On October 18, 2010, the famed Crystal Cathedral, founded by Dr. Robert Schuller, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
WHAT?!?!?!?!
WOW -that news flash really took me off guard when I heard it. I first heard it on the radio and then researched it in the Los Angeles Times as well as other sources including the Wall Street Journal. I had the opportunity to visit the church in 1979 (yes…I am old) after the new sanctuary had been completed and they were installing the new pipe organ in the balcony. It is a spectacular example of modern architecture.
However, this news has re-enforced some principles and concepts that I believe churches need to embrace as they consider buildings, debt, longevity, public profile and the like….here are my thoughts:
1. Ministry buildings are tools…and should not be monuments…to any one or any thing
2. Count the cost…ask the “What If” questions…what if our giving does go down, or our expenses go up
3. It is extremely difficult to sustain the longevity of a ministry based on a personality…what is your succession plan?
4. Nepotism is a dangerous and slipper slope in a ministry structure (or any structure for that matter)
5. Before you enter into any kind of endeavor, ask and answer “Who/Whom are we doing this for?”
6. If your financial base committed to generosity or “country club”/convenience giving
7. You can not out give God…but that does not give you permission to be presumptuous about his generosity
8. When you live in the public limelight, you may end up airing your dirty laundry in the same place
9. TV ministries can be a good thing…but…have we outlived the “network age” and moved into more of the “internet age” where podcasts, online videos and the rest are significantly less expensive?
10. We are to be “salt and light” to the world…not a distraction or an embarrassment to the Kingdom
I would ask that you join me in praying for the Schuller family and for the Crystal Cathedral. Satan would like nothing less than to bring shame and ridicule to the church of Jesus Christ. Pray for full restitution and resolution to these matters in a manner that honors Christ. At the same time…take heed…don’t be the next.
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Tags: building project, Christian life, church, church building, church construction, Elevation Church, Facility Stewardship
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Gary Savelli
Maybe one day, God’s people will learn that “church” never was of God. Our prayer is that they ALL go bankrupt, so Jesus will be the center of all that we do. God’s people need to flee that religion – it was NOT what Jesus died for, nor what the apostles and prophets gave their lives for. Worship God at home – we will be much better off.
October 25th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Stephen Shives
I recently confronted this issue in our own church. Debt IS bondage, and God does not want His church in bondage to the world. It is time for church leadership to be bold, patient and faithful enough, to trust God to provide for His work without being tied to the world’s systems.
October 25th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
David Roberts
I thank you for your words of wisdon Tim. Debt is a tool, and like any tool can be used to build or tear down. Often times debt gets the blame, but leadership and the desire to “have it all” often times are the real culprits.
October 25th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
De
I was inside the Crystal Cathedral in 1984. It is a magnificent structure. I was impressed by the many ministries that had going at the time. A ministry to unwed mothers, various kinds of counseling to help struggling people, educational ministries, clothes closet & food pantry, etc. I am sorry to see this event take place. But that is always the problem of something built on any single personality. Sometimes too much even of something good is still too much! My prayers are with the entire faith community at Garden Grove.
October 25th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Gary Parker
Tim:
I totally agree with your ten items regarding the sad news about the Schuller organization.
I’ve seen several examples of churchs that struggle after having a dynamic, powerful Christian personality as the primary leader/senior pastor.
It’s very difficult to replace or follow such a personality and I’m cedrtain Satan waits for just such an opprtunity to disrupt the Kingdom.
You may not realize the positive impact you had on me during our business relationship. But, one of the things you and Cogun taught me was the real need for churchs to balance the reality in which we live, and should live responsibly, with the temptation to overextend ourselves and our God given resources.
I’m glad that we never led a church into a bad economic situation.
I will do as you suggest and pray for the Schuller family and organization.
Gary Parker
October 25th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Richard Rhodes
I met with the 2 daughters of the Pastor there 2 weeks ago…both are Spirit filled now and in leadership.They realized the church was worshipping its worship not God..and fired the Choir…all were paid.They have had some tought times..but by doing the right thing..Seeking the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness…all things..will be added back to them.Matthew 6:33.Unless one has walked a mile in someone elses shoes he shouldnt judge…in fact God says judge not lest ye be judged.I find these 2 girls to be just what they now need in the Cathedral…May God bless them as they now turn that ship toward God and his Kingdom.The smartest American ever Einstein says “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is trully the definition of insanity!I just discribed most churches today!I say you go girls!The force the Holy Spirit is with you!
October 26th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Carl Trimble
I would remind our friend and brother that the scripture does not say “don’t judge.” Read the full context of the passage. “Judge not that you be not judged; for with what judgement you judge, you also shall be judged.” The intent is that we, as another passage reads: “How is it that you talk about the splinter in another’s eye when you have a whole plank stuck in your own eye.”(Paraphrase mine).”
I think the passage suggests a consideration of our own status before we pass judgement on someone else. If we can be found without fault in the context of the situation then we can and, perhaps, should pass judgment on the situation at hand. But, and I also think, that judgement should based on a loving spirit and with mercy as our intention in so doing.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Carl Trimble
Gary,
I don’t know where your disaffection for “church”is derived. Keep in mind that “church” is the English word for what in Greek is “ecclesia.” They have exactly the same meaning. In either case, the word carries the meaning of “assembly,” and not the more often current meaning of “denomination.”
In the context of the word, there is the scripture that states very directly, “Do not forsake the assembly of the saints.” It is within the assembly of the saints that we find renewal, direction, and inspiration to follow those aspects of our faith and to which we aspire and profess. Going it alone is never a part of what is promoted; not even in the earliest annals of the faith and, to me, most certainly in these troubling times within our Western civilization.
October 27th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Lacy Wolfe
I met with the 2 daughters of the Pastor there 2 weeks ago…both are Spirit filled now and in leadership.They realized the church was worshipping its worship not God..and fired the Choir…all were paid.They have had some tought times..but by doing the right thing..Seeking the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness…all things..will be added back to them.Matthew 6:33.Unless one has walked a mile in someone elses shoes he shouldnt judge…in fact God says judge not lest ye be judged.I find these 2 girls to be just what they now need in the Cathedral…May God bless them as they now turn that ship toward God and his Kingdom.The smartest American ever Einstein says “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is trully the definition of insanity!I just discribed most churches today!I say you go girls!The force the Holy Spirit is with you!
December 23rd, 2010 at 4:24 pm