I found this podcast on thier site (BloggingChurch.com), and I looked up some of the references they made (like the pastor they consider as a top notch pastor/CEO blogger, and listened to some of the premises of the book , some of which tackle topics of obvious church issues (Staff blogging, Why Blog?, Stories) but also has a section on “Marketing Your Church” which the podcast guys kind of scoff at the idea of people being critical of it, but I must say that I highly anticipate having quite a few problems , just getting a feeling that these churches are adverse to the idea of Christians being more concerned with Peace than with being “faithful Americans” (the pastor bloger made a few references such as :
EVEN protestors of the war–you may not agree with what America is doing…you may be outspoken…you may hate our government; however, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ then I will say how dare you speak or utter a word of protest if you have never lifted up the leadership of our country in prayer. And the next time you see a soldier–instead of getting angry at him or her…why not thank them for defending your right as an American to speak what is on your mind.
In fact, this is a major reason why I think it is even more important for churches seeking to live the way of Christ need to have blogers who are telling stories of what it is meaning these days to follow the Prince of Peace, and that their refusal to swallow nationalism run amuck is sorely needed as an indication to the blogosphere that there are Christians who take Jesus seriously, and what that might look like lived as a people.
To that pastor:
Uhm, who said we were angry at soldiers? And who said we weren’t prayer for our leaders? Why the projection and stereotypes?
Odd, I kinda have a feeling that we do more praying for our misguided leaders than they do. That sounds crude, and perhaps it is, but like, c’mon. Why do they still have to impose their nationalism in an effort to be piously nice about praying for leaders and stuff. *sigh*
Peace,
eric
Interesting that all of the Sr. Pastors on the blogroll and all of the church staff bloggers are all men. Is that telling?
Yeah, Eric, I also notice the ever-present “you may hate our government”…..like any questioning automatically implies “hate” rather than wanting the best.
And Vaughn, on the absence of women, this seems to another item to go with the territoty of the “marketing/successful/mega church”.
Dale