The Way of the Master ministries picked-up Church by the Glades’ “Wii Wish You a Merry Christmas” campaign on their radio show. From my understanding, the ministry was started by ex-Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron. It is a ministry designed to equip people to share their faith. I think that is great!
Unfortunately, one of their radio host, Todd Friel, blasted CBG for what they are trying to do. Although Todd and the TWOTM staff are completely entitled to their opinion, I think that is regrettable. What is interesting to me is that people like Todd (seemingly super-spiritual, know all truth, those who confidently pass-out judgement on God’s behalf on anything that doesn’t look orthodox like they were prophets of God, touting Christian doctrines with really big words in them, etc…) all attack using the same argument. What is it? In short: the church is for Christians. But is it?
When I read the book of Acts, I see a group of people trying to fulfill the Great Commission. I see a group of people taking Jesus’ words in Act 1:8 pretty seriously. This early church went out and shared their faith so that ALL would know who Jesus Christ is and what He had done for them. When issues like discipleship, meeting needs, etc…were brought up, the leaders elected people to take care of those needs. It is almost as if those things were secondary to getting the Gospel out.
I honestly believe that tradition has taught us that Christians are to get inside some building, sing some songs, teach the Bible, encourage one another, eat some food and go home. I don’t think that was Christ’s intend for His Church. Christ wanted His Church to grow! However, in most North American churches, that is simply not happening.
Don’t get me wrong. Should the church equip, train, build-up, mature and meet needs of its believers? OF COURSE! However, is that it’s sole purpose? I don’t think so…
To Todd and TWOTM: Thanks for your ministry and the part you are playing to build God’s Kingdom on earth. You have your methods, strategies and beliefs and are doing what you feel God has lead you to do. I think CBG is simply trying to do the same. Let’s leave the criticism out of it and work together to achieve the same goal–populating Heaven.
NOTE: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MINE AND NOT THAT OF CBG.
Tags: Church by the Glades, Nintendo Wii, The Way of the Master, Todd Friel
December 16, 2007 at 9:41 pm |
Our small group has successfully worked our way through the first two seasons of Way of the Master without becoming self-righteous jerks. I can’t say the same for some others.
Friel reminds me of Rush Limbaugh. The snarky, hateful, AM radio, right-wing, blurring-the-line-between-Republican-and-Christian, self-righteous jerk. I just can’t stomach it.
Not to mention that he’s turned one of my best friends into a self-righteous religious nutball out to condemn everyone around him.
January 10, 2008 at 2:47 pm |
The key to taking The Way of the Master Course is to actually “Go Out” and “evangelize”.
I don’t think that Todd Friel blasted CBG completely. In fact, I felt that in his rebuke he gave a great exhortation.
The early church did not use gimmicks in order to add to the church. Now you can do that if you want to, but what happens is that man grows the church instead of God. With the message that the early church preached came power and miracles.
Lew,
For some reason your comments always come off a lot more hateful that Todd Friels… and snarky too.
April 8, 2008 at 11:30 am |
I believe Todd has a valid point, the church is not a buildiong but the body of Christ ( made up of the people who are born again) thus in order to add to the church, and not just to aquire numbers in a building, (as it is not about adding to a building but seeing souls born again), we should do it God’s way, not via entertainment etc, but by the preaching of the gospel. After all I am sure the Bible says it is the ‘GOSPEL’ that is ‘the poewr of God unto salvation’, not our earthly methods. Much love. PS Lew that did not appear like a Christ- like response, calling someone a “jerk” does not bring glory to Christ.
August 27, 2008 at 7:36 pm |
i listen pretty consistently to a local stationed called WAOY which frequently
brodcasts way of the master radio. truthfully, because there is so much
talk and very little said, i tune into the music…it’s great but I can’t say as much for the christian talk radio. One Saturday night, I heard this voice come on and it sounded cynical and critical I thought that my radio had slipped stations. Last Saturday night, that booming voice of satire came on again and launched into some silly game about Christian ease terms…it was a butchery to Christian satire in my opinion and made me so angry I wanted to go Elvis and shoot the radio…then there comes the spoof on werewolves of london….I wanted to know who the voice belonged to…thought it was a middle aged man so I did some research and was shocked by the face of Todd Friel. Not the face I thought that went with that voice. I wondered what happened to compassion. From a perspective
of critical thought, it sounded like the raving of lunatics…
I am also aware that the time is short…the hour is late and that
the need for the Gospel (Good News) in these last days of planet earth has
never been greater…but that is what I have largely failed to hear…
Good News. Speaking only for myself, if that were the Jesus I had
encountered when I was very young…I’d be a Buddhist or a Hindu…
I listen to a lot of secular talk radio and I laugh sometimes about
the rantings and ravings going on but in most of the visceral
jargon, I hear a relative amount of truth but I don’t find anything
Todd Friel says funny, enlightening or brilliant in the apologetic or satirical sense. It just sounds really mean spirited to me. That’s what
Christianity needs…more mean spiritedness….NOT
It just made me angry because what I am failing to hear really
not to oversimplify things is the Good News…not kicking
your enemy in the teeth…or holding a gun to someone’s head
to force repentance…never found that behavior in the Jesus
of the Gospels…thank God that
he will sort all of this out himself because apparently
he’s the only one who can.
