Week One is altar call, collect information, and give a bible. Step two is plugging the person into the next baptism class. Third is convince them to join the church and/or fill out a SHAPE application to determine what "ministry" they belong in. Step four is plugging them into ministry and turning them over to whoever is leading that ministry. This process could take a month or so depending on when the classes and baptisms are held. In this model the individual is only important one Sunday. Just one. That is the day of their altar call. All of the other steps occur outside of the Sunday Service setting. Once that person has been prayed for and given a bible, they are no longer the consideration of the lead pastor who must get ready for the next batch of goats coming the following week. This is why the average time spent in a mega church does not exceed three years. The Gospel is an incredibly personal phenomenon and Warren packaged it, marketed it, and warped it into a tool to grow carnal enclaves that call themselves churches. Yes it is true that if we are saved we are considered a royal priesthood but as always Vallotton specializes in missing the point. The usage of royal priesthood and holy nation is a direct restatement from Exodus when God is speaking about Israel. Remember, Paul is finishing his thoughts from Chapter 11 about grafting us into the nation of Israel. It is not so that you can go to a church that will starve you while you work out your purpose in the hospitality ministry. Vallotton continues:
"Banning Liebscher spoke at Bethel and shared stories from planting a church in Sacramento. He said people would come to him and ask, "What do you guys do for the poor? He would respond, "I don't know ... what do you do for the poor? You're the church!" I understand there's another side to this. Often times we have beautiful corporate expressions of ministering together. But we can't forget that the church isn't an organization; it's a body of people. We are the church. The church can't start with the organization; rather, it has to be in our hearts. When you know you're a minister, you're not waiting for someone to minister to you. Instead, you go to church to be equipped, so that you can minister to the people around you. If you work in a nail salon, you're a minister at a nail salon! Hallelujah! You're bringing the kingdom wherever you go."
The bible says we are ministers of reconciliation. Why? Because we are saved and can point people to the Gospel so that they might be saved. While we ought to be doing good works as a result of being saved, it is a ludicrous answer from Bethel's Banning to berate the sheep for not doing the job of leadership. This is how the purpose driven mindset works though. Once the altar call is over, there is almost a disdain for those in church that are not strictly adhering to the plan. If you question leadership, doctrine, or any of the schemes to entice the goats then you are deemed the problem and kicked out of the sheep pen. Vallotton's wistful piety of the church starting in our hearts sounds so spiritual but it again is nowhere in the Bible. Paul goes to excruciating lengths to establish to organization of the church for a reason. There is a danger in trivializing ministry. Not everyone has the same calling nor understanding of scripture. When you start saying everyone can do anything; that is how you end up with a Kris Vallotton because someone at some point told him he could teach and preach when it is clear he cannot. The ministry of reconciliation does not mean everyone runs the church. The ministry at the nail salon for example, will only be successful if you know what you are talking about!
"Some people say, "I work in a dark city ..." and what I'd say to you is it's not dark when you're there! Before you got there maybe it was dark, but it can't be now because you're there. And you're the light of the world so wherever you show up, light shows up. And beyond that, darkness flees when light shows up. How Will You Show Up This Sunday? I want you to take some time and think about your perspective on church. Do you usually go as a consumer, waiting to be ministered to? Or do you go with open eyes and an open heart to Holy Spirit's moving? Picture going to your Sunday service as a minister of the gospel. How will you be equipped? How will you serve? How will you pour out?" -- Kris Vallotton
Vallotton uses the word consumer on purpose to vilify those that do not bow down to his purpose driven theology. The consumers he is talking about are just the sheep of the Lord who come to church to hear the word of God and worship Him corporately. Think of it this way. To Kris Vallotton Martha was the hero and Mary was just a consumer. Yet we know that Mary has chosen the better thing. The conclusion reached here is staggeringly ignorant. Not everyone can divide the word of truth. There is a difference between living out the Gospel and teaching it. When your unsaved co-workers see you in peace during the storm they will want what you have. That is being a minster of reconciliation. We should go to church as a student of the Gospel. To learn and grow in Christ. This distortion is how you end up with so many absurdities growing out of Bethel that leadership then tries to distance themselves from. Grave sucking and dead raising teams started in Bethel yet Bill Johnson and Vallotton will swear they know nothing about it. Search YouTube for the video of the Bethel youth at a Jesus Culture concert trying to heal a man in a wheelchair by dragging him out of it. They are known for allowing anyone to step up and prophesy during Friday night services. Church is not meant to be unrestrained chaos. This is where the purpose driven church drives you. Without the Gospel, no one gets saved but do not worry, there will be plenty of ministers to tell you otherwise.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- April 11, 2018
