Warren Buffet says that whenever there is a great new idea, there’s a natural progression to how it goes wrong.
The idea originates with innovators, is picked up by imitators, and is ultimately abused and misappropriated by idiots.
Innovators…Imitators…Idiots.

Of course, he framed this progression in reference to the current economic crisis.

But don’t we see this happening in the church world all the time?

A breakthrough concept emerges out of XYZ Church’s sincere desire to reach people for Christ.  The idea is wildly successful for that particular church and word gets out in the Christian community: “did you hear about what XYZ Church did?”
Since it worked for them, the logic goes, it will work for us.
And sometimes it will.

If…
You internalize it (pray-God, is this the right move for us?)
analyze it (understand what they really did and how they pulled it off)
contextualize it (adjust and revise it to reflect your particular situation)
Hey, imitation isn’t often a great ally!  I learned to play guitar by imitating Jimi Hendrix (albeit not very well).

But don’t be an idiot.
Don’t start a 2nd campus when your 1st campus is 55% full at one service just because multi-site is sexy and en vogue.  Start another service or two first.
Don’t do a rap cover that you saw them do at Catalyst because it was cool-unless you have someone who could rap proficiently, and you think your people will dig it.  The 14 year old glow in the dark white boy who leads worship for you with an acoