Kevin’s Conversations: Penn States Redemption

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8 Responses

  1. Jean says:

    Kevin,

    Very good article.

    “But in those fallen times, if we keep our attention on our true Leader and what he calls us to do and be, just maybe the happenings of our church bodies and Church universal will be much greater than anything we would have ever expected….. in a good way.”

    I think the problem you’ve identified is a symptom of treating the church like a big school sports program or business enterprise. They become dependent on the vision, “leadership”, etc. of the “leaders.” Maybe, what would help realize your suggestion would be to give Christ and His Word a promotion. Maybe if He was the focus, people wouldn’t be so fixated and dependent on their “leaders.” Maybe instead of “leaders”, the church needs “pastors.”

  2. John 20:29 says:

    now i confess that i don’t know much on the subject, but i watched the Penn State players get up off the bench and “take a knee” around USC’s star player who was injured and then when he got up to be helped off the field, they rose and applauded – they weren’t losers last Monday – by a long shot – IMHO 🙂

    “I think the problem you’ve identified is a symptom of treating the church like a big school sports program or business enterprise.” amen

  3. Kevin H says:

    Thanks Jean.

    I think the problem of focusing on the leaders can happen in small churches just as well as the megachurch. The problem does often get amplified in the big church, however.

    I do think pastors need to provide leadership in some regards. But an overemphasis on it can lead to problems.

  4. Steve says:

    Kevin,

    I’m a Penn State Alumni and I do believe this scandal affected not just their foot ball team but the entire institution as well. Fortunately, I was never a huge Paterno fan and can only remember going to 1 or two games while a student. My point is that just as there is a lot more to Penn State football than just the leader Paterno, there is also a lot more to Penn State than just their foot ball team. Unfortunately football takes center stage all too often because it brings in a lot of money. However, this time it seemed to really tarnish their reputation.

  5. Martin Luther's Disciple says:

    I think Jean has nailed it with the comparison – church and a business venture.

    How many times in my evangelical days did I hear “we are here to do business with God.”

  6. Kevin H says:

    Steve,

    The scandal certainly affected the whole institution and not just the football team. And it is unfortunate how football can sometimes take too high of a priority at Penn State (along with many other schools). That was part of the culture which gave Joe Paterno his (almost) infallible stature. However, for purposes of this article, I chose to focus on how the team responded to the whole debacle.

  7. John 20:29 says:

    MLD made me think that it is one thing to do business with God and quite another to do business FOR God… He doesn’t need our business acumen as was proved by Judas a long time back… but, to put perhaps too fine a spin on the thot, we all will do business with God – sooner or later – one way or another…

  8. JD says:

    ‘ “I think the problem you’ve identified is a symptom of treating the church like a big school sports program or business enterprise.” amen’

    ++ The old OPS RCPI:

    Organizational Psychology Supporting the Rise of Crafty Powerful Individuals.

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