Organic Church by Neil Cole - A quotational review

As many of you know I'm not a big fan of book reviews. Nevertheless, I love to write down quotes from a book that catch certain parts of the message of the book. Here are some of those quotes that caught my attention from this book. I'd love to read what you guys think about these:

"If we build a church that is based on a charismatic personality, an innovative methodology, or anything else, we have church that is inferior to that which Jesus would build." (p. 8)

"Why must people wake up early on sunday, get dressed up, and drive to a specific location to sit in rows looking all morning at the back of some guy's head while a person they don't know talks to them about the latest prescription of three steps to a better life? Is this experience really supposed to change their lives forever?" (p. xxv)

"We believe that church should happen wherever life happens." (p. 24)

"Most Christian church are trying to figure out how to bring lost people to Jesus. The key to starting churches that reproduce spontaneously is to bring Jesus to lost people." (p. 24)

"Many a church continues long after the soul of the church has departed because the building itself keeps them going. A building can become an artificial life support system that keeps a church alive even though it died long ago." (p. 37)

"Our problem is not in bricks and mortar; it is in our minds." (p. 38)

"...running church shows on Sunday morning..." (p. 40 - taken out of context - )

"The Church is not to be identified by bumper stickers or fish signs any more than by constitutions and bylaws." (p. 48)

"Rather than starting with the questions of what church is, we start by asking how we can make it bigger, or better, or start more of them." (p. 49)

"Unfortunately, in most church in the Western world the presence of the pastor is more noticeable than the presence of Jesus." (p. 57)

"What we draw them with is what we draw them to." (p. 95)

So how do you guys respond to this author? These quotes do make the book sound like a big bashing tirade. In some ways it was, but it is not without a constructive alternative. Neil Cole goes on to present his view of what a church should look like according to scripture. It is very interesting, and most of it is really good. His method of church certainly sounds more natural (organic). Basically, we go out to where unbelievers are at, pray for them, form relationships with the mindset that God will open doors for witness, and when converts are made form meetings at their houses. Here prayer, worship, and bible reading are major aspects of what he calls Awakening Chapels - not so focused on topical sermons. These groups have a mission to go out and find more lost people and begin new chapels in different homes, parking lots, anywhere. Those converts in turn do the same, and so on. The book explains it a little bit more gracefully than this of course.

May God bless you all.

Remy.