Thursday, August 06, 2009

Today's Christian Leaders Have Little Use for Prayer




("Asia," one of my dog-friends.)

Today's christianitytoday.com has an article on mega-churches and their effectiveness. In the article we read: "It's no secret that too many evangelical leaders are captivated more by business culture than biblical culture, spending more time absorbed in strategies and effectiveness and relatively little time in prayer."

Agreed. I know this to me true, from my POV. I estimate that 80% of today's pastors and Christian leaders lack a meaningful prayer life. The statistics are better from non-Westernized pastors and leaders. I base this on: 1) 30 years of teaching spiritual formation and prayer at various seminaries, conferences, churches, pastors' retreats, both in the U.S. and elsewhere; 2) functioning as a spiritual coach/director for 700 pastors and leaders, having them submit their journals to me for discernment and guidance, etc.



What this means, to me, is that there are a great number of "Christian leaders" who have little or not ongoing, deep relationship with God. Hence: relevancy in terms of culture but irrelevancy in terms of God. Hence: hypocrisy, if our leaders and pastors are telling their people that they need God in their lives. Which I hope they are. But which will not be credible if they "are more captivated by business culture than biblical culture."

I think we have a problem.