Jesus Cropped from the Picture

Jesus Cropped from the Picture

Because of this need for survival, Pragmatics may embrace some of the techniques of the Emerging Method (Chapter 15), but only when it works at drawing people in . They will not ally with the Emerging Method on matters of principle, but they will on pragmatic grounds.

Sometimes Pragmatics despise their own assumptions but do not know how to be released from them. Hugh Halter said:

We show up at church to get what we want (which is feeding from a leader), not what we need (to feed ourselves and others). And if we don’t get what we want we head to the basilica next door because that chaplain is better at giving us what we want. Although frustrated by the consumer approach of their adherents, the modern-day paid pastors don’t feel they can lead the way their hearts tell them to for fear of losing a tithing attender. Often, the pressure is so strong, they find themselves frantically trying to update their presentation, increase programs to attract people, or lighten up the message of the gospel. Basically we’re just playing musical pews. 85 Focus of Energy The Pragmatic Method focuses its energy on constantly shifting to meet consumer demand in order to maintain attendance and support the budget. Pragmatic churches incorporate media and theatrical approaches to reach the unchurched. Pastors feel the pressure to eliminate parts of church life that are unpleasant. Since Pragmatics are fearful about becoming obsolete and irrelevant, they tend to hire staff who specialize in making church life “fun.” Because of the need to respond to market changes, there is a myriad of “how-to”

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