Elevation Church
11416 E. Independence Blvd
Suite N
Matthews
North Carolina
28105
Senior Pastor:
Steven Furtick
Denomination:
Southern Baptist
Big Box Church
Elevation is a self-promoting church whose success comes largely from its comfortable and permissive atmosphere. From the time you walk by the ear-protection dispenser (I'm not kidding) into the sanctuary, you are reminded at every turn how this is a church for the unchurched. While evangelism is a holy calling, at some point you must separate yourself as a Christian and as a church to be apart from the ways of the world. This means upholding Christian values and drawing the line at sin. If the sinners choose to join you, praise God.
This church is all about style over content. It is akin to an unsupervised youth group taking over. We gave it a try for two Sundays at two different locations and were completely unimpressed. As it turns out, we heard the same message both times, as the live message was played by video the second week at the other location.
The pastor unapologetically made several worldly comments and used words that should not be used from the pulpit or even within the four walls of the church. He travels with an entourage and is not approachable as a pastor should be. He quite often compares himself to Dr. Billy Graham. He dismisses criticism as noise that distracts him from his calling. God and Dr Graham would have us be humble and welcoming of Christian counseling.
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There is a saying that reads, "We don't hear things the way they are, we hear things the way we are." After reading the above post I believe there may be a a religious filter that is....well....religious. As the son of an old fashion Baptist pastor, who by the way would not really care about the production of Elevate Church either, it seems we as humans decide how God works and how He doesnt work. Its probably a good thing Joseph didnt think this way because he would have took one look at Mary and said, "Nope, God has never worked that way before so that cant be God." How easy it is for us to place God in our religious box and condemn anything we feel doesn't fit into it due to the fact, in this case, it doesn't seem to fit our preference. The look, the sound, the youth as stated completely unimpressed. After attending twice (hearing the same message by the way) we say that the pastor OFTEN compares himself to Dr, Graham. That doesn't sound like enough visits to make such a bold claim. Also many pastors did not like Dr. Graham when he was young because they accused him of going after the money, it was all about him, that the way he held service was not in line with the Bible. What exactly happened at Elevate that did not hold up to Christian values? Or maybe it is easier to say what didn't hold up to your expectations as to what church should be? Sounds to me you make the case for this pastor and his comparing himself to Dr. Graham. The religious also didn't receive Jesus because he didn't fit their religious model. Jesus referred to them as Vipers and dismissed these people. He even told His own disciple< "get behind me Satan" when Peter tried to tell him how he saw things. Maybe Jesus should have looked for a good Christian counselor to advise him. As long as God is the center of what you do, as long as it points the lost towards Jesus that is all that matters. We have 265 religions all believing and trying to get their point of view across. Jesus didn't die to start a religion and this may blow you away,but he didn't die so you get to go to heaven. He died to bridge the gap so we could have an intimate relationship with God. Do the saved go to heaven? Yes. But God is not holdng out until we get there before he embraces us right where we are. This church doesnt fit into your box, ok. But why tear them down when you don't even know this Pastors heart? The only thing thtat separates us from the lost is our ability to forgive the way God has forgiven us. God doesn't judge us until we die and so why do we judge each other? How can a Pastor of 7,000 be approachable to everyone? We are all called to minister to each other it is not just one man job. Next time instead of looking for something that fits your box and instead you find a church that is missing something, ask yourself if maybe that is why God brought you there. To bring what is missing. Maybe you could have ministered to these crazy out of control youths. Instead you wil go sit on a pew somewhere. I guess we will never know. By the way my Pastor father would ask me two question, "Does he preach the word, and does he preach that Jesus is God"? To which I would say YES.
Lastly, this church is God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit driven. The pastor has a heart after God and to point the lost to Jesus. He is young and of very good character and by his own admission Not Perfect. But then again none of us are.
