When the city’s journalism awards come out next year, I expect Stephen George’s lengthy examination of the Sojourn Church to be at the top of the list of prize-winners.
In this week’s cover story, George tries to square all the good (community activism, cleaning up areas of the city, hip music, energetic leadership) with the bad (conservative, religious right, intolerant beliefs about homosexuality, gender roles and abortion). While you might expect the influx of young leadership and community activism in Germantown to be progressive, it’s actually far from it, and George examines the ways in which the church’s leaders have grown the church into a major force while staying true to their fundamentalist Christian beliefs.
Whether all of the church’s 500 members buy into the fundamentalist part of the church’s doctrine is up for debate. The leaders say they welcome gays even while they preach that their lifestyle is sinful. Sojourn is obviously having an impact on the city. It came up with about $2 million to invest in its property (the old Shelby Elementary School) and brings in about $30,000 a week in offerings. It has 17 staff members.
I suspect some of the members, like one George interviewed, are torn between being a part of a cool group and a belief that the fundamentalist rants coming from the pulpit don’t square with their personal beliefs. I don’t believe that most folks in their 20s and 30s still believe that gay people can be “changed.”
There was a time, maybe 10 years ago, when I tried Southeast Christian Church. I lived nearby, and everyone seemed to be going, as I kept hearing when I interviewed the city’s business leaders. But I kept having fundamental problems with what I was hearing from the pulpit, especially about those social issues that get all the press — abortion and homosexuality. So I quit going, because the best reason I could think of to continue was that I liked the gym.
Rev. Joe Phelps of Highland Baptist Church, in an interview with George, captured the disconnect best: “. . . but it’s surprising to discover that such a contemporary, progressive context has such a conservative underpinning to it.”
20 responses so far ↓
1 bluegrassredstate // Apr 9, 2008 at 4:11 pm
A church that is built on the sinking sand of people’s thoughts and feelings is no church at all. One that declares as truth beliefs which people want to be true is nothing but a fraud, because the truth is known and written. Churches are to be built on the solid rock of truth. From what I know, Sojourn is. I’ve only been there once or twice, though.
It’s never surprising to hear about people going to churches that say what they want to hear, because it was written a long time ago in 2 Timothy that “the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 1 Corinthians stated “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ”
I hate to tell you but I have to - if someone disagrees with the Bible, the chances are pretty high that it’s the person who is wrong. Sorry. It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how well you think you understand science, people, how the world works, etc., because as it says in 1 Corinthians “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
The person being referred to there, of course, was Jesus - who fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 29 that was written long before His birth - “Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
2 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Apr 9, 2008 at 4:47 pm
My intelligence, based on real things and extensive study, is now hereby irrelevant because of a few words in a book of fables. mmmm-k
3 Spencer // Apr 9, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Once again another group and/or a very eloquent speaker with a charasmatic way of saying a word are reinventing the wheel. Yes just when you think it cant be done again,in fact someone shows up and puts a new spin on an old rain maker song and dance and ONCE again people are throwing reality out the window and all their hard earned money so that they can get together to pretend its all brand new. Like junkies for smack,watered down doctorine enlaced with modern music and multible social programs that make you feel good about yourself and forget the outside world so you really dont have to compromise your true feelings about yourself or others and spend all your time and money yet again on another fly by night evangelist in the making,”how many custom suits does benny hinn have again?”
The answer “as many as he wants “when there are STILL people in this world who will victimize others or allow themselves to become victims all under other flash in the pan church that would even make Christ shake his head and say” I died so you could work out in a gymasium and listen to newsboys ?”
No talk about hell,the blood,sacrifice and sin….repentance.
No im sure it will be flag dancing,a 30 piece band,lights,tailored suits,selling CD’s/DVD’s/books,services 24/7,giant monitors with gold plated plant stands and thick carpet,custom mahogany benches, need i say more?
The only thing they need are simple,weak willed,conforming insecure folks.
Its a business and business is GOOD. Just look at evangel life center ,South east Christian,etc…they are the modern day catholic church from hundreds of years ago.
The MACHINE has become the master.
4 bluegrassredstate // Apr 9, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Steve, I never said your experience is not relevant. In fact, I know otherwise.
I will tell you this, however, Your intelligence will never belong to you, and your extensive study will never be extensive enough.
5 Steve // Apr 10, 2008 at 5:59 am
I’ve always found it amazing how “tolerance” is a one-way street for the anti-Judeo-Christian crowd. Because I believe the Bible’s claims, I’m labeled intolerant, but those who go against it–find it’s claims intolerable–are considered tolerant? Where’s the logic–fairness, to use a popular word–in that?
I don’t have to agree with someone in order to “tolerate” him. As a Christian, I’m commanded to love others, even if he’s an enemy. I can disagree strongly with those who don’t agree with my views, but I will always choose to accept them as human beings equal to me. All, regardless of their views, have the same free choice I do, and I respect that.
Yet I rarely enjoy the same respect from those who don’t agree with my biblical views. What blatant hypocrisy.
