about me

Kevin Bussey (aka k-dawg)
Lead Pastor
Charlotte, NC, USA


Samford University: B.S. Public Administration, 1985
University of Alabama at Birmingham: M.A. Education, 1988

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: MDivBL, 1995


Married to:
Cassandra (6-25-88)

Children:
Jacob
Hope

quote of the week

"Pastor I don't like your plans" Bisagno, "what are your plans." man, "I don't have any." Bisagno, "I like my plans better than yours." .

Dr. John R. Bisagno:


blogs i read

marty duren
joe kennedy
art rogers
stuart delony
wade burleson
kiki cherry
david phillips
dorcas hawker
arkansas rasorbaptist
cb scott
ben cole
tim sweatman
jason sampler
mark mansheim
adam feldman
scott freeman
wes kenny
alan cross
john stickley
bowden mcelroy
c w
jamie wootten
nate goodwin
paul littleton
jeff richard young
J. A. Gillmartin
villa rica
phillips lynn
micah fries
preachin jesus
morris chapman
tim sweetman
kevin lancaster
jeremy roberts
al mohler
ronnie floyd
david rogers
sbc bloggers
greg pouncey
jason burns
howie luvzus
gary lamb
angela davis
neil elmore
jason shepherd
monday morning insight
wayne cordeiro
Southern Baptist Blog Aggregator

favorite links

dmbc
my parents ministry
starbucks
starbucks gossip
the ooze
willowcreek association
purpose driven
northpoint community church
springs church
albert pujols
shaun alexander
john maxwell
element 2
dale jarrett
bama magazine
bible gateway
biblical studies foundation

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listening [to]


building 429: rise


chris tomlin: live from austin music hall


various: music inspired by the chronicles of narnia


fusebox: once again


passion: How Great Is Our God


storyside:b : everything and more


delirious?: the mission bell


hillsong united: look to you



 

Monday, February 13, 2006

Influencing the secular world...........

Today I attended the Innovative Church Community in Burlington, NC. I was contacted by an important person in the SBC world who reads my blog but wants to remain anonymous. Thanks for telling me about this group it was great! The ICC is a group of innovative pastors in NC who gather together once a month to sharpen each other! I connected with some cool people. Today the topic was Influencing the Secular World. The organizers brought in 4 non-believers and one "seeker" to answer some questions about Christianity in front of this group of pastors. There was Mike a college student who was brought up in church but doesn't go to church anymore. Morgan is a student at UNC who has not been back to church since high school. Jeremy is from a half Baptist-half Catholic home and is an atheist. Then John who is a 40-50 something guy who is a "former evangelical Christian" who has just started to attend an innovative church in Boone, NC. They were frank and honest about why they don't go to church and what they think of Christianity, Christians, Church, pastors and Jesus. Their answers were enlightening. Question 1: What comes to mind when you hear the word Christianity? Mike and Morgan: Group of people who share the same beliefs Jeremy: Hypocrisy, fascism, racism and sexism. He said that Christianity is like looking at a reverse negative--everything Christians say they are they are not! John: Hypocrisy. More harm has been done to him by Christians than non-Christians. Christians don't even examine their own religion. Main flaw--Christianity is a noun to believers but it should be a verb. Question 2: What comes to mind when you hear the word church? Mike: Church is for networking for business-so one can get rich. It is exclusive--no minorities, homosexuals, etc.. but Christians are greedy. Morgan: Dry but sometimes exciting. Jeremy: Cult, gathering of social groups. More hanging out and socializing instead of doing good works! John: Practice on Sunday and forget it on Monday! Question 3: Do you know any Christians that you respect? Mike: no! Morgan: Mother. Everyone else she meets just disaproves of her and does not show love. Christians won't admit they don't know everything. Jeremy: All Christians do is follow a conservative word of God instead of the "liberal" Jesus. Jesus associated with everyone! John: Yes, those who live it and don't talk about it. The church he is attending now tries to live it and they admit they don't know it all! Question 4: What do you think of Jesus? Mike: His followers are terrorists! Morgan: Son of God. He would be disappointed in what He saw today! Jeremy: He'd be cool to hang out with. I want to see what He thinks of Christians. I think Jesus would be like George Burns in O God. John: I think Christians mis-understand Jesus. Christians miss the heart of the law. I don't believe He was the son of God, He is "a" son of God. Question 5: What would you say to us (Church leaders and pastors)? Mike: I would like to see less "forced" conversion tactics! Less taking scripture out of context. Morgan: Be approachable. Most pastors don't let you get close to them. Jeremy: Stop selling salvation. Take off Christianity on mints, car lots and gyms! All ministers want it $$$ and a b@#@h on the side! You are hate mongers. Stop making $$ off of Jesus. You ministers use God's name in vain when you sell Christianity. John: When are you actually going to study the Bible? You are afraid to challenge your own beliefs! If you believe in something you preach--you need to make sure it is true. What did I learn? These are the same kind of people I've been hanging out with for the last 6+ years @ Starbucks, other coffee shops, fitness centers and libraries. I go out of my way each day to hang around people like I met today! But it confirmed to me that discipleship is very imperitive. John was right. Christians don't know what they believe. You can only get so much out of a message or sermon. Followers of Jesus must be discipled so they can know what they believe. Also, our evangelism must not be trying to put another notch on our belts! We need to build relationships with non-believers because we actually like them. We share our faith with them because they are our friends. Everyone of them has been hurt by Christians. I mentioned earlier in the week that a great friend of mine was jerked around by so called Christians this week. What a shame! What a way to ruin one's testimony. I would like to bring a group of non-believers to my church to do the same thing for our members so they can hear first hand how we can influence the secular world!

posted by Kevin Bussey at 2/13/2006 11:21:00 PM

2 Comments:

Blogger art rogers said...

This just breaks my heart. The worst part about it is that they did not know their audience at all. They lambasted ministers that agree with them about the marketing of Christianity. Unfortunately, they are so overwhelmed by the images of "Christian Culture," they can't tell the difference - and who could blame them?

2/15/2006 10:14:00 AM  
Blogger Kevin Bussey said...

I just don't want to be a stumbling block for someone coming to Jesus. What I got is they think Jesus is cool. They don't want Christianity because of Christians! Ouch!

2/15/2006 10:22:00 AM  

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get to know me

article in local paper
i am recovering pharisee
origin of k-dawg


Reading Now

The Cure for the Common Life
by Max Lucado



Recent Reads

The Creative Leader: Unleashing the Power of Your Creative Potential
by Ed Young Jr.


Your Spritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow
by C. Peter Wagner



Why Men Hate Going to Church
by David Murrow


Advanced Strategic Planning: A New Model for Church and Ministry Leaders
by Aubrey Malphurs



must reads


The Next Generation Leader: Five Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future
by Andy Stanley


Choosing to Cheat : Who Wins When Family and Work Collide?
by Andy Stanley


The Best Question Ever
by Andy Stanley


Radical Reformission, The: Reaching Out without Selling Out
by Mark Driscoll


A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey
by Brian McLaren


The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of a New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren


Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing Down to Be With God
by Bill Hybels


A Passionate Church
by Mike Breen and Walt Kallenstad


A Passionate Life
by Mike Breen and Walt Kallenstad



Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
by Donald Miller


Searching for God Knows What
by Donald Miller



Spiritual Leadership: Moving People to God's Agenda
by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby


previous posts

The Shaggy Dog is her boyfriend!
Why discipleship?
Mouth-To-Beak Resuscitation Saves Chicken
Not again!
What were they thinking?
I think Disney got the better deal...........
Let your yes be yes.....
Terrorists??
Create a caption....
Only in Alabama...........

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