What do the top two church-planting churches in America have in common?

According to a recent survey by The Leadership Network, the top two reproducing churches in America are Redeemer Presbyterian (New York City-pastored by Tim Keller) and Mars Hill Church (Seattle-pastored by Mark Driscoll). Both churches have planted over 100 new churches since their inception.

Along with a radical commitment to the gospel both of these churches are confessionally reformed (Calvinistic). There is a prevailing false idea that Calvinists are not committed to evangelism. Aside from this being historically inaccurate (cf. Spurgeon, Edwards, Carey, etc..) it is also out of step with what is occurring in our lifetime.

(ht: steve mccoy)

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9 Responses to “What do the top two church-planting churches in America have in common?”

1. Jacob A. Allee says:

   July 5, 2007 at 9:31 am

   I think people who really get the Doctrines of Grace are often times passionately committed to evangelism. After all, election guaruntee’s that the more you share the gospel the more people you will see come to Christ because the elect are out there. It’s also comforting to me that I know it is not on the basis of how smart, witty or convincing I am rather it is on the basis of God’s sovereignty that people trust in Jesus. All we have to be concerned with is sharing the truth about Christ and mans need due to sin and the LORD takes care of the rest.
2. Gary Peterson says:

   July 5, 2007 at 10:56 am

   This was a very heartening post! When I read the headline I immediately groaned and assumed the top two were Saddleback and Willow Creek.

   I have been fighting this battle in my church with a few entrenched “hardshell Calvinists” who hold–consciously or not–the notion that God will bring in whom he will and doesn’t need our help. Two resources that were helpful in mounting a defense against that stinkin’ thinkin’ were J.I. Packer’s EVANGELISM AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD and the Apologetics Group’s DVD AMAZING GRACE, which has a very well-done segment on evangelism.

   You mentioned Spurgeon so I have to toss in one of my favorite Spurgeon quotes: “If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since he didn’t I must preach ‘whosoever will’ and when ‘whosoever’ believes I know he is one of the elect.”

   A good encouraging post! Thanks, Erik!
3. Paul Bright says:

   July 5, 2007 at 8:22 pm

   Great post Erik!

   William Carey, indominable in spirit, had to organize his missionary activity against the prevailing hyper-Calvinism of the day. And, there is too often a mischaracterization of hyper-Calvinism with Calvinism (Augustinianism). While we were missionaries in Russia, a country who is untouched by the Reformation or any of the controversies the swirl constantly in the west (actually, you would need to go back at least to the 10th century to find the last innovations in Russian Orthodox Theology), we were constantly UNDER the scrutiny of our Russian Baptist brethren (most of whom today are a unique kind of Arminian). For it was their notion that Calvinistic theology would ruin the heart and soul of evangelism in Russia. And unfortunately, one of our former institute students has since ‘gone of the deep end’ in his region and taken complete authoritarian control of churches in the names of “Calvinism.” Such a distaste is there for Calvinism in this area (yes it is in Siberia, not far from where Pat visited) that they call the Calvinists “Calinisti”…a derogatory mispronunciation. The debate over Calvinism is not new, though, since there have been multiple changes in the Russian Baptist’s position (see Alexei Kolomitzev’s Th.M. paper on “The History of Calvinism in The Russian Baptist Union). But, the debate is heating up, because through The Samara Preacher’s Institute  www.tmainternational.org) and The Samara Theological Seminary, the introduction of Calvinistic theology is happening. BUT, not in doctrine form only…and this is critical. We modeled the passion and unflappability in our Sovereign God while preaching, teaching, praying, serving, helping, cleaning, evangelizing before the eyes of those who might distrust our doctrines. In the end, some were convinced by the Scriptures alone. Some will never be convinced (i.e., the old guard, but men who have bled for the Gospel and who can roll up their sleeves like the apostle Paul and say, “I bear on my body the brand-marks of Christ.’). But, some are being convinced by the fruit of those who serve in the name of the only Sovereign God. Undetered by opposition, not seeking the help of government or “Koverchiki,” they plow forward full steam.

   May we do the same in our own lives, not answering insult for insult, but boldly proclaim the sure salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Seth McBee says:

   July 6, 2007 at 2:31 pm

   I heard Driscoll once say when speaking of planting churches vs restructuring an already established church:

   Having a baby is easier than resurrecting the dead
5. wisecarver says:

   July 7, 2007 at 10:34 pm

   I read recently in the Liberty University newspaper that many seeker church pastors were concerned and frustrated with a “trend” they were seeing in their churchs. People leaving and attending churches that were considered to be reformed or Calvinistic. This was something that they were witnessing not just in Virgina, but the country as a whole. This is encouraging for “the man of God” to keep preaching the word.
6. David Ulmer says:

   July 8, 2007 at 2:55 am

   I must say that I am impressed. To think that Jesus only planted one Church. And look how it has reproduced by so many divisions. What did He pray, that the one will by many? Does the growth in numbers prove orthodoxy? The growth of Islam makes Muslims claim they are the Way.

   Please don’t get me wrong, I truly admire the evangelistic spirit, because whether in pretense or in truth I rejoice that Christ is being preached. However, when one doesn’t have a sense of a visible Church, I wonder what the long term effect will be. Is Driscol the Bishop over all these new “churches.

   I just find it difficult to get too excited about “churches” that aren’t Churches in the real sense being planted. I think it would be more in line with your doctrine to say that 100 congregations of Calvinist persuasion have been planted.

   In John Calvin’s life time, the Catholic Church planted 1000s of Missions in America and 100s in what later would become the United States of America, not to mention the first in the USA at St. Augustine.
7. Vaughan Smith says:

   July 9, 2007 at 4:35 am

   I wonder what the long term effect will be.

   David,

   Soli Deo Gloria.
8. Laz says:

   July 9, 2007 at 10:45 am

   The main critique of Calvinism that I have heard is what you mention in the post: “why evangelize if you’re a Calvinist?”

   Well I guess that one can’t be trotted out there anymore…
9. Calvinists don’t evangelise… I think… « The Ransomed says:

   July 10, 2007 at 12:41 pm

   [...] Take that, Calvinist-pooh-poohers. [...]