WAXAHACHIE, Texas – Moments after flying headfirst onto the arena floor dirt, the man gets up and brushes off his protective vest as rodeo clowns rush in to distract the still-bucking bull.
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(Photo: AP Images / Matt Slocum)Cowboys listen to a sermon at the Cowboy Church of Ellis County, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, in Waxahachie, Texas. -
(Photo: AP Images / Matt Slocum)Chris Maddox, a lay pastor at the Cowboy Church of Ellis County speaks during a service, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, in Waxahachie, Texas.
The crowd cheers as the announcer reveals he's fine, just before the chute opens with another cowboy atop a menacing bull.
But this isn't a typical rodeo. It's an outreach ministry of the Cowboy Church of Ellis County, which has grown from about 300 to 2,200 members since it began nearly nine years ago. The church about 30 miles south of Dallas now bills itself as the world's largest cowboy church.
The movement is about 40 years old but has grown rapidly in recent years, especially among Baptists. The Midland, N.C.-based Cowboy Church Network of North America, supported by the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Missions Board, has started dozens of churches in 12 states and Canada since 2003.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas has launched about 140 cowboy churches since 2000 — the first in Ellis County. The congregations now perform about 10 percent of all baptisms among the group's 5,700 churches statewide, officials said.
"It appeals to you because it's 'come as you are,'" said Chris Maddox, who attends the Cowboy Church of Ellis County. "You don't feel judged based on how you're dressed, how you talk, how you look. We're not asking somebody to be something they're not."
Churchgoers wear cowboy hats and jeans, sing hymns accompanied by a country band and get baptized in horse troughs. Churches vary. Some have Western-theme sanctuaries; others meet in barns or on rodeo grounds, some on weeknights.
A few months ago the Cowboy Church of Mobile, Ala., started meeting at a nightclub called The Whiskey on one Sunday each month — when the bar is normally closed for business.
On summer Sundays in Jackson Hole, Wyo., horse whisperer Grant Golliher leads cowboy church services at the Diamond Cross Ranch. As he works with an abused or unbroken horse in the arena, he talks to the crowd about biblical parallels, and about an hour later he is able to ride the animal.
"We use an out-of-the-box method to get people to come, because people have so many walls up with church," said Golliher. He's not ordained but calls himself a "horse trainer with a message."
Organizers say the churches attract everyone from rodeo participants and farmers to country music lovers and people who embrace the western lifestyle. Some don't fall into any of those categories, but say they just haven't felt comfortable in traditional churches.
"I met a man in a feed store who said he hadn't been to church in 40 years, and now he's going to a cowboy church," said the Rev. Jeff Smith, a North Carolina pastor who founded the cowboy church network five years ago.
Larger cowboy churches have arenas and offer rodeo events, mainly to attract new members. They have brief devotions and sometimes baptize new believers in an outdoor trough.
"What a family life center is to a traditional church, an arena is to a cowboy church," said the Rev. Charles Higgs, director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Western Heritage Ministries.
Matt Ward, 15, who plans to become a professional bull rider, was among dozens who rode bulls earlier this month at a weekly event at the Cowboy Church of Ellis County's arena. He attends another church near his hometown of Saginaw about 50 miles away, but came to the rodeo event because a friend recommended it. Continue >>
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to tallguy:
"but then, how many are?"
Interesting you should bring that up, the scripture you brought up is about worship. Worship isn't just about what church you go to but when and how you worship. If you worship from the beginning of the day to the end of the day. by worshiping with what you do and how you do it everyday, that is how you worship from the rising to the setting of the sun. Not by what church you go to on sunday....
cc wrote: "10) If you are attending a church you are uncomfortable with--leave. God has a church for you. But the body of Christ is rarely served by quarreling, gossip, and infighting. Find a church that has a mission and doctrine you agree with and support it."
First, thanks for commenting!
I agree wholeheartedly to #10! Amen! (Although, I would pray that the Body of Christ everywhere has the one and only doctrine of God!)
1) All Cowboy Churches are independent entities. The TFCC does provide training for the churches, but not all churches follow the training or recommendations we provide. Your mileage will vary. Not all Cowboy Churches are created equal.
2) Although most Cowboy Churches in Texas do relate to the BGCT/TFCC, they do so because these organizations have consistently opened their arms to the movement and provided quality training and resources. Associations aside, I have yet to find a LIBERAL Cowboy Church...
