to all of these places. Fleecing the sheep? Instead of staying home with wife & kids and ministering to the sheep who need a shepherd?