The Snow man comments below on part of an interview.  Snow comments appear like this.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD Interview: Alan Ahlgrim

By Brad Dupray
February 18, 2007

Another CS purveyor of softball questions.

The convention theme is “It’s Time.” Time for what?

Our brotherhood is stronger than ever.

Says who, and by what criteria?  Number of adherents and number of megachurches maybe.  I wonder what would happen if members were asked at random to give a summary of the Gospel in 60 seconds or less.  How many can give a satisfactory answer?  What people actually get when they go to one of our churches is a better indicator of the strength of the brotherhood.

It’s more united than ever, more focused on our mission to exalt Jesus Christ and bring more people to him and to plant more churches for him.

This begs the question "united in what?"  Is it united because those who have been the "bread and butter" members for years have been run off because they wouldn't kowtow to the leadership agenda, or became disgusted at what was going on and left?  Are those who are left now engaged in "group-think" and therefore swallow whatever the party line is?  In at least some of our churches, dissent is not welcome.  The proverbial boy who noted that the emperor was wearing no clothes would be summarily shot, or else be made to feel utterly led by the Lord to leave.

As for the mission to exalt Jesus Christ, it is instructive to notice the lyrics used in the songs to exalt Him.  How many first person pronouns singular can you find in each song?  (Is it about Jesus, or is it all about me?)  How is God characterized?  For instance, is God characterized as a "boyfriend" or "buddy."  Is the attitude toward God casual or flippant?  Is there excessive repetition or inane lyrics?

In bringing more people in, what are we converting these folks to?  Too many of our churches are dependent on the latest marketing techniques both to bring people in and to start new churches.  My real concern is for the preaching of the Gospel.  What passes for preaching  these days more closely resembles pablum.  Consequently too many of our people and our preachers have developed "ghost minds."  (The term is borrowed from Os Guinness).

And it’s time.

Time for what?  That was actually the question asked.  Now we'll see if he answers the question.

I believe that momentum is building for a marker moment at the 2007 NACC.

A moment to take off, or a moment for a downward spiral?  Or could it be nothing of any consequence?

Not many years ago we couldn’t have tackled the ‘07 theme with the same unity and urgency, creativity and credibility. 

Times have changed.

That was precisely the argument used to engage in some of the strangeness we find in our churches.

As a fellowship we are increasingly recognized to be on the cutting edge and to be catalytic.

Or is that catatonic?  We pride ourselves in being trendy and hip.  Is it the same as faithfulness to Christ's commission?  Is it equipping people to carry the Gospel message?  Does it actually strengthen one's walk with Christ?   I fear that more and more of our people are biblically illiterate, and therefore ill equipped to carry out the Great Commission.

The vision for this convention goes far beyond enjoying a great gathering, to actually energizing a great movement that we hope God will use to catapult us to the next level of kingdom impact.

Whatever that level is.  Maybe Al can give us a clue.