3) In MOST Cowboy Churches (see 1 above) there absolutely IS follow up and counseling. In our church EVERY family member requesting membership is contacted by a pastor. They must believe, be biblically baptized, and agree with our doctrine and mission to join.
4) The TFCC does NOT encourage the placement of non-members in positions of leadership. Again, not all churches accept this advice. (see 1 above)
5) The "Cowboy Bible" is nothing but a standard Zondervan NIV New Testament with cowboy art on the cover. In most Cowboy Churches, these are given away free. The cost associated with this practice would be too great with the whole Bible.
6) The "Altar Call" is a very new phenomenon in Christian life going back only about 100 years or so. Although this practice has been very effective in some settings, it has little biblical precedent. Most TFCC churches allow inquirers to fill out a "green sheet" NOT to "save" them or consummate their membership, but rather as a means by which they can be contacted for more personal and intensive follow up with a pastor or counselor.
7) TFCC churches are largely unapologetic in their focus on the "lost and unchurched" and are generally NOT interested in "transfer growth" from other churches. There are already numerous churches that cater to existing Christians. We exist primarily to reach the lost with the gospel.
8) Re: diversity. The Cowboy Church I attend is BY FAR the most diverse group of believers I have ever worshipped with. Our membership includes young, old, blue collar, white collar, black, white, Hispanic, outdoorsmen, computer geeks, tattooed, pierced, straight laced, and even cowboys. I have found in my travels that those who express so much concern that we are a "niche" church, in fact appear much less diverse.
9) If you suspect that the Cowboy Church is shallow, liberal, or unbiblical, I suggest you visit the websites of some of the more established cowboy churches and listen to some of their sermons. You can view the services of The Cowboy Church of Atascosa County, The Cowboy Church of Ellis County, and Bull Creek Cowboy Church online.
10) If you are attending a church you are uncomfortable with--leave. God has a church for you. But the body of Christ is rarely served by quarreling, gossip, and infighting. Find a church that has a mission and doctrine you agree with and support it.
Tallguy wrote: "from the rising to the setting of the sun"
I think Tallguy may have been attempting a Cowboy punny! ;-)
Amen believer!
I wonder if they are worshipping in the way forshadowed in Malachi 1:11 ...from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations says the LORD Almighty
but then, how many are?
psalm, once again thanks for sharing further what you believe and I truly think we're in synch on the membership issue, plus I have even known of preachers who got saved as a result of God speaking to them through their own message. That's why I highly recommend new member/new believer classes before a person becomes a member to ensure not only the person understands the workings and the doctrines of the church, but also to ensure as much as possible that candidate is truly saved.
I used to think the membership thing was pretty strange until my husband started a church plant. Much of this stuff has to do with protecting the church legally. I also figured out that members have rights written in by-laws. If the church has no members, then the pastor and possibly board members are the only ones with rights. Typically, this is not a problem until something goes wrong. So, we wrote in members but it is not a sign up kind of thing. It exists to give regular committed attenders who have taken a foundations class legal rights.
believer, I should have expounded on my post. I totally agree with you. Speaking specifically of TFCC, there is no follow up/counseling with the person that signs the piece of paper for membership to see what they believe, so therein lies the danger of someone being in leadership that shouldn't be there. IMO the new "member" should give their testimony before the elders or the church, then the heart of the person will be seen.
Also, we can't judge who is Christian and who isn't. I know of several people who believed they were Christian and were leaders in their church. Then the Holy Spirit convicted them that they had only accepted with their head and not their heart and hadn't repented and accepted Christ.
It really is a fine line isn't it?
psalm, as far as church membership, I think you take it too lightly, while it may be true in some churches to include some SBC churches that it is nothing more than what you state in many churches it serves as a means to determine where this person stands spiritually and doctrinally with regards to the beliefs and teachings of the church they are desiring to be a part of. I can tell you horror story after horror story of churches who either allowed non-members to take on leadership roles or churches who took church membership too lightly who allowed new members to take on leadership roles that led to disruption in the church, false teachings being brought into the church, and church splits.
Several books on Church History in America say that altar calls never became a mainstay in churches until around the time Charles G. Finney really encouraged and used them.
nolalady,
I too do not have a problem with no alter calls, that is not scriptural. But what I do have a problem with is that the TFCC churches have a piece of paper that you fill out to become a member of the church and/or become a Christian.
