MCLEAN, Va. – Some 100,000 church leaders across the globe witnessed a “disturbing” interview between influential pastor Bill Hybels and an Oscar-nominated screenwriter over the weekend.
-
(Photo: Willow Creek Association)Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, addresses thousands of church leaders at the 2007 Leadership Summit in South Barrington, Ill., Aug. 9-11.
The interview was with Richard Curtis, a comedy writer and a leading figure in campaigning to fight global poverty. It was featured as a pre-recorded interview at the highly prominent Willow Creek Leadership Summit with live videocast in cities around the world beaming from South Barrington, Ill., near Chicago.
"This was a very disturbing interview for me to do," said Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, to tens of thousands of pastors, "because I'm interviewing a guy who doesn't even have his faith figured out and he's doing 100 times more work than I am to alleviate the suffering in this world."
Part of Curtis' inspiration to fight poverty came from the Sermon on the Mount, one of the best known teachings of Jesus, Curtis told Hybels in the interview. But he did not indicate that faith was the driving force behind his passion to care for the poor.
"All I know is that a guy over there should not be dying when I have so much," he said.
In the United States, Curtis may be known more for writing "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill," "The Girl in the Cafe," and the "Mr. Bean" television series. But he has used his comedy writing to rally millions of dollars to alleviate the poor.
"I can only really do one thing well. I can write comedy," he said in the interview. "But I'll ruthlessly do the thing that I do to try to rectify this general injustice."
Curtis is co-founder of the Make Poverty History campaign and the United Kingdom's Red Nose Day, a comic relief campaign which last year raised $130 million in one day and has become a national day of giving for the poor. His latest effort was "Idol Gives Back" on the popular TV program "American Idol" in the United States. The American public contributed some $73 million during campaign.
While Curtis has helped make strides in halving global poverty, he made it clear that if all the churches in the world took a central stance on the issue and on their "God-given duty," the goal could really be achieved within the next decade.
"You can't just pray for people," said Curtis. "You've got to do something now."
It was a major challenge posed to Christian leaders participating in the three-day Leadership Summit.
"Looking at all the well-educated, smart, well-resourced Christians that come to summits by the tens of thousands ... I go home at night and think how much of that potential is really being leveraged to serve the needs of the world?" said Hybels. "The older I get, this stuff bothers me more."
More churches are beginning to leverage their time and resources to those suffering around the world.
Out of more than 100 church applicants, the Leadership Summit awarded three churches a check of $100,000, sponsored by World Vision, on Friday for their courageous work in the area of HIV/AIDS, particularly caring for children overseas orphaned by the pandemic. Hoek Baptist Church in Cape Town, South Africa, won first place while Rockland Community Church in Golden, Colo., and West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles tied for second.
This was the first year the 12-year-old summit gave out the Courageous Leadership Award, which was established to encourage more churches to get engaged in the HIV/AIDS fight. Next year, the award money will be $200,000 to the three top churches that demonstrate effective and innovative work in AIDS alleviation. Continue >>
RSS
I think what Mr. Curtis and anyone else who loves their neighbors as themselves is doing is wonderful. It is a shame that so many of us just don't get it. We live in our excesses and quote Jesus' words, "the poor are always with us," out of context. I am sorry to quote another pagan, but does this behavior not remind one of Marie Antoinette's words, "Let them eat cake." As His sheep, should we not encourage each other to simplify by purifying our hearts and by doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I think in a word we are being selfish.
If we ask the Lord for His will to be done and His kingdom to come, shouldn't we be receptive to any reproof given to us to improve us and His kingdom on this earth?
Were any of you at the conference?
Jesus Christ, in me, the HOPE of Glory. No church is the hope, our Lord alone is the hope! Jesus said, you will always have the poor among you, when Jesus returns then all the old things will pass away! Hallelujah! "In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome this world." Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ, for He has given us the victory.
I'm more concerned for Mr. Curtis' eternal life then for what he has done for the poor. (that is good works) and no one works there way to heaven. It is by grace and grace alone. We are saved to do good works, but those works do not save us. Jesus Christ, is the only way to come to the Father.
I think it's God's job to convict anyone of their walk, who among us walks perfectly before the Lord God? I will not bash anyone, friend or enemy. But let's be praying as we see the DAY approaching of our Lord's return. We live in the end times brethren, can you see the King is at the door! Fling wide you Heavenly gates, prepare the way of the risen LORD!
Criticizing the teachings and public associations of Hybels or the pope is not criticizing brothers in Christ, for they left the brotherhood of faith a good while ago. Sure Gandhi was a nice and peaceful man, but he denied Christ, for whatever good reason, and that makes him alien to Jesus. Sure Bill is a good administrator, but maybe he should have stayed with business administration. Sure helping the poor is a great thing, but no Christian needs words other than Christ's to aid the poor.
A quote from Gandhi (a Hindu) and Robert G Ingersol (that is, by the way, the name of the person quoted...he was an avid and avowed agnostic), and my point gets made again.
