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Thread: Have you heard of the concept of a "Dumb Church"?

  1. #1

    Have you heard of the concept of a "Dumb Church"?

    I've no idea where I found this, but as it reappeared I'd give it a go. I was at one and it's why I left. I'll "tick" those that applied to my Church,

    Characteristics of the Dumb Church


    How can you tell if your church exhibits traits that characterize a dumb church? Although not exhaustive, I offer these criteria that I believe help contribute to a church becoming 'dumb':


    Where the church leadership is concerned:


    * Preaching is always topical and never expository. (tick)


    * Although the church leaders offer strong external facing statements as to how they are a "Bible believing church", the Bible is actually used and referenced very little in the sermons. Few quotations from Scripture are heard in a message, with the vast majority of all sermons consisting of personal rhetoric, humor, videos, and personal stories. (tick)


    * There is little to no instruction for new (or existing) believers on the core doctrines of the Christian faith, and no requirement for new believers to attend such instruction. (tick)


    * There is no continuous offering of apologetic training classes that are designed to train Christians in the evidences and defense of the faith (tick)


    * There is no easy way for the congregation to have tough questions answered by the lead pastors; (tick)


    * Deep Bible study programs are either absent or deliberately pushed out in favor of more 'relevant' classes that deal with softer subject matters (e.g. money management). (tick)


    * Adult and children's Bible studies before/after the main church service are either omitted or are second class citizens to "Community Groups" that seek to have members meet in each other's homes during the week, where no oversight is given as to what is done or taught. (tick)


    * There is a huge emphasis on relationship building and serving in areas of the church, but no similar importance placed on growing more Biblically and theologically literate. (tick)


    * The youth department has an unmistakable concentration on entertainment, games, social interaction, etc., vs. actual teaching of Christian doctrines. (tick)


    * The church either has no library or one that is not kept up to date. (tick)


    * There is either no staff member assigned specifically to church education, (tick)


    * Doctrinal statements of the church are missing or are not prominently made available. (tick)


    * The term "Christian apologetics" is completely unfamiliar to the vast majority of the members. (tick)


    * Most of the congregation has no knowledge of church history with the names of Polycarp, Martyr, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Wesley, Whitefield, Tyndale, and others being completely foreign to them. (tick)


    * Attendance of offered classes are very low compared to overall church attendance. (tick)

    Hopefully you do better than me

    The Tragedy of the Dumb Church | Apostolic Information Service

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    MercyandFaith (11-16-2020)

  3. #2
    Not sure if I have seen the term "dumb" church but have most recently witnessed one first hand. These are more akin to a township hall.

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    Ezekiel 33 (09-16-2020)

  5. #3
    I think I quit that church about 5 years ago.

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    Ezekiel 33 (09-16-2020)

  7. #4
    I call them McChurches! Like McDonalds there is one in every community, they offer great music entertainment before the preacher (I use that term loosely) gets up, reads the scriptural text for his sermon, then goes on for the next 30 minutes talking about everything except for what partains to that scripture that was read. The scripture was used to prop up a sermon that had no scriptural text at all. Then church is dismissed so they can usher in the new crowd for the next service. I attended one for two years here in Houston and in that time I never once heard the Gospel. I ended up knowing everything under the sun about the personal thoughts and life of the pastor and his family but not the gospel.

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  9. #5
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    * Most of the congregation has no knowledge of church history with the names of Polycarp, Martyr, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Wesley, Whitefield, Tyndale, and others being completely foreign to them. (tick)
    Must be a Calvinist church.

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    Ezekiel 33 (09-17-2020)

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