I personally know of a woman that did not know she was a member of this particular TFCC church when she was told by the church that she was. She then found out that when her husband "signed up", he signed her up also, without her knowledge.
Being a member of a church is NOT SCRIPTURAL. Like SBC churches, TFCC will not allow you to be a part of a leadership team unless you are a member. It's all way too much like a "social club".
And what I see lacking is discipleship.
I don't know anything about about TFCC churches in particular, but I have a friend who we were witnessing to and moved to a cowboy state. The cowboy thing was very natural and helped usher him into the body of Christ. I don't know if it is TFCC, but i kind of think that it is not. Anyway, I do find interesting the underlying discussion here with regards to what a church meeting is supposed to be.
artm: you said "what is a church service except preaching and accepting Christ" I find that interesting. a church service was historically considered a "believer's meeting" So, why would there be a need for an altar call. I doesn't really matter to me, but a big problem with American churches is the mentality that we try to get unbeliever's to church to get saved and then do nothing outside the church to reach the lost, when in reality, the pastor's should be training the people to go OUT and preach the gospel and preaching sermons that will help believer's get past the "elementary principles of repentance from dead works and baptisms" I see this often in SBC churches. Every message is on salvation and the people don't seem to grow very much and don't know the Word of God. My guess is that those that attend Sunday School also learn more.
No problem believer, I don't offend easily. :)
psalm, thanks for the clarification and my apology if I inadvertently offended you.
Megs, Amen to "it's a relationship, not a religion"!
I truly believe that God is using you for me to "stay the course" and affirming what the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about the TFCC affiliated church I attend and will continue to pray and "speak out".
We had 6 families recently leave because of the things I spoke about. I am so mad and saddened at the same time that "man" is squashing the leading of the Holy Spirit instead of following Him.
The problem being with TFCC is that the churches aren't allowed to be individually lead by God. They are too much into "rules" and the "TFCC way".
What's so ironic is that they "preach" all the time that they don't want to be the "traditional" church, but what they are doing is creating their own "traditional" church. Most of the TFCC churches by-laws and beliefs are modeled after the Ellis County church and so the churches are becoming cookie cutter entities instead of individually Holy Spirit led.
Please pray that those in leadership positions will RECEIVE what the Holy Spirit has to say. We can pray all we can, but they have to receive it, and we have no control over that.
believer, thank you for your comments. I am specifically speaking of TFCC churches. I had mentioned in an earlier post that I know not all cowboy churches are like this. I know of one in Oklahoma and one in Houston, they are both SBC affiliated but not TFCC. It seems to be isolated with TFCC.
Believer...
thank you for your take on this. It is helpful to those of us who are not a part of your church to see all the sides. It is refreshing and encouraging to hear what you have to say about if a church is not following the word of God, etc. :)
psalm, considering the Texas Fellowship is part of the BGCT I'm not surprised to hear of your bad experience since they are also big supporters of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Mainstream Baptists which are both very moderate to liberal in their views with regards to the Bible and biblical teaching. But I think you may have inadvertently used to wide a brush in your view of all cowboy churches and as a matter of fact I've seen a Cowboy Bible that did indeed include the whole Bible. And as I said earlier I've met some Pastors of cowboy churches who wholeheartedly preach the Word and are biblically sound in their approach to ministry. Plus in the Southern Baptist Convention we firmly adhere to the autonomy of the local church, so as a convention we will not go in and tell a church how to do church, but at the same time if we find as an association, which is a group of SBC churches in a local area, a member church that is willfully violating the Word of God in anyway, we'll speak to them about our concern and if they choose not to listen as much as we respect their right to do that we will in most cases withdraw fellowship from them.
Look at that. Steve challenges me to a pun-war and then heads for the hills.
Hope everything is well, Steve.
Growing up in a church that , while they did teach scripture and the saving message of Christ, they had strict ideals, traditions and judgments ....then having God lead me to the church I attend now where they teach the same but are definitely more open minded about dress codes, welcoming anyone and everyone, etc...I get very excited to see, hear, read about any church that is allowing God to open up there minds to different ways of reaching people. Of course, without changing ANY of His word/bible..and always keeping the focus on Christ , loving God first, and loving all as you love yourself. That is what it is about..not keeping traditions and reciting certain prayers every day. It's a personal walk and relationship with the Lord! I was hoping that was what these churches were about...I will be praying for them...that they get the focus right and do not sway from the word at all. Compromising your faith and the word of God is never a good thing. I do believe that with strong prayer God can take any situation that seems bad and turn it to good. How about taking on a new mission to pray and speak up when it is the right time about the negative aspects of the church?:) Every church has it's downsides...even mine. But God is a God of amazing miracles...praying that they would be sensitive to the holy spirit and God would soften there hearts...would hopefully help things.