There are many people who are spending their lives helping the poor, many who are fantastic examples of leadership that are Christians, which could be used to speak about this subject to those who are attending Willow Creek's Leadership Summit - a supposedly Christian event. Why instead use this person?
By the way being a Christian has nothing whatsoever to do with helping the poor. It has to do with believing in what Christ said, and the sacrifice He made, accepting God's word that through repentance and belief in Christ's sacrifice you have salvation. And while you might argue about the semantics and how each denomination deals with things like faith, works, and how one becomes a Christian, those are the bare bones of the Christian faith. As to how one treats the poor, that is what would be referred to as works, or acting in a Christ-like manner. There are also commandments in scripture to visit the widows and orphans and those in prison, be content with your wages, turn the other cheek (remember that one the next time a car cuts you off), and keep oneself unspotted from the world....... these are just a few of the things we are to do in obeying the commandments of God.
I have to wonder when those big time pastors are suddenly going to discover that Christians are supposed to do these things. Until then I would suggest a thorough reading of scripture and finding a church where the Word of God is taught, that way the next quote might be one that matters........one from God.
Seeking Zoe, don't worry about it. dgnymn attacked the Pope in an earlier article for trying to raise funds for the people in Asia suffering from flooding. I guess if you don't see the world his way then whatever you do is negative. Definitely a sad way to view life as a Christian.
I'm reading some of the comments pertaining to this article and I'm reminded of a quote by Gandhi that goes something like :"I love your Christ, it's your Christians I don't like" So, this individual who wants to help aleviate poverty in the world isn't a "Christian" or enough of a Christian to 'pass" so therefore his rather ultruistic motives are questioned? A pagan you say? This so-called 'pagan' appears to have more of a grip on what it means to be a Christian than some of you Holier-than-thou's who criticize ....ooops make that judge him and his efforts. I'm reminded of another rather appropriate quote that fits here: "The hands that help are better than the lips that pray"....think about it. Do you think the hand that reaches forth with the empty bowl really cares whether the hand holding the food belongs to a proclaimed Christian or just anothe r decent, caring human being?
So now Richard Curtis, a pagan, is now held up as a "leader?" Whatever are we coming to???
Mr. Curtis may have read the Sermon on the Mount, but he neglected to read the place where Jesus said to his disciples that "the poor you will always have among you," meaning, of course, that while the goal is to eliminate poverty, we will NEVER make it history. Only Christ will make it history, and those who do will have had a personal, life changing experience with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!!!
Believers, we need to seek the Kingdom of God first, and then all these things shall be added unto us. If this means that poverty will be addressed, so be it. But Jesus didn't advocate teaming up with people who are pagan and joining hands together with them to save the world from...whatever.
We need to get a royal clue, here!!! Bill Hybels needs to continue to read his New Testament and the words of Christ, not the words or movies of Richard Curtis!!!
We need to be careful not to overlook our own poverty here at home.
I believe that it is not the local church but rather Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit Who is the hope of the world. HE give us a future and a hope. Glory to GOD!
Bill Hybels church is a poll-based building project, always was. His profession is not pastor, repeat not pastor (who should pasture the sheep), but a smart administrator of a promotional organization. What does it promote? Not Bible teaching, but worldly and world-class professionals, politicians, entertainers. When I visited once (and for the last time), they sang a willowcreek building hymn. creepish. Whatever good things they happen to do, they have no focus on God's word.
Imagine my surprise....sarcasm and King James bashing from a Seeker Sensitive supporter.
I think that it's wonderful that this church leader has found that there are poor people in the world and that they need help. I encourage him to help them, and to encourage others to do so as well. Again we have a mega pastor who has suddenly had a V-8 moment and realized that there are things wrong with the world, while those who have long been trying to use what little resources they have to help others wherever they can, are wondering why he's suddenly acting like he's just invented the idea.
As to his holding up Richard Curtis as someone who "doesn't have his faith figured out yet". I would say that's an understatement. This is a man who blasphemed the Holy Spirit in the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. So while this person may be doing many good things for the poor, to hold him up as a "leadership example" at a conference for Christians is a very interesting move. A move that might have been appropriate if there were no other Christians who might fill the bill. And since on a very regular basis they have people who have, and are, giving their lives to help the poor even on a PBS show like "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly". One has to wonder why chose this man?
@summathetes That article is from 10 years ago, and is a flame piece by a book publisher because Willow Creek wouldn't sell their book in their bookstore, or even recommend it as a book to read for further study on egalitarianism.
All that aside, are you really saying that you can't get behind egalitarianism in church leadership? Do you still keep a slave? Does your bible have a new testament in it? If it doth, pray turneth to Galatians 3:28. (My guess is your translation is a nice solid King James with pictures of our fair-skinned, light-haired, blue-eyed savior.)
To better understand the foundation of Willow Creek, visit http://www.cbmw.org/journal/editions/2-5.pdf