Generating Cults

I love that cultish behavior! WOO!!!!

We obviously need more cult members.

Well done.

totally agree tony! plus if u look up where the word “cult” comes from it is rooted in the word “culture” so a cult would be any group that takes on a culture of its own. hence when we are following jesus there must be distinctions between us and the world. of course the word “cult” has become known only in its negative sense because of some of the “far out” stuff like ‘drinkin the koolaid’ or mass suicides!! an intentional christian community should be so distinctive that people label us as a different culture!

that distinction should be in our case “radical love and grace” just like the radical love and grace that that amazing girl from generate showed a random person at in n out. in my humble opinion that person at in n out should be appreciative that someone actually took time and money out of their day to show that they care and love! praise god!

Haha amen Tony. Oh and also
http://laughingsquid.com/in-n-out-burger-a-fast-food-underdog-with-a-cult-following/

Love it. Time to reinvent cult and make it a God thing…

Sorry to say…. but I wouldnt be surprised if that girl had a superior attitude and not an attitude of a servant. She probably offended the girl. I love generate…. but generate is not perfect. I have had my own run-ins with people who are not Christ like. Nevertheless I praise God for a community that Has practiced love in such a way that it does. Lets not get ignorant though.

I love generate and I love the love being shared. I think we should share christ with the world and show them the hope this world really needs!

I think we should all look to be leaders and stand up for what we believe, I love how under pressure Tim Tebow steps up his game when the media gives him a hard time for his faith. read the article below and ask yourself what would you do for jesus ?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4857753

The issues Tony pointed out in regards to why this person thought of Generate as a cult mention NOTHING in regards to the girl’s attitude as she extended an invitation, offered up some of her money and asked if she could pray. THEREFORE she actually gets the benefit of the doubt in regards to anyone wondering about or questioning her attitude.

Perhaps I agree though, Generate isn’t perfect, but that’s because I’m there, it’s because you’re there and because other imperfect people are there. NEVERTHELESS, God’s plan for His church (including GENERATE) IS perfect and the victories celebrated at the end of every Wednesday night all point back to God and God doesn’t bless something He’s not pleased with.

I too am grateful for Generate. People can always attempt to attack the structure or flow of Generate by calling it ‘too commercialized’ or dismiss the authenticity of the leadership by calling it ‘fake’ but what they can’t and won’t ever be able to dismiss are the tears that flow from people’s eyes as they come forward in the acceptance and knowledge of a loving God who’s there to pick them up and walk them through life. Lets not be ignorant towards that.
So now if reaching out to someone offends people or qualifies us as a ‘Cult’ then I’m proud to say ‘I drink the juice!’ and am proud to hear we’re attacked because we choose to love!

yay i love cults!

Amen!

I had to leave because it does feel like a cult and not in the way your putting it

Let’s not get carried away with ridiculousness. We know that Generate is not a cult. But it Is obviously something that she has never seen before. The love of Christ. No way should we even if kidding be calling ourselves something that undermines and is contrary to what Jesus calls us. The correct reponse to her in love is we are not a cult. We are children of God. Would you like to meet my savior? Calling ourselves anything else brings no glory to our Father. How will she know the truth unless we who have the truth tell her? Sounds serious? To her it is a matter of life and death.

sam: if u don’t mind me asking, how does generate “feel like a cult and not in the way your putting it”? please don’t think i am being confrontational, i’m not, i just want to get a different perspective in order to learn from it. the only thing i can say is that i am sorry for any bad experience you had, just know the church isn’t a perfect body or we would be nailed to the cross. make sure u don’t give up on god and find a family that you can connect with and serve god with.

i also agree and disagree, i look at everyone i come in contact with and also the “leaders” (if thats what you want to call them) around me. and im not saying all of them but, most of them give the rich man the nice seat instead of the poor man. nevertheless, everything has its downs. but ya, you can be selfless and give away your house to someone, but whats your intention? to give glory to god and be seen by him? or to be seen by men so the leaders and the “important people” at Generate will see you? i see it a lot more than i should and the only verse that comes to mind is about not letting people start leading too soon because they will become boastful, and be filled with pride. i mean look at christ, he spent 30 years of his life before he went out teaching. and his disciples im sure had spent more that 12 weeks (BT time period) to go out and teach.there is something a little strange about what i see going on each week, but hey, what can we do about it besides post on blogs?