Also,
"Did you know that they have a "cowboy" Bible that only has the New Testament and not the Old?" That is strange and definitely not right. I am surprised they would create there own cowboy bible...I'd be interested to see one of these.
Thank you for stating your side of this...going to one of these churches yourself does give you more credibility then someone just simply bashing it.
I do not attend a church like this. I do attend a Christian and Missionary Alliance church near my home and it is one of the only churches around here that promotes authenticity, definitely teaches the word of God, but has a big focus on welcoming anyone and everyone no matter who you are, what you look like, dress like, where you are from...where you are on your walk. The suppose if you had to compare the church focus, it would be similar to Saddleback church. If you have heard of Pastor Rick Warren's church. Anyways, when you say "Megs, Western Heritage is fine, just don't leave out scritpure and make it into what man wants in order to accomodate a culture." I totally agree with you. There is no arguing with that. And if that is going on in these cowboy church's..i'm really sad to hear that.
Megs, you said, "Unless you have personally gone to sit in on one of these services..and you feel the HOLY SPIRIT (and not your own fears and judgments) telling you this is not right..then pray about it and speak up when God tells you too."
That's good advice and one that I've already been practicing.
Megs,
Do you attend a TFCC cowboy church? I am only speaking of TFCC (Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches).
Megs,
I attend a TFCC Cowboy Church, so I know what I'm talking about. The Holy Spirit gets "squashed" because the TOTAL Bible is not being taught and MAN is deciding how people should worship. THAT is not scriptural. The TFCC is trying to accomodate the cowboy culture which is fine, but what is not fine is leaving out scripture and molding it into what they want it to be. Did you know that they have a "cowboy" Bible that only has the New Testament and not the Old?
Megs, Western Heritage is fine, just don't leave out scritpure and make it into what man wants in order to accomodate a culture.
"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel..." That would mean going into ALL THE WORLD...every person, every place, every corner of the world to preach the saving power of Jesus Christ! That would also mean going to parts of the world that are out of our comfort zone and ideals. Even cowboy's deserve to hear the message!!:) I think it's great and I send a HUGE praise to God for opening up our narrow minds to the realization that we can reach ALL THE WORLD for the gospel in many different ways! If the church is preaching Jesus...then ROCK ON!! Keep up the amazing work for God. He is the one that made us all different and unique and able to do many different things for the body of Christ. These churches are a PART of the body and doing there part to reach people for Him. Some have been damaged by church and congregation in the past and who are we to judge that? Who are we do judge any of this?? Unless you have personally gone to sit in on one of these services..and you feel the HOLY SPIRIT (and not your own fears and judgments) telling you this is not right..then pray about it and speak up when God tells you too. Otherwise, let us encourage them in the work of spreading the good news of our Lord!! I love it! And i'm not a cowgirl;0) God can reach people in ways that surpass our ideals ...if people are turning there hearts over to Jesus and He is working in them and changing there lives...why in the WORLD would you want to stop that?? I wouldn't be so quick to judge them and say they aren't in step with the holy spirit...we need to be careful of our judgments and make sure it's from the holy spirit and not ourselves.
The writer of this article DID NOT do her homework. I know one of the founders of the TFCC personally and know that he is very judgmental of people raising their hands during worship and saying "Amen" during the service.
If you'll check out the Ellis County Cowboy Church (that the article focuses on) website, http://www.cowboychurchofelliscounty.org/about-us/beliefs/ , you will find this statement:
We let the band do most of the singing.
"While many Christians deeply enjoy an emotionally engaging worship service, many people unfamiliar with church find it confusing and sometimes even stressful. Emotional displays scare them. So, we forego some of these things in order that they can settle down and actually hear what the songs and the message are saying about Jesus Christ."
Jesus DID NOT tell his disciples to set up churches according to the culture of the people. He instructed them to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel..." The TFCC Cowboy churches are an example of inclusiveness because they cater to those that are accustomed to the western heritage and do not teach/preach the freedom of worshipping God as the Bible teaches.
