If you have trouble with the link above, here is the full address: http: //www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/148703-furtick-are-you-an-aquarium-keeping-leader.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily-Update
OK, welcome back! Let me say that I believe that Steven is totally off in that article.
Let me say again, I want you to understand my heart in even mentioning this - this is not a bash Furtick post! I love my brother. I praise God for those that have been reached with the Gospel through Elevation. I use orange to honor them! It's their color!
I feel that since he publicly shared this on the worldwide web I have the right, and even a responsibility to respond to it, for several reasons:
*we are in the same denomination
*it was written to influence other pastors (especially younger ones)
*it impacts others pastors in my area (our church is around 50 miles from Steven's.)
I believe that the philosophy promoted in the article is unbiblical. This article is not just a passing thought with Steven and Elevation. It is one of the foundational beliefs that they hold. You can read all of them on their website; they refer to it as The Code.
You'll find it here: http://www.elevation...church.org/thecode
The Code #'s 5 and 9 seem to be most applicable to the above mentioned article on the Fish Tank. There are other things in the Code that concern me, especially #4, but I'll not get into that at this time.
The main reason I disagree with the article on Keeping the Fish Tank is because it conflicts with the plain teaching of Scripture!
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Please read verse 2 again. It doesn't mention the aquarium, but it does mention the flock! Two different analogies, but one truth! As a pastor I AM to keep the aquarium (shepherd the flock!)
I feel that since he publicly shared this on the worldwide web I have the right, and even a responsibility to respond to it, for several reasons:
*we are in the same denomination
*it was written to influence other pastors (especially younger ones)
*it impacts others pastors in my area (our church is around 50 miles from Steven's.)
I believe that the philosophy promoted in the article is unbiblical. This article is not just a passing thought with Steven and Elevation. It is one of the foundational beliefs that they hold. You can read all of them on their website; they refer to it as The Code.
You'll find it here: http://www.elevation...church.org/thecode
The Code #'s 5 and 9 seem to be most applicable to the above mentioned article on the Fish Tank. There are other things in the Code that concern me, especially #4, but I'll not get into that at this time.
The main reason I disagree with the article on Keeping the Fish Tank is because it conflicts with the plain teaching of Scripture!
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Please read verse 2 again. It doesn't mention the aquarium, but it does mention the flock! Two different analogies, but one truth! As a pastor I AM to keep the aquarium (shepherd the flock!)
Evangelism is a vital part of the function of the church! One of several - Evangelism, Discipleship, Fellowship, Ministry, Worship.
I understand where Steven is coming from; sadly, many pastors ONLY keep the aquarium. We are to keep the aquarium and go get new fish for it (be fishers of men). The analogies are flowing here, aren't they! But this is Scriptual!
As pastor's we don't completely abandon the fish we have to find new fish - we take care of them AND add new ones! All of the fish are to be going to find new fish (evangelism).
When a church becomes all about numbers (Code #9) it will grow! It will most likely become a mile wide and an inch deep.
One of the most disturbing parts of the article was this sentence: "They let saved people dictate style. Saved people dictate focus. Saved people dictate vision." Um, should lost people do this? Steven believes he should do this (Code #4).
While I certainly believe in pastoral leadership, I would argue that ultimately God's Word and The Holy Spirit dictate style, focus, and vision. If Elevation is built on Steven's Vision, what happens when Steven is no longer pastor?
The conclusion to the article was almost heartbreaking. "The way I see it is they’re just occupying the space of a person who needs to hear the gospel. You’ll fill their seat. And it will be with the person who needs it the most." To be quite honest, I'm glad I'm not a member of Elevation. It seems I am only a number, a seat-filler. I cannot disagree with anything. If I do, I'll be encouraged to "find a church elsewhere to graze." I'm assuming they're not congregational is church government!
I know I have gone on and on, but I wanted to address just how serious these issues are! Steven speaks to more people in one Sunday than most of us do in a year. He has a lot of influence on younger pastors who look to him as an example. ... This is one reason that I write - it is imperative that he stay biblical in his mission and methodology!
I pray for him. I love him as my brother in Christ. I know that what I've written here will probably not be popular (even with some in the church I pastor), but the Bible is the final authority for faith and practice. Pray for Steven. Pray for me. Pray for all pastors.
Blessings!
I understand where Steven is coming from; sadly, many pastors ONLY keep the aquarium. We are to keep the aquarium and go get new fish for it (be fishers of men). The analogies are flowing here, aren't they! But this is Scriptual!
As pastor's we don't completely abandon the fish we have to find new fish - we take care of them AND add new ones! All of the fish are to be going to find new fish (evangelism).
When a church becomes all about numbers (Code #9) it will grow! It will most likely become a mile wide and an inch deep.
One of the most disturbing parts of the article was this sentence: "They let saved people dictate style. Saved people dictate focus. Saved people dictate vision." Um, should lost people do this? Steven believes he should do this (Code #4).
While I certainly believe in pastoral leadership, I would argue that ultimately God's Word and The Holy Spirit dictate style, focus, and vision. If Elevation is built on Steven's Vision, what happens when Steven is no longer pastor?
The conclusion to the article was almost heartbreaking. "The way I see it is they’re just occupying the space of a person who needs to hear the gospel. You’ll fill their seat. And it will be with the person who needs it the most." To be quite honest, I'm glad I'm not a member of Elevation. It seems I am only a number, a seat-filler. I cannot disagree with anything. If I do, I'll be encouraged to "find a church elsewhere to graze." I'm assuming they're not congregational is church government!
I know I have gone on and on, but I wanted to address just how serious these issues are! Steven speaks to more people in one Sunday than most of us do in a year. He has a lot of influence on younger pastors who look to him as an example. ... This is one reason that I write - it is imperative that he stay biblical in his mission and methodology!
I pray for him. I love him as my brother in Christ. I know that what I've written here will probably not be popular (even with some in the church I pastor), but the Bible is the final authority for faith and practice. Pray for Steven. Pray for me. Pray for all pastors.
Blessings!
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