6 Jerry Conder // Apr 10, 2008 at 7:50 am
In theroy, what is the difference between the fables told in the bible to those told in Edith Hamilton’s text on greek mythology? After all it was taken just as seriouly as Christianity is today by it’s zealots. It is hard for me to claerly understand how any rational person today still can grasp onto mythological beings and accept them as solid reality in order to deal with the fear of their own mortatilty. We laugh at the fact of Zeus and Hermes, or later Jupiter and Mercury ever being thought of as actual deities. I wonder how silly the bible will seem to human beings two thousand years from now? Just think, if Melville would have written “Moby Dick, ” thousdands of years ago, there might be people out there worshiping a great white whale.
7 bluegrassredstate // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:50 am
The difference is very simple. The characters in Edith Hamilton’s text on greek mythology never walked the earth. Jesus did.
Moreover, Jesus lived after he died.
We can, too.
That’s the difference.
8 liberallover // Apr 10, 2008 at 10:09 am
fake. jesus never existed. prove it.
9 bluegrassredstate // Apr 10, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Asking me to prove Jesus existed is kind of like asking me to prove that George Rogers Clark, or any other person we know from history, existed. There is plenty of evidence available which is accepted by almost everyone, even those of us who put our faith in science.
I challenge you to prove Jesus didn’t live. After you accept that He did, try to prove that He didn’t live after He died.
In 2000 years, a lot of people have tried to prove just that, and every single one of them has failed. Many of those people became some of the most devoted followers of Jesus to ever live.
The Bible would be a good place to start doing some research. “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis would also be a good place to start.
10 Sportschix // Apr 10, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Intolerance, discrimination and judgement are NOT Judeo-Christian. Loving all people regardless of their likeness or difference IS Judeo-Christian.
Regardless, this was a blog about two stories by two periodicals not a judgement on a church. It was also a writer stating his being true to himself in not chosing a particular church.
11 bluegrassredstate // Apr 10, 2008 at 1:24 pm
“Fundamentalist rants” sounds pretty judgmental.
Additionally, I think it’s important to note that having fundamental problems with what one hears from the pulpit of a Christian church doesn’t make the Christian church wrong, as long as what is being said is true to what Jesus Christ said.
12 Geoff // Apr 10, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Spencer, seriously, have you ever been to Sojourn? I don’t see, judging from your comments, how you can possibly know anything about this church.
13 Rob M // Apr 11, 2008 at 12:40 am
The Bible is a nice self help book with an ancient people’s take on science and history. There is some truth, some supernatural hokum, and some uneducated guesses about how things originated.
None of this makes it “The Truth”, but merely a collection of good ideas about how to lead a better life, anchored by a diety whose existance cannot be proven, and whose modern interpretations seldom make any since upon close examination.
14 liberallover // Apr 11, 2008 at 9:03 am
Rob M FTW!
15 james // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Jesus says in John 14:6 that He is “the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to God but through Me.” There are several other quotes from Him saying that He is the Son of God and the only way for salvation.
This hardly leaves room for the Bible to be a self-help book that is only full of feel good stories. That would be one gigantic cop out. Jesus draws a line here …a line you have to decide which of the two sides you are on. Either Jesus is who He said He was…or He is the biggest con artist that ever lived.
So which is it? If Jesus is the only way to God, then He demands a response. If He is not, then why bother? Its important that every one wrestle with this question with a great deal of care and not spout off opinions only based on your personal bias or how you were raised. The answer to this question has eternal consequences.
16 james // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:39 pm
and yes Rick. There are those of us that believe anyone and everyone can be changed by the power of the Gospel. Christ calls all people to repent and turn from their sin…both hetero and homosexual. The point of the Gospel is that all people are unholy before a Holy God. No one can earn his/her own salvation. Here is the “good news” you might here Christians referring to….God loves us and forgives us despite our flaws and calls us to be motivated to change our sinful lives in response to that love shown. That has always been the message of Jesus Christ.
I believe people can change because I’ve seen it. The woman i have been married to for the last 6 years was a lesbian before becoming a Christian. She has accepted the gift of forgiveness thru the gospel and that realization has radically changed the person she is.
17 Gordon // Apr 12, 2008 at 11:50 am
Ditto what James said. We are all imperfect and born into sin. It’s our purpose to try to become like Jesus, called sanctification. We must love and forgive.
18 Anonymous // Apr 13, 2008 at 8:51 pm
“When the city’s journalism awards come out next year, I expect Stephen George’s lengthy examination of the Sojourn Church to be at the top of the list of prize-winners.”
Wow. The Louisville SPJ awards are such a make or break for journalists here. Seriously, awards are what they are but at such a local, not-really-mattering-very-much-level…it’s not that big of deal. And this is from someone who was won several of ‘em here. But if it makes you want to crow a bit, by all means…
19 Sojourn Music » Blog Archive » Sojourn Church Responds To Major Investigative Story On Its Beliefs Pertaining To Fundamentalism And Homosexuality, And Responds To Possible Boycott // Apr 30, 2008 at 6:49 pm
[…] Communications Director Kevin Janes, who books music shows in The 930 Listening Room — and this one) and the surrounding area (which we locals call “Kentuckiana”), and the last three […]
20 Documenting My Audacity » Blog Archive » Going to Church // Jul 20, 2008 at 5:15 pm
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