February 6, 2009 at 4:18 pm |
This pastor
February 6, 2009 at 4:21 pm |
sounds so immature……i know what Christians are and these people at CBG certainly aren’t them…..it’s a circus. God gave us proper ways to worship him….they cross the line to be cool, its not cool, its embarrassing.
February 6, 2009 at 7:06 pm |
WOW!!!
Hi Flomo! Thanks for the comment. First, I have to apologize for embarrassing you. That wasn’t my intent.
Second, I have to tell you…I usually delete posts from people who show a complete disregard for God’s Word by openly sinning (in this case, slandering the Bride of Christ). However, I thought your comment was special. I mean seriously, you are claiming to know something only God can know…the eternal destiny of everyone at our church. That is AWESOME!
That got me thinking…if you have access to that kind of information, I thought it might be useful for everyone reading this post to have your contact info so they can talk with you about all kinds of things that no one, except God Himself, knows. If you would be so kind as to post your email and/or phone #, I am sure there would be plenty of people who would appreciate it!
I can now tell people that I know a psychic and/or modern-day prophet. Now, I really am cool!!!
To the other people reading this…was that a little over the top? If so, sorry…I couldn’t resist
February 22, 2009 at 6:11 pm |
It did seem over the top. But I understand that much can be lost in written communication.
Flomo seems a little upset, too.
I have friends that attend there and I often hear stories they are embarrassed to tell. They are not gossiping, but generally concerned. These are some “real” Christians (Flomo, there are definitely some there! My guess is a lot). They’re “afraid” to speak of their concerns to the staff. One even mentioned in a “sermon” that the church was a body and if some people don’t leave it is like being constipated. (Fred, is that true?). If so, that, and your comments above would certainly make dialogue between fellow believers pretty difficult.
Fred, if there are many Christians there and many are saying the same thing and are concerned, maybe, just maybe, Glades might have crossed a line somewhere.
My prayer for all who have commented is to maintain the unity there is in Christ, not try to create a false unity with the world.
My apologies is any feel I butted in where I don’t belong. And, Fred, I have tried to refrain from any open sinning so this will get posted
Blessings.
February 23, 2009 at 4:08 pm |
Hi PeaceMaker!
It surprises me to hear that there are people who are “afraid” to voice their concern on certain issues. While we do defend the Bride of Christ without apology here at CBG (I think that’s the responsibility of any Pastor/Leader), we make it easy for people to communicate with the staff. Not only are the staffs’ email addresses posted on our website, but we send out a welcome email to all our first time guests asking for and welcoming their feedback. We always value what other people think about how we present Christ and God’s Word.
However, we also place a high value on what we believe God has called us to be as a church. Not everyone is going to like or agree with our methods. We know and understand that. That is why we believe that there are different churches for different people. If someone doesn’t like the way we “do” church, then we encourage them to find one that fits them. Life is too short to be as angry as Flomo about it. More importantly, lives are at stake. Instead of arguing about who’s version of church is better, we should focus that energy on reaching the people around us for Christ.
In short, I really think God is going to have some strong Word’s for people who talk negatively about His Son’s Bride…I know I would as a Father…
As for the constipation illustration, you will have to listen to our podcasts to find out…
March 24, 2009 at 1:09 pm |
The show (now called Wretched Radio) has really helped me in my understanding of the Bible.
December 1, 2009 at 12:27 pm |
Peacemaker:
Thanks for the prayers. They are greatly appreciated and needed! God Bless
August 27, 2010 at 2:42 am |
I have been wary (and a bit weary) of Todd Friel and his style since his days doing “Walk the Talk” at KTIS, back in the late 90s. I found his tone condescending and off-putting back then. I ran across his name again tonight, and googled him to see if he had changed any in the last ten years. Sadly, it appears not, as several of the top hits are from athiests, who refer to Friel as one of the best reasons NOT to believe in God.
God’s word shows many facets of His personality, two of which are His love and judgement. John clearly tells us “God is Love”, and the Lord commands us to love our enemy. I’m afraid I don’t hear this love in Mr. Friel when he speaks to someone (or about someone) he disagrees with. I do hear a lot of condemnation and judgement. God’s word clearly tells us that it is not for us to judge, that is HIS job.
Pastor, I don’t know you, nor have I ever visited your church. But, this Christian in Minnesota will be praying for you and for success in your endeavors to reach the unchurched for Christ, to be all things to all men that by all means possible you might save some . . . even if that means giving away Wii, or iPads, or whatever else God lays on your heart to do.