50 Most Influential Churches in the US
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The Church Report has released their latest list of 50 Most Influential Churches in the U.S. It's no surprise that Bill Hybels (Willow Creek: #1) and Rick Warren (Saddleback: #2) again top the list.
The list is as interesting s it is depressing. For example, Joel Osteen (Lakewood: #5) preaches a false, feel-good, no-sin, none-gospel, and T.D. Jakes (Potter's House: #8) denies the biblical, orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.
But there are some encouragements, like seeing the names of Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian: #16); Mark Driscoll (Mars HIll: #22); John MacArthur (Grace Community: #31); Harry Reeder (Briarwood Presbyterian: #35); Kent Hughes (College Church: #37); John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist: #42); and Tony Evans (Oak Cliff: #44).
The list is as interesting s it is depressing. For example, Joel Osteen (Lakewood: #5) preaches a false, feel-good, no-sin, none-gospel, and T.D. Jakes (Potter's House: #8) denies the biblical, orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.
But there are some encouragements, like seeing the names of Tim Keller (Redeemer Presbyterian: #16); Mark Driscoll (Mars HIll: #22); John MacArthur (Grace Community: #31); Harry Reeder (Briarwood Presbyterian: #35); Kent Hughes (College Church: #37); John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist: #42); and Tony Evans (Oak Cliff: #44).
posted by JT at Thursday, July 13, 2006
26 Comments:
what makes a church "influential"?
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Sad yet hopeful. I believe that God is renewing and reviving the church on a grass roots level to rediscover an old kind of Biblical Reformational Christianity. I think that John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, J. Gresham Machen, Calvin, Augustine, etc. will be more widely read by many in the younger generations because of the encouragement of people like John Piper, and because of the failure (or eventual failure) of the Mega church movement and the Emergent movement to help people see the deceitfulness of human heart, the sinfulness of sin, and how it can be mortified. Blessings,
Nick
I agree with you, Nick. But I think there is also a clumping effect.....people are being drawn to one of multiple camps. Driscoll also noted something like this in his CT interview.
I'm surprised the list does not reflect more of a fading of the seeker-sensitive churches in favor of the more emergent types.
Does anyone have data on the seeker-sensitive churches reaching a plateau? That's what I had heard was going on.
Anyone else see the humor in having Paula White next to John MacArthur?
Did you see Keller's picture? An interesting sort of statement.
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As a PCA guy and Birmingham, AL native I'm happy to see Briarwood Pres make the list. However, I would have expected Coral Ridge Pres & D. James Kennedy on their somewhere.
Dear Justin--
1)I don't think the 'seeker' style churches are in decline. They are booming all over the country. Nor are they only reaching baby boomers. However, I think they are evolving. They are changing their older, more individualistic and consumeristic mission statements. (This hasn't gotten much publicity.) So they are learning from the younger churches but still maintaining their prominence and popularity.
2)Most of the main parts of the fragmented evangelical world are on the list: a)charismatic, b)confessional, c)seeker-driven, d)emerging-style. I don't know that any of these groups are in decline, really. The ethnic churches are by and large not on the list, and they are growing, but it is true that most of them are not yet influential in the culture at large.
3)I didn't send in my picture. I think it is kind of silly to think you can rank churches the way they rank colleges and football teams. I appreciate the complement of the survey, but I doubt its accuracy.
Tim Keller
No Capitol Hill Baptist? They are training ministers by the dozen.
Thanks to Dr. Keller for the comment.
I intended to also ask why the picture for Keller was absent. I agree the rankings are rather, 'silly'.
Makes me wonder, if I was pastor of a church in the top 50 'most influential' churches, would I send my photo in?
From what I understand Redeemer purposefully disengages with the media, as it is usually a hindrance. I totally agree! The church is to establish community and spread the gospel personally, not like a celebrity organization.
Actually, there was a story in the NY Times about Redeemer a couple of months ago.
capital hill baptist is stupid, that's why it didn't make the list. btw, that was not tim keller, it's some joker.
No, it really is me.
