First, we planned a two-part sermon series, "Understanding the Passion," to bookend both sides of the movie's release. Next, we booked 47 theater screens for members to take their lost friends to. Third, Kay and I personally invited over a thousand lost community leaders of Orange County to a VIP premiere showing, including every mayor, congressman, superintendent of schools, other community leaders, and four billionaires, most of whom I'd never met. Then, in anticipation of all the lost friends brought by members, we added two more services to our regular weekend schedule of nine. Finally, we prepared a three-week small group curriculum on The Passion for follow-up.

The results? Over 600 unchurched community leaders attended our VIP showing; 892 friends of members were saved during the two-week sermon series. Over 600 new small groups were formed, and our average attendance increased by 3,000. That's catching a wave!

No doubt, some will defend their failure to use this moment and this incredible tool for Christ with personal, theological, or philosophical defenses. Some churches would rather be cool, hip, or cutting-edge, than reach more people for Christ. To those I would ask, What matters most? Where's the fruit? Many young pastors would be shocked to learn that the largest Gen-X church in America is Saddleback with over 20,000 names under 29 on our church roll.-Rick Warren, from Catching The Passion Wave on ChristianityToday.com

Jesus didn't say it was by our clever outlines, memorable mnemonics, snazzy programs, and special effects that we would be known as his disciples, or that he would be known as sent from God. Rather, he said, it was by our love that we and he would be known, and by our fruit: our good works that shine in darkness and inspire all to glorify God. -Brian McLaren, from Passionate, but Not for Mel's Movie

Do these guys know that they don't even speak the same language? It's clear that Warren sees emerging worship as trying to be cool, hip, and cutting-edge. And I fear that sometimes that is what it looks like. Like all "movements" what people see is the external programatic elements (i.e. the Emergent Conference) last week.

Following the event via blogs, it did feel gimicky. It did feel like we are trying to be hip, cool, cutting-edge. But what if we are not trying to be any of that? What if we are trying to be authentic? what if we are trying to express ourselves in meaningful and powerful ways that are true to who God has made us?

We must be kind, in this discussion. The authentic mode of operation for moderns is formulaic program. Saddleback and Rick Warren are doing what comes naturally to them. Great! May God bless them.

The authentic mode of operation for many postmoderns is relationship. We seek to love people into the Kingdom not program them into it. Obviously these are not mutually exclusive. But programs and relationships are always in tension in the church. And this discussion between McLaren and Warren highlights that tension.