Don't get me wrong, I love cowboys, but what the TFCC is doing is deceiving and wrong.
My problem here is, " they consider an Invitation to accept Christ as applying " Pressure ".
Some don't have " Alter Calls ".
What is the Church service about if not Preaching and accepting Christ.
We come up with Gimmicks to reach people, Why not just do it the way Jesus and the Disciples did it, Preach the Word under the Anointing of the Spirit, and let the Spirit draw them.
"Cowboy" churches were not started as "theme" churches. Cowboy churches consisted of cowboys who traveled with rodeos; they had no regular place to meet so they had their own services.
As far as getting baptized in a horse trough, I was baptized in a livestock tank because the church couldn't afford a baptistry.
"Oh yeah, you asked how I "dare" to speak against how these people worship? Well, I guess it's because the Bible itself commands believers to speak out against those who are in error."
Is this ministry teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Yes. Did Jesus minister to a thief on the Cross? Yes. the thief wasn't in a suit and tie, he wasn't siting in a pew listing to an organ, he was nailed ot a cross for violating a law. We arn't trying to reach sheep herders and farmers, we are trying to reach people with blackberries, the internet and busy lives. If it is getting the Gospel to people in a way that relates to them without changing the Gospel, then how dare you question how they worship? I have seen ministries that teach and reach online, i have see 24 hour ministries, this is the times we live in and we have to reach out to those in need not based on the way it used to be but on the way it is now. I work nights and every other weekend, I don't have the luxury of sitting in church every sunday, i have to adjust when i fellowship based on how my life is, I worship Jesus everyday in what i do and how I live my life, with my prayers and with my bible time. So to question ones worship practices based on an ideal circumstance doesn't work anymore not in this day and age when the lives of the people we are trying to reach is different then what it was in the 1st century...
Daniel wrote: "Where's Jester...he's missing all the fun."
I'm sure he's just tied up right now, perhaps he was roped into something.
tp, I think you're right to a point, we walk a very fine line when we are seeking better ways to more effectively reach the lost and at all times we must insure that the message of God never changes either by violating or diluting that message to make it palatable to unsaved people, but I have met leaders of cowboy churches and have found the ones I've met to be biblically solid in their living and in the way they do ministry. But that's not to say that is true of all involved in this type of ministry.
Give people what they want and they'll come by the thousands.
Now we have, wrestler churches, bar room churches, cowboy churches, goth churches, hip hop churches, traditional churches, homosexual churches, modern churches, mega churches, emergent churches, you name it, we have it.
Your way right away America.
"They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Daniel Paul is correct. Bush doesn't have a horse in this race.
The Lord used my love of horses and a Christian horse trainer to bring me to himself. I loved horses from the time I was a little girl. I was 32 when I got my first one. Not far from where I live is a training facility and I took my little mare there to be trained. The people who worked there were Christians and while the horse was being trained, friendships were developed and before I knew it I was at a wed. night bible study asking the Lord to save me. So you see Jesus can use anything he wants to build his church.
Where's Jester...he's missing all the fun.
"You guys are just full of the knee slappers! "
Let me grind long enough and I can come up with some Woppers....
" The CowBoy church is for those who associate Church with long sermons and appeals to accept Christ as Savour." ( something like that)
Accepting Christ as Savour is what it's all about.
The Church uses so many gimmicks today to draw people into their Church, But what about doing it the way Jesus and the Disciples did.?
Preach the Word under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit.
tomas, so if people think outside the box they are out of synch with the Lord, well you better tell that to Christ since He set the standard for breaking out of the box when it came to rituals and traditions. Personally, I don't like country western music at all, but if this type of church is being effectively used of God in reaching a group of people other churches are not effectively reaching and if they are not violating the Word of God but rather wholeheartedly preaching and teaching God's Word, what's the problem?
chicago, there's an evangelist named Paul Daniels whose ministry is that of a Horse Whisperer. They set up a corral area and bring in an unbroken horse and in about 3 hours without any harsh treatment he breaks the horse and as he does it he explains to the audience how God does the same thing to many of us when He brings us into the family of God with regards to salvation and surrender. I'm not in to horses or rodeo at all but his presentation is biblically sound and very effective as many people have come to Christ through his Gospel presentation.
You guys are just full of the knee slappers!
