I’ve got to say it. I’m over the whining. I got an email from a pastor today that lit my fire a little. I’m tired of excuses from guys who are more concerned with job security than reaching people. Sometimes we spend more time complaining about what we can’t do than actually pursuing what God created us and called us to do.
I continue to be amazed at the number of pastors and leaders who criticize Bill Hybels and Willow Creek for the Reveal Study. In my opinion (which I am fully persuaded is correct 
) many of these don’t have the guts to honestly evaluate how their ministries are doing, but are more than willing to take aim at someone who does it differently, even if that someone is achieving results that many never have.
It seems to me Bill is willing to risk what you and I might think of him because of his apparent desire to truly reach people and help those who desire to do so. He understands that those who are both critical of his results and impotent in reaching people themselves are simply not his audience. Also, the very existence of the study “reveals” a desire to grow and change and learn more.
I remember years ago a lunch I had with some of the senior adults in our church. One lady tossed out (like it was the atomic bomb), “Are we a part of the Willow Creek Association - just tell us the truth”? There are so many things wrong with that statement and thinking, which came from a biased and ignorant perspective. At the time we weren’t, today we are.
The following quote is from Bill Hybels… it hopefully it will cause us to think and pursue loving God and loving others rather than to simply figure out how we can position ourselves to look better to other pastors and churches and church people.
Perhaps if more pastors had more courage, more people would know Jesus.
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If you’ve followed Willow Creek’s Reveal study you’re aware of the firestorm it caused. Some who don’t prefer Willow or their philosophy or style tried to use it to say what they’ve done over the years has failed.
Actually, I don’t know many church leaders who would be so vulnerable as to say “here’s where we can improve and here’s what we’re learning.” Growth is a process and I don’t think Hybles or Willow Creek ever claimed to have arrived. Perhaps we could just get pumped about the 1,000’s who’ve come to Christ through this church. After all, we all try things that work and fail, things that are effective or need to be tweaked - and as a follower of Christ I would hope that I would learn more each passing year about how to be even more effective.
I grow weary of hearing from guys who aren’t doing jack to reach people, or make a major difference, spending their energies slamming those who are! I appreciate Hybles heart for people and Willow’s passion for reaching and growing them. I don’t care what style you are, color you are, structure you have, or location you’re in - if your reaching people and growing them in their faith… go get ‘em - if you’re not really reaching people perhaps it’s time to focus on what Christ was about rather than espousing your empty theories which have resulted in little or no life change of those around you.
I don’t agree with everything Willow does or Bill Hybel’s thinks (and I’ve never check with him - because I don’t know him personally - but I don’t he would agree with me on everything). What I do love and am pumped about is a church focusing on being the church and making a difference. Check out the heart of the study:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkEAO0PlJIY&hl=en]
