Well, I have to say that I think I have now heard it all: a church which has started a weight-loss campaign by means of putting in place accountability partners through small groups. Please somebody tell me this is the plot of the latest Hollywood Comedy and not a genuine enterprise taken on by one of the most influential and well-known leaders in today’s Western Church? Though on a first read this is truly comical, as I dig deeper, my heart really aches and my spirit is grieved, truly grieved. The reasons for my heartache on this occasion are just far too obvious so at the risk of being patronising, I ask you to please read this article and see for yourselves.
Would love to hear your thoughts and comments! Do you think these slimmer individuals may be the new wineskins Jesus spoke of? Somehow I very much doubt it. This is in my opinion a mockery of the sanctification Christians are called to and of Christ’s redemptive power too.
I was disturbed by this article and the lengths Christian leaders go to to be contemporary, popular, trendy and being seen to move with the times, or as some of the readers of the New York Times article have put it, to act “outside the box”. Please somebody explain to me what weight loss has to do with Christ’s commission to his followers and disciples. I thought the idea of accountability and fellowship were primarily for the sole purpose of building each other up towards sanctification, repentance, humility and ultimately the desire to become more Christ-like. and to inspire others to do the same.
This whole thing is yet another mockery of what The Church should be doing at this hour and rather than leading by example we are truly losing all credibility as God’s own people. As the powers of hell intensify in the world today, those wih suppossedly Godly authority and power to fight back are taking their eyes off the MAIN thing and letting their guard down. Come to church to lose weight. Someone out there must be cheering and having a good laugh and I don’t think it is God.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/at-a-big-church-a-small-group-health-solution/
