Prestonwood Baptist is in Plano, Texas, where I lived for quite a while. Plano is a wealthy, upper middle class city of 300,000. Pastor there is Jack Graham. He was part of President Trump's spiritual advisory team and probably will be again. Prestonwood has always had an over the top Christmas show - used to be a Living Christmas Tree program that cost over $1,000,000 many years ago. Some refer to PBC as "Six Flags Over Jesus" but it is a strong bible believing and teaching Baptist megachurch - last count 49,000 members across three campuses. Things are always bigger in Texas so maybe their leadership team believes they have to go way over the top to attract unbelievers to the Savior. The danger inherent in these type of "outreach" events is that the spectacle is glorified more than the Lord. Os Guinness has said in his book, Dining with the Devil, if churches use these kind of worldly methods to reach people it is like they are dining with the devil and if they choose to dine with the devil, then be sure to use a long spoon.
Tullian is justifying his own sin, while sort of implicating that everyone else is doing the same exact thing that he was guilty of. He seems to have not really understood his sin or repentance.
I alerted my friend to the Protestia post on X, and she offered more thoughts on the show:
“I saw the X post, and all the stupid comments about it from people who haven't been to the event. I agreed with some; disagreed with most. Yeah, it takes a tremendous amount of money to put on a show like that, but it's definitely gospel-driven (Act I is Santa's wonderland, and Act II is the story of the incarnation, which is very moving) and there's an altar call at the end with prayer. It's a community service, not church, so all those people saying that church is not supposed to be that kind of a spectacular are correct, but it's not a church service.
I hate big mega-churches that waste money as much as the next person, and I'm not a big fan of Santa Claus but the X post definitely pulled out the Santa portion of the event (which was for the kids, mostly) and focused on that. If they'd have shown Act II, it would have been a different story. I was in tears.
This event is literally known all over DFW. It's a tradition; it's funded by the ticket sales, and tickets are, like, $19-$49, so they're not making a killing on it per person.”
I’m torn about it now, after calling it “gauche” myself and hearing more Christian outrage and scorn. It was a ticketed event, not a church service, so I doubt tithes and offerings funded it like one friend protested. Is it the subject matter that crosses the line? Is it the venue? Are talented Christians allowed to perform in elaborate stage productions or are they allowed only in ragtag Christmas pageants? Is it the money that should always be given to the poor instead?
What were you referring to that you read… Hideous strength? What? Sorry…I was listening while walking around and doing other stuff…. Which I suppose you get… anyway… what was that? A book? An article?
Prestonwood Baptist is in Plano, Texas, where I lived for quite a while. Plano is a wealthy, upper middle class city of 300,000. Pastor there is Jack Graham. He was part of President Trump's spiritual advisory team and probably will be again. Prestonwood has always had an over the top Christmas show - used to be a Living Christmas Tree program that cost over $1,000,000 many years ago. Some refer to PBC as "Six Flags Over Jesus" but it is a strong bible believing and teaching Baptist megachurch - last count 49,000 members across three campuses. Things are always bigger in Texas so maybe their leadership team believes they have to go way over the top to attract unbelievers to the Savior. The danger inherent in these type of "outreach" events is that the spectacle is glorified more than the Lord. Os Guinness has said in his book, Dining with the Devil, if churches use these kind of worldly methods to reach people it is like they are dining with the devil and if they choose to dine with the devil, then be sure to use a long spoon.
wow, thanks for the inside scoop!
Tullian is justifying his own sin, while sort of implicating that everyone else is doing the same exact thing that he was guilty of. He seems to have not really understood his sin or repentance.
I alerted my friend to the Protestia post on X, and she offered more thoughts on the show:
“I saw the X post, and all the stupid comments about it from people who haven't been to the event. I agreed with some; disagreed with most. Yeah, it takes a tremendous amount of money to put on a show like that, but it's definitely gospel-driven (Act I is Santa's wonderland, and Act II is the story of the incarnation, which is very moving) and there's an altar call at the end with prayer. It's a community service, not church, so all those people saying that church is not supposed to be that kind of a spectacular are correct, but it's not a church service.
I hate big mega-churches that waste money as much as the next person, and I'm not a big fan of Santa Claus but the X post definitely pulled out the Santa portion of the event (which was for the kids, mostly) and focused on that. If they'd have shown Act II, it would have been a different story. I was in tears.
This event is literally known all over DFW. It's a tradition; it's funded by the ticket sales, and tickets are, like, $19-$49, so they're not making a killing on it per person.”
I'd love to see Act II. But I suppose that's not quite as exciting for the internet.
I’m torn about it now, after calling it “gauche” myself and hearing more Christian outrage and scorn. It was a ticketed event, not a church service, so I doubt tithes and offerings funded it like one friend protested. Is it the subject matter that crosses the line? Is it the venue? Are talented Christians allowed to perform in elaborate stage productions or are they allowed only in ragtag Christmas pageants? Is it the money that should always be given to the poor instead?
The 2nd tweet wasn’t really any better, was it? Wow.
My favorite Sunday School child said when I asked the whole class what they should do when they reach the very bottom of a hole, "start digging."
What were you referring to that you read… Hideous strength? What? Sorry…I was listening while walking around and doing other stuff…. Which I suppose you get… anyway… what was that? A book? An article?
"That Hideous Strength"...its the third and final book in CS Lewis' space trilogy. If you've not read it, you should definitely read it!