My Pastor at Christ Church Nashville, Pastor Dan Scott, is approachable to everyone. Keep e-mailing him, and he will keep e-mailing you back. I believe we are a church of about 9,000.
I just want out of the early church service at 9:45 AM in order to have time for a full Sunday school class.
How well run are your church services? Is there a Sunday school?
"Different strokes for different folks." Pastor Furtick must be doing something right because he has quickly grown the church in a positive way. Has he made mistakes? Absolutely, yet I think his heart is in the right place. As with anyone his age, he has made some arrogant comments, but in part that is due to his age. He is biologically immature, but he is a work in progress like all of us.
Bottom line (and this is all that matters): he shares gospel truths. God has given him the gift of oration. When a church grows quickly, the growing pains are more obvious in a larger church. I think Elevation is attempting to fine tune their church.
Meanwhile, many people have made a profession of faith and are growing in their understanding of God's calling on their lives.I have worshipped at Elevation when I have been in Charlotte visiting a friend (about seven times since the first year they started). My friend and I always arrive at the church after the music because we find nothing glorifying about the unneccesary volume. Elevation staff members need our prayers ... as do all mega churches and their pastors.
Elevation has potential ... as long as they keep standing on God's promises and keeping egos out of the building.
I'll give the Pastor five stars for attending North Greenville University, receiving a B.A. in communications and going on to complete a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I have not been to the church. I seldom leave Nashville, Tennessee. For my vacation each year, I go to the Country Music Association Music Festival here in Nashville, Tennessee.
heckuva dialog, folks. this is what ChurchRater is all about. I thank you.
I come from a life long Freewill Baptist background and have seen over the years a continuation of the Church to judge anything different. If we digest our Bibles we will see that the Church Leaders of the day were constantly judging Jesus and his way of doing things. Jesus was very Radical in his day, just look at how he spoke to the women at the well. This was Radical for the time and made his own Diciples wonder what he was doing. We are too into Man's laws over the Church to worry about what God wants to do in the Church.
Why limit God by what we think is the limit of God. Pastor Furtick in what I have seen shows a man running after a vision that God gave him and God seems to be blessing him for it. Let us all stop putting God on a shelf to look over our lives and instead put him in the center of our whole life.
Key statements in this dispute are simple.
The pastor is not approachable and has an entourage.
Let's see...Jesus spoke to 5000 and there is no mention of him having interaction with the crowd. Oh and Jesus traveled with an entourage of 12 diciples and many times a following of others like Mary Magdeline.
From the time you walk by the ear-protection dispenser (I'm not kidding) into the sanctuary, you are reminded at every turn how this is a church for the unchurched.
Jesus called us all to be Fishers of Men and to go out to all the world and spread his gospel. What people was Jesus telling us to go after? Just those that already know him? No, Jesus wants us to go and spread the word to those who do not know him.
While evangelism is a holy calling, at some point you must separate yourself as a Christian and as a church to be apart from the ways of the world. This means upholding Christian values and drawing the line at sin. If the sinners choose to join you, praise God.
Again, Who is making the rules here, Man? Or God? Music that is not like the hymns you grew up with, is that too much like the world? Amazing Grace was considered sacrareligious when it first came out! Man puts a limit on how God can reach people...God reaches us through AMAZING things in many ways.
I personally think that as THE Church (all Christians) we need to embrace being the Body of Christ and not tear down other Churches and Denominations. God works individually in each of us, in a personal way. What he may call me to do or not do, he may not put on you. Traditional Churches teach that we should not ever have a drink of alcohol...But Jesus turned the water into Wine...And no it wasn't grape juice. Man has put that barrier on Man not God. Let's ge out of the way and Let God be GOD!!! I do not know Steven Furtick but if Jesus is in the center of his message and ministry then he is ok....If he does or says things that do not line up with what God calls him to do, then God will deal with him....Not us. Live your relationship with God...Are you doing Gods will? Are you being a Disciple? Work out your own salvation as the word says and do not judge others.