Jim Lambert

Review of Scottsdale Bible Church

We are snow birds and have been attending SBC when...

We are snow birds and have been attending SBC when in town. Our last visit to SBC gave us an unsettling spirit. It began with walking into the remodeled "sanctuary" a pitch black theater, with black lights and other special effects illuminating the "theater". It reminded me of being at a 70's concert without the lazer light show and smell of marijuana. However, it wouldn't surprise me if they had lazer lights. A real entertainment extravaganza. It felt like a Joel Olsteen set up... What a display of opulence. And they give you a gift for stopping by the information/welcome booth. I'm not sure what the gift is, maybe a pastor autographed coffee mug? Or maybe a bible, imagine that. I can only imagine sitting on the mountain side listing to Christ preach his word, while Peter offers a gift as a marketing ploy to engage further with the individual.

The entertainment, black lights, special effect lighting, 50 piece orchestra, gifts, combined with a human swagger of confidence and success, left me looking for the nearest exit. I looked at my wife and said, wow, my Christian spidy sense (Holy Spirit) is tingling off the charts, let's get out of here. She tempered my total uneasiness and we stayed for the sermon. The professional pundits message hit it's mark, eventually, "washing of feet". The professional Pastor, his cavalier style, oozing with self confidence, been here done this a 1000 times swagger, while mixing in a few cool " dudes" jargon, just makes me super uneasy. The child like posture, humble, reverence for the honor of presenting Gods word was no where to be found (my opinion). Being preached at rather then a spirit of being taught or reminded for all, including the Pastor, should be the humble target. I'm know SCB is doing good things, and Pastor Jamie has a heart for Christ. Clearly, the Scottsdale cancer, market influence, has injected it's worldly influence on the church and it's leadership. I also feel the western church has lost it's way and SBC is feeding that monster.