the purpose driven music paradigm - Escape Babylon's Demons

world and integrate them into the purpose driven philosophy of ministry. Many
Purpose Driven Churches, like TQM manufacturers, are team-based and bottom-line
measurable results and statistical assessment oriented 501(c)(3) religious
organizations, not biblical churches. Their product is the targeted seeker instead of a
manufactured product. The goal is to manipulate the felt needs of the seeker in order
to lure them to make incremental commitments to Christ and the purpose driven
church. Consumer markets (suburban communities) and methods (music, drama, messages,
facilities, teams) are analyzed, results (membership/tithing) and expenses (salaries,
overhead) tracked, and waste (people, methods, programs) eliminated.
Like the economy of the US, the “economy” of most Purpose Driven churches is
“foreign import” based. Most purpose driven churches increase membership by
baiting seekers in crowds, manipulating the felt needs of the seeking crowd, and
luring the seeking crowd to make incremental commitments designed to lead
individuals out of the uncommitted crowd into committed core membership.
Yes, we can rejoice as Paul did even if the everlasting gospel is being preached from
wrong motives. However, can anyone honestly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ or
Paul ever ministered in such fashion? God forbid!
What was the reaction of Jesus Christ toward those that turned much of the outer
court of the temple into a place where business was overshadowing prayer and
worship? Mark 11:15-19; Matthew 21:12-14; Luke 19:45-46 and John 2:13-17 show
us that in the middle of a probably hundred of thousands of Passover visitors to the
temple, Jesus angrily put a stop to secular business as usual in his house by
knocking over the furniture and bouncing buyers, sellers and animals out of the
temple of God. If the only issue Jesus had with this scenario is that the
moneychangers and merchants were greedily taking advantage of temple visitors,
why did Jesus drive out the buyers and animals along with the sellers? Clearly we’re
told that the buyers were also bounced because Jesus’ main concern was the misuse
of his house of worship as a marketplace hideout for the crooked moneychangers
and dove merchants. Talk about the elimination of truly wasted space when Jesus
cleared temple space dedicated to economic production within the God’s house of
prayer. God’s economy is based upon principles of space utilization far different from
those principles existing in the world‘s economy. It‘s interesting that Matthew 21:14-
16 tell us that the next thing Jesus did after he cleared the temple was to heal the
blind and lame and receive the worship of children in the temple affirming the proper
use of temple space. The day is fast approaching when God‘s judgment will begin at
God‘s house. The economic tables may soon be overturned in lukewarm American
churches because of the covetousness and idolatry of God’s people. (1 Peter 4:17;
Colossians 3:5-6; James 4:13-5:8; Revelation 3:14-22)
(Bibliography source: Music-driven evangelism-by Berit Kjos cuttingedge.org/articles/db035.htm)