FBC Jax Watchdog series on FBC Dallas building program

FBC Jax Watchdog continues his series on the $140 million First Baptist Dallas building program, asking how the decision was made to commit to spend the money. His analysis includes asking how they can justify committing to spend so much money when the church still owes $8-9 million from its last building project.

Did the three step plan work?

1. God spoke to Brunson and gave him the vision;

2. Brunson worked with Doug (whoever Doug is) and the planners;

3. God worked in the hearts of the people to support the vision.

Steps 1 and 2 worked, but I submit step 3 didn't work. The project was sold to the church as a project that would be paid for by pledges made.

But today, FBC Dallas still owes $8.7 million on the Criswell Building. God apparently didn't tell the people at Dallas that this was God's will, else they would have given the money, right? I mean, if this is how God does His work, as Jeffress said, why didn't God complete step 3?

The question of how anyone can be sure they're doing the right thing when taking a step of faith is a difficult one, and to his credit the author generally keeps his rhetorical tone low. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for some of the people who left comments:

Members also know the "lot" of you are the YES MEN who will agree with anything MB wants. No matter, the "lot of you" can pay off the remaining debt - the pews are more empty than filled these days. Pushing MB to go into debt didn't work!

Etc. For the record I don't pretend to have all the facts in hand regarding the Dallas building situation, but I'm quite curious about how this building program plays out. If I attended FBC Dallas I'd be apprehensive about giving a dime if they're still in debt and justifying a huge building project on the basis of vague appeals to "visions" God is supposed to have passed down to "shepherds." I'd be willing to bet that these "visions" aren't also being given to people who can actually co-sign a loan. 

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