Hey all… I’m really intrigued by these discussions and appreciate the thoughts. Although you feel it is simply a blog, to me it is a great way to engage in discussion. We really pray and plan hard to love people and share the hope of gospel. More tears are shed and knees bent each Wednesday in our staff meetings than I could ever count. I hope that I’m always open to new ways and new ideas that spur this along and walk as a broken soldier along with you. Thx for the input!

Sam:
I agree with Woody! If at all anyone of us failed you, then I apologize for the unfortunate experience that must’ve been but if you’re going to make statements about this church body being a “cult” or “cultish”, you gotta be able to adequately support your stance.

…you’re saying Generate IS a cult and not in the way WE’RE putting it but guess what? It’s based off of what the person who wrote the email said. We’re just saying that if by showing love and extending genuine care and kindness to someone qualifies us as a “cult” then we’re guilty as charged!

whoo go cults!!! lol

i talked with a girl tonight in Nashville who is a member of the Moonies. now thats a cult.

Dictionary.com = CORRECT

haha it mentioned Charismatic leader… Way to go Tony!

Miss you man!

woody,I’m with generatefan

Two thoughts…
First of all, why do we automatically assume that when somebody offers their home or their dinner or prayer that they are doing it for personal glory rather than in love? Especially if we didn’t care enough to love that person ourselves… Sad day.
And despite the origin of the word cult, I don’t think it is wise to say, “yeah, I’m part of that cult.” Culturally, it means something different now. We need to be careful that we are not instigating arguement. People don’t experience God through our stubborness or smartalec.

i have so many issues with this. and what i’m about to say is in response to those who call themselves Christians, not non-believers:

with all due respect, what are you expecting? the church is a hospital, and EVERYONE (including you) has flaws.

hate to break this to ya, but even the 12 apostles who constantly sat at Jesus’ feet, seeing how minsitry was supposed to be done, screwed up and were rebuked on a continuous basis. the only person who EVER got ministry totally right was Jesus. and not you or me or Chuck or Tony or Ronny or Cody are Him. but they’re doing the best they can.

as far as people having bad attitudes and leaders being faulty, for once it would be nice to see a group of people who instead of posting all of their complaints on a blog or making youtube videos and fake anti-whoever myspaces would take their OWN advice and do what the bible says…HIT YOUR KNEES AND PRAY!!!! pray for the people you think suck. pray for the people you think aren’t doing right. guaranteed, one of two things will happen:

1. God will change them
2. God will change you

and neither are bad!!

before you start attacking the way someone or a group of people for doing ministry the way they feel God leading them, examine your life. how are you living? are you so-called “Christians” who blatantly attack ministries like Generate or Crossroads still living with your girlfriend/boyfriend and sleeping with them? are you still out getting wasted? when’s the last time you paid for a stranger’s meal? you don’t live it yourselves, but yet you expect Generate to get everything right? how dare you.

and as far as doing things for men to see, nobody knows the truth about someone’s heart but God. so get off your high horse, thinking you have that ability, and leave it be. let Him judge the heart.

the end.

I too left Generate because I felt like I was in a cult. I still attend a church, but the church I attend allows me to think for myself and doesn’t judge me for making decisions that others might not see as Christ like…for instance not being able to attend a leadership “bootcamp” because God allowed me to have a job so I could stay in the state of California and see my niece grow up.
I felt smothered at times, but at other times felt like no one cared one way or another if I was there on Wednesdays or not.
The first day I actually did come to boot camp I felt unloved…mostly because the people I was in it with had to leave for second service to save seats for their friends…but no offer to save seats for me or invite me to sit with them….sorry but if you’re going to love and embrace others you should stop and take a look at the “leadership”….
Thats all I guess…glad to be attending a church where people are generous and offer to help without doing out of obligation to what their leaders say.

Honestly if “Generate” is considered a “cult” praise God!!! And to those of you who’ve felt “unloved” I am so sorry that you had that experience HOWEVER that does not make generate a cult…. and I agree with @no.. We are too PRAY for those who have hurt us or that we feel are “mest” up leaders reality is WE are ALL messed up… Work on yourself before working on others.. how many times have YOU over looked someone or passed up an opportunity to LOVE on someone? I know I have… And for the longest time that I went to Generate I didn’t feel “loved” or accepted BUT I had to step out of my COMFORT zone and meet new people, not saying it always has to be this way.. but now my best friends have come from Crossroads and I LOVE being there it is my home….

wait, Generate is part of a cult or the COLTS????

i’m a Saints fan.

what are we talking about again?