Can we steer this converstion back to the meat of the subject and stop roasting Bush? Bush doesn't have beans to do with this subject even if you think he was a bum-steer.
When did I ever say you should worship the way I myself expect??? I simply said we should worship the way the LORD Jesus (as stated in the Bible) has expressed??
Ok so I guess we should worship the way YOU feel is correct. At any rate nobody knows what we are suppose to do. Remember Jesus was upset with the Religious people of that day..God judges the Heart and we then wait with Faith for it all to be revealed. Enough said...
Oh yeah, you asked how I "dare" to speak against how these people worship? Well, I guess it's because the Bible itself commands believers to speak out against those who are in error.
They're welcome to worship in like-minded groups, youngstudent, and I'm glad they have a place to call their church home. I just wish they would gather together Scripturally.
Maybe those hymns are by Sandy Pattie.
Best comment so far:
"Don't know about that but I guess the services are done by 'high' noon.... "
And the prize goes to.........steveh20!
And, shooter, you are right. I should give it a rest. That cowboy president of ours just gets my goat every time. I guess he was my "spiritual master" when I made that crack.
"dp et al, ready for a pun war? "
I'll see if I can rope one in. What have you herd?
mtgburrell---Lord, spare us cowboy churches and cowboy theology. Look how well that worked in the White House. A fine mess by a cowboy "Christian," indeed!
Could you please give it a rest already?
I hope those cowboys are able to find Jesus no matter how or where they gather together. Jesus met with people at the lake side and on top of hills. Personally I love sitting outside on warm summer days to just talk to Jesus. I don't think he would care if I was wearing a cowboy hat or no hat at all.
Sorry Forgiven, but sometimes a man gotta do what a mans gotta do....
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart (1Samuel 16:7).
Let's face it gentlemen, most people attend churches with people that are more like them or the congregation has groups of folks that gravitate toward eachother. Not that its right, just seems to be what people do. We had fellowship groups once that rotated every 3 months. Each group, made up of willing participants, got together once a week, if agreed, or every other week and then were reassigned with a different group of folks when the 3 month rotation was up. It was a whole lot of fun especially when you got to know a brother or a sister you hadn't gotten to know before!
steve, I think you're gonna get us into trouble by trying to round up the pun war players. :)
I agree with nolalady, why do the rest of you put down this ministry? Honestly, I know that Jesus receives the woship of these people in these "cowboy" churches with great joy, and will accept any genuine worship, no matter how unorthodox you might think it is, or if they're wearing hats while they're praying or not. All that matters is this is a genuine outreach proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and leading people to repentance. How could you dare speak against that?
in Christ,
dp et al, ready for a pun war?
Don't know about that but I guess the services are done by "high" noon....
Does the Cowboy Church have hymns by Garth Brooks and Gretchen Wilson in their hymnbooks?
Good point, msn. The Bible clearly teaches that men should not cover their heads when praying or prophesying.
Someone should tell them that men do not wear hats in Church, only women should cover their heads. :)
If this was a real holy place of worship dedicated to God, the men would not be wearing hats that is for sure. More ala carte Christianity "Light" coming your way....pick and choose what you want and throw the rest out even if it came from JESUS.
sigh...
is this really where the SBC is headed? They now have even less credibility in my book than they did just yesterday, which wasn't much.
No wonder the rest of the country thinks the south is full of red neck bible thumpers
I thought a "cowboy" church was one run by Benny Hinn?
Cute! "You don't feel judged based on how you're dressed, how you talk, how you look. We're not asking somebody to be something they're not."
I hope the cowboys don't judge that Arab, or that teenager with the safety pin piercing through his lip, or the biker, or the well dressed businessman who wants to attend worship then I guess it should be ok. It all sounds a bit childish though. Kinda reminds me of the words in 2 Timothy 4:3-5: something about their own desires, itching ears and country music, and heaping up their own kinda teachers.
They abuse animals at a rodeo and then hold a church service praising God. That's pretty revolting.
Cowboy churches? My sister came back from leading a big Bible study workshop in Texas once. She remarked, "Oh, I just LOVE TEXAS!" My response was, "Yeah, you love it for all the same reasons that I hate it."
Lord, spare us cowboy churches and cowboy theology. Look how well that worked in the White House. A fine mess by a cowboy "Christian," indeed!
As long as they preach repentance, great outreach!