Sincere Apologies to Steven Furtick

I do not personally know Steven Furtick and he will likely never read this post.  But I’m apologizing just the same.

Steven Furtick is the pastor and founder of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. It’s the kind of church that many people love to hate.  Smoke, lights, highly produced worship, topical sermons and a preacher dressed in designer clothes.  Even “worse”, it’s a mega church that became mega seemingly overnight.  No one hates success more than Christians.  After all, if they have grown in numbers so quickly and dramatically then they must have done it in a way that violates scripture or at least causes Jesus to shake his head with dissaproval, right?  Certainly they cheated somehow!

I must admit that I’ve discovered some of this sentiment in my own heart this week and I’ve got to kill it before it grows.

My Christian Judgement

I’ve never publicly disparaged Elevation Church to my remembrance.  In fact, I’ve been very christian in the way I have judged him in my heart.  Very christian indeed.  I’ve only allowed myself the occasional eye-roll when I’m alone and happen across one of his sermons online.  I’ve only allowed myself to be quietly dismissive when others around me talk about how great he is.  No gossip.  Just silent superiority.  Moral superiority, really.  Because, after all, he sold out to get such a large church.  I, on the other hand, will not sell out and that is why my church has grown at a snails pace compared to his.

Very christian judgement indeed.

Sincere Respect Amid Disagreement

I didn’t see any of this in my heart until this week.  It began with an Acts29/Advance the Church conference in Raleigh.  At nearly the last minute one of the main speakers could not make it and they asked Steven Furtick to come instead.  Shock!  I didn’t get to make it to the conference, but I grabbed the audio from his session as soon as it was available.  I was dying to hear it, as much out of curiosity as wanting to know if he said anything controversial.  (Don’t act so holy.  You rubber-neck at a train wreck just like everyone else.)

In short, his message was deeply encouraging to me.  He has a profound gift of faith and is gifted to impart that faith to others.  He’s a risk taker and his heart runs deep with a zeal for Jesus and Jesus’ Church.  He also knows his Bible and respects it.

As I was listening I found myself constantly surprised by him.  That’s when I began to feel convicted about what had been subtly happening in my heart towards him, his church, and others like him.  While I still have many questions about the way he does church, I have no questions about him. While I don’t think I would ever build my church to be like Elevation, I’m actually really glad that they are doing what they are doing.  Ironically, his message reminded me that success is defined by accomplishing what God has called you to do, not by accomplishing what God has called someone else to do.

Is it possible to disagree with a man and respect him at the same time?  Yes.  Is it possible to disagree with a type of church and still respect it.  Yes, it sure is.

May God grant me the zeal and faith that he has given Steven Furtick so that I can accomplish my call with the kind of integrity and expediency that Steven Furtick has.  In the meantime, lets try to be a little less “christian” in the way we judge other pastors, other churches, and other movements.  Like Jesus said in Luke 9:49-50, “the one who is not against you, is for you”.

The Audio From the Conference

I strongly suggest listening to this.

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[box]After listening, I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. Have you ever discovered some kind of proud judgement in your heart towards another person? Why is it so hard sometimes to rejoice in others’ success?[/box]