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as wordly- mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling amoung you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1Cor 3:1-3
This blog started about someone calling Generate a cult and has morphed into I don’t feel loved. What? Tony can we get a little help here ? First never pick a church based on how you feel because when that opinion you are “allowed to have ” becomes something someone doesn’t like then it’s off to find another church. Pick what ever bible based Christ centered church you want. It really doesn’t matter. Regardless of the name we are all in the same body of Christ. This is not a social club. Your focus should never be about what someone has done for you. So let me ask you who did you save a seat for?Second Christ said take up your cross and follow me. Not let’s sit around and have opinions about who is or isn’t really a Christian. So where has your cross taken you today? Who has seen the love of God in your eyes today? Beware of the leaven.

I do pray…I do serve…I just don’t do it at Generate…I’m not perfect. I HAD a lot of friends when I attended Generate, but when I made the decision to go somewhere else to worship, those “friends” disappeared.

Whatever…we won’t ever see eye to eye

Please don’t take the whole CULT talk lightly …….. I escaped from the 3rd most dangerous cult in the nation and yes it is a “christian” group

It would break your heart if you heard some of the stories of devastation that have resulted from people wanting to serve God with all their heart and end up losing family, and even their lives.

well, first off, does god not tell us to test others spirits? to dicern? ya we dont FULLY know someones heart and we dont fully know their intentions but, i must say, you can tell when someone is full of pride can you not? when someone looks around, instead of up, after they do something polite. look at kobe, is he prideful? if you answered yes then case closed, no need to say more. all i am saying is that you CAN see past peoples actions if you use gods dicernment. sure we dont know someones heart towards their relationship with christ, and how real it is for them. but if you look hard enough you can see deeper. out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaks right??? why in the world would christ give us those words if we were not supposed to put them into use? be doers of the word right? and as far as the “cult” goes. i wouldnt say it was a cult but i would say that a lot of people are getting the wrong idea of what it means to be a servant. i wont say any names but one of the “high up” people of generate once said to us while we were cleaning up from the baptized night “are you all in basic training”?
and all of us replied with “no”.
then she says “wow you arent in basic training and your serving”?
ya, it kind of boggled me too.

i like what rob bell (like him or not) said once when his ministry was under scrutiny:

“we can argue all day long, but can we do this…(and he held up a communion cup and communion bread in his hands)?”

point is, whether we have disagreements, whether we’ve hurt eachother, whether we’ve let eachother down, deserted eachother at times, the fact is Christ calls us to set aside those things, pick up His body and His blood and remember how He forgave us for things we did that are FAR worse than what we’re being accused of here.

eventually, we’re all going to stand side by side in the presence of our Father and none of this will matter then. which is the way He wants it. why should we allow it to control the way we treat eachother now?

i’m not saying that people here were not in some fashion hurt by people at Generate or even any other church. and i’m not even saying you have to come here anymore. but can we not forgive? and by forgiving, i mean leaving out comments like “i look at everyone i come in contact with and also the “leaders” (if thats what you want to call them) around me” — sorry to put you on blast @Generate FAN! i’m not trying to be rude to you at all, just proving a point.

isn’t there enough division in the body of Christ, already? i suppose it’s bound to happen, but do we HAVE to be the ones to let it continue? do we have to allow satan to take these pains (which are genuine and obviously need to be dealt with) and use them to divide us further??

“and the world shall know you are My discples by the way you love one another.” John 13:35

are we going to keep letting the enemy divide us or will we set aside our differences and come together in the love and forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ?

i think if you really have a problem, maybe come talk to someone. if that doesn’t suit you, forgiveness still needs to happen while malice, anger, and degrading words need to cease. there’s really no excuse for it. at all.

not if you’re a disciple of Christ.

Look Yvonne, I was going to let this go, but apparently you feel the need to cast stones. I didn’t save seats because I sat next to people I didn’t know and got to know them. I was upset because these were supposed to be the future leaders at our church and instead of mingling with others who were by themselves, they chose to sit with their friends and not reach out. I’m sorry that you think I left just because of the things I wrote about. There were lots of other reasons I left to. I’m not a church jumper, I belonged to the same church growing up for about 18 years and now I’m at a church that I don’t intend to leave. The reason I mentioned having my own opinions and making my own decisions is because the discussion was about cults…cults don’t like for individuals to have opinions or think for themselves…Cults like uniformity and people who think alike. That’s why I mentioned opinions. How dare you judge me without knowing me or the situation….now I’m done.

xoxo I totally adore Justin Beiber!!