Ga. Pastor: Churches Full of Fat Sheep, Super-Sized on Religion
There are a lot of fat, super-sized sheep inside the church, says one Georgia megachurch pastor. They may call themselves followers of Christ, but few are willing to go out and share the Gospel.
"I don't care how many Bible studies you've been through; if it's not causing you to love God, ... serve more, share your faith, all you're becoming is nothing more than a big, fat sheep that is super-sized on knowledge and full of religion," said Pastor Brian Bloye of West Ridge Church.
His straightforward message was conveyed to thousands at his Dallas, Ga., megachurch on Sunday. For the past four weeks, Bloye has been addressing what he considers is an epidemic in the American church – that is, a "Super Size Me" culture.
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The fast food mentality, he says, has crept into the church with many Christians approaching church with a "have it my way" attitude.
Such a mentality has resulted in churchgoers who hop from church to church, make no long-term commitments, and have no accountability. They've essentially become puffed up sheep, Bloye lamented.
"It’s countercultural to what Scripture teaches us about how we are to live as followers of Jesus and how we are to relate to the church," the pastor said.
Though these super-sized sheep appear to be spiritually mature followers of Christ – considering they go to church, attend Bible studies and conferences, and give offerings – not all end up being true disciples, he indicated.
Instead, they are full of biblical knowledge that doesn't add up to be anything more than "a bunch of religion."
In his concluding message of the four-part series, Bloye said the only way to tell if a fat sheep is a mature believer is to squeeze them or put them through life's ups and downs.
What should come out of true disciples during trials is love, the pastor stressed. Additionally, that believer would also be listening to God's voice, obeying, serving and sharing the Gospel.
But many believers, Bloye has found, are not compelled to do any of that. They get stuck and become puffed up.
"That's why there are so many fat, super-sized sheep inside the church," he said.
The West Ridge pastor made it clear to churchgoers that if biblical knowledge is not causing them to love God and others, to serve, and share their faith, then they have been wasting their time.
"We've been left here on this earth for a purpose. We've been called to share the good news of salvation," he stressed.
But "some of us ... don't care and that's just the facts. We're indifferent to it because we've created a little [Christian] bubble for ourselves."
It's time to burst that bubble, Bloye said.
It's time to be "missional," he preached, defining the term as "living out the mission of Jesus in your community and in your world."
Bloye challenged the congregation to grow outward and to share the Gospel with everyone.
"Everyone deserves an opportunity to be brought into the presence of Jesus. I don't care who they are, I don't care what color their skin is, I don't care what their sexual preference is, I don't care where they come from," he said to applause.
"People around us ... they're lost and they need to hear the Good News – the Gospel."
Bloye founded West Ridge Church in 1997 and considers himself a missionary to Atlanta. The church currently has three campuses.
