How to do church Part 5: a debate about the best spiritual leaders
Helen Redfern › Join Our Journey
2 hrs
So here’s a question.
Who do you think is the best spiritual leader/teacher out there?
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Ally Adams That’s easy. Billy Graham. I know he recently passed away, but look at the way he’s influenced this generation for good. If Billy Graham said it, it must be true.
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Ben Black Billy Graham was a great evangelist of his time, I agree with that, but to raise a son like Franklin Graham makes me wonder what kind of man Billy Graham really was.
Ally Adams Wow, that’s pretty harsh, @BenBlack. Pretty sure you don’t have kids if you can make that kind of remark.
Ben Black I do actually, but I’ll feel I’ve failed as a parent if they become anything like Franklin Graham!
Ben Black I’d vote for Tony Campolo. He’s never been afraid to speak out for what he believes to be right.
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Ed Edwards Tony Campolo influenced me hugely in my teens, but he’s getting on now, isn’t he? Maybe it’s time he stepped aside and let younger leaders have their time.
Caroline Carter I’m a Rob Bell fan. I’m pretty sure you all know that already. I read and listen to everything he puts out.
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Luke Lucas You should be careful. He doesn’t adhere to the Scriptures. His teachings are heresy.
Caroline Carter There’s a new film out about him called ‘Heretic’. I’m guessing you haven’t seen it. He’s trying to bring the Bible and teaching around God up to date in a relevant, engaging, accessible way. I don’t see what’s wrong with that.
Luke Lucas If he’s sacrificing the truth to do that, I’d say there’s a lot wrong with that.
Deb Doyle Sounds odd in this context, but I’d say my vicar. He’s always been there for me and I don’t listen to anyone else but him.
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Caroline Carter I don’t want to sound unkind, @DebDoyle, but you really need to get out more! There’s a whole world of fascinating and enlightening teaching out there and I don’t know your vicar, but I imagine he doesn’t know it all.
Ed Edwards Well, I do know the vicar in question and he definitely does not know it all! No way would I base my faith on what he has to say!
Ed Edwards Shane Claiborne is doing incredible things in the States right now. Really putting the Gospel into practice.
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Luke Lucas Oh, so you’re one of those, are you?
Ed Edwards One of what?
Luke Lucas You know what I mean. One of those activists who take to the street protesting all the time.
Ed Edwards Well yes, if you mean I care about social justice, then yes. Any Christian who doesn’t has missed the point, in my opinion.
Luke Lucas Jesus said the poor would be with us always.
Ed Edwards Why do people like you always come back to that? It just gives you an excuse to sit on your backsides and do nothing!
Luke Lucas I’d heard that you were backsliding in your faith. I hope you turn back to the truth, my brother.
Jo Jones Any of you heard of Glennon Doyle? She’s amazing!
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Ally Adams I’ve seen some of her stuff, yes, but is she really a proper Christian?
Jo Jones What do you mean by proper Christian?
Ally Adams You know what I mean. A Bible-believing, born again Christian.
Jo Jones I don’t know. That doesn’t really matter to me. She’s working out her faith her way.
Ally Adams Mm well, It does matter to me. I do like to know where I stand. And it says a lot about you if you don’t.
Katie Kerridge Steve Chalke. I know what you’re going to say. He’s really let himself down with all the recent stuff he’s putting out there. But I think he’s brave and speaks words of wisdom.
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Ally Adams He seems to be being controversial on purpose as far as I can see. He used to be sound and I don’t understand what’s happened to him. I got rid of all the books of his I owned when he spoke out publicly in favour of homosexuality.
Katie Kerridge I am sick to death of everything we talk about as Christians coming back to that! As if that is the only thing worth having a view on!
Ally Adams We have to stand up for what we believe is right as Christians.
Katie Kerridge I agree. I stand up for love. That’s what Jesus did.
Ally Adams But that. That isn’t love.
Katie Kerridge How do you know? How could you possibly know? I bet you would freak out if you were in the same room as a lesbian.
Luke Lucas They’re all misguided as far as I can see. I base everything I believe on the greats. I go back to basics with William Barclay and Wesley and all those Bible scholars from the past that I admire.
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Ed Edwards Oh my word, really? What century do you live in? No wonder no one wants to come to your church. You’re not even living in this century!
Helen Redfern I know I posted this question but I never expected the discussion to get so out of hand and so heated. So nasty. It’s interesting to me how none of you have said Jesus. Surely, we’re all followers of Jesus and Jesus is the best spiritual guide and teacher of all time. I know we all have our favourite preachers, that’s clear from all your responses. But each one of those is pointing us to Jesus. When I read through this post and its comments, I wonder how other people out there will read this, how they will respond to the bickering and unkind words we’ve posted here. What kind of impression are we giving? Aren’t we acting just like everyone else on Facebook when we write these things? Shouldn’t we be seeking what unites us? And surely what unites us is the desire to follow Jesus. Let’s stop putting these human leaders on pedestals and instead, put Jesus in his rightful place as the way, the truth and the life. No other way. No other truth. No other life.
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This message for us as church today was based on 1 Corinthians 3.
