Reading the reaction to both Brian McClaren and Rick Warren’s comments on The Passion got me thinking. McClaren spoke out against the hype of regarding the film as “the best evangelistic tool in 2000 years,” arguing that it is the long-term living out of followership for people to see that really demonstrates something to live for.
Warren, on the other hand, argued against discrediting The Film altogether. He describes it as “a wave” of contemporary culture which, if the Church does its job and does some explaining, can draw people into relationship with Christ.
Now much of the dissatisfaction with Warren’s article was down to emphasis: the mention that “Mel” showed it to him, and that Saddleback have invited “leaders of communities” to watch the film at a VIP screening. He spoke of the numbers (3,000) added to the Church as a result of The Film. I was saddened that people got so riled at his language, while he may not envisage Church the same way we do, I don’t think that renders his perspective invalid. I also don’t believe he is ‘missing it.’
Warren may be a CEO of Saddleback Inc., and there is certainly no way that he pastors 23,000 individuals, but we can’t discredit the work he is doing just because his church is so large that he ends up using figures to describe their effectiveness. I’m sure the number game is a trap that is easy to fall into, and it must be difficult to ensure that so many individuals get discipled and don’t just become consumers. Their mode of presentation may, at times, even sacrifice The Message for the sake of presentation, but I would encourage us to avoid seeing our way as The Way.
Do leaders of communities need people to reach out to them? You bet they do! After all aren’t we supposed to make disciples of all people? Sure, we mustn’t focus on the rich at the expense of the poor, but maybe the work Saddleback does with the rich frees other communities to work among the poor in that area!