--Tim Keller
JT, would you please consider removing the 'Anonymous'option. As you can see it is open to too much abuse by idiots.
It is interesting to note their methodology. They sent surveys to the 3000 largest non-Catholic churches. (I think it's 3,000 - the first number is obscured by the CR logo). They included a select number of pastors from smaller churches - I'd be curious to know how many and how they were chosen. So basically this is a sampling of who megachurch pastors think is most influential.
But the first comment is still dead on - influence is a fairly slippery term. There's probably little doubt that all of these churches and pastors are influential in some way - though we clearly would debate whether that is a good or bad thing.
I would also think that Covenant Life Church would make the list.
I love that Tim Keller didn't send in a picture! The whole thing is indeed silly - dare I say vanity
If this resembles a survey of Mega-Churches, I find it odd that Brian McLaren isn't on the list. He'll team up with Adam Hamilton (#11) and Dan Kimball at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Leadership Conference in October the weekend after the DG conference.
What do you guys think about Rob Bell? I'm just asking...
should have used this image for Tim Keller.
Is Cedar Ridge a mega-church?
While McLaren is influential (just ask TimeMagazine), I wonder if his *church* is seen as influencial...
Although the same could be said of many of the churches on the list.
<><
Alex,
Yes, I agree with you that in many cases there is a clumping effect, but I hope that many will not just interact with their camp, but will befriend and influence with patience, prayer, and love those who think differently. Blessings,
Nick
Michael Hibit,
Concerning Rob Bell you might be interested in a review of his book. You can find the review here:
http://www.reformation21.org/
Past_Issues/February_2006/
Shelf_Life_/Shelf_Life_/148/
vobId__2030/pm__338/
Blessings,
Nick
I thought it was HILARIOUS that Paula Whites church was next to MacArthur!
Doesn't Tony Evans promote inclusivism. I do know that in the back of one of his books he says he believes that people who have never heard of Jesus will be in heaven.
I found it. Tony Evans says at the back of his book "Totally Saved"
At the end of the book, there is a chapter in which the question comes up about people who have never heard the gospel. And, in that section, Tony writes that people who never hear the gospel, if they will accept whatever light they have, God will acknowledge that as sufficient for their salvation.
This list seems to list churches that while are noteworthy, may not actually turn out believers ready to work for the kingdom (e.g, Lakewood). What would you expect from a publication that tries to assess the "influence" of Christ's bride?
This list is a fraud. See:
Rising Evangelical Star Jason Christy Leaves Trail of Fraud, Associates Say
By Hannah Elliott
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Aug. 1 /ABP/ -- When young, charismatic Christian publisher Jason Christy was tapped two years ago to lead the powerful Christian Coalition, the group's leaders praised him for his ability "to inspire and encourage people of faith to action." But Christy's business dealings -- both before and after his one-month affiliation with the Coalition -- instead have inspired former customers and co-workers to file lawsuits charging Christy with defrauding their Christian businesses.
Christy, 36, who apparently had no previous public-policy experience, persuaded the Christian Coalition in 2005 to place him in one of the most visible and powerful positions in evangelical life. But before the coalition's leaders officially turned over the reins of their 1.2 million-member national lobbying group, they learned of a trail of legal and financial problems that has followed Christy from coast to coast.
Former associates and customers of Christy's many business ventures -- mostly Christian magazines -- say he cheated them out of money and threatened them. At least 10 of them have filed lawsuits, Associated Baptist Press has learned, and others have gotten court-issued restraining or protection orders against the Scottsdale, Ariz., businessman.
Christy says all the allegations are false. He and his supporters say "enemies" are spreading lies about him because of soured business relationships. But critics say Christy is a scam artist preying on trusting Christians.
Christy now publishes The Church Report, supposedly a conservative, national print magazine and web site. He has appeared as an analyst on CNN and spoken at megachurches like Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral. He hob-nobs with some of the evangelical elite and still has relationships with leaders in highly respected positions, like the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
This article is continued at Associated Baptist Press News: http://www.abpnews.com/2685.article
Also at The Baptist Standard: http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=6646 and
Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/augustweb-only/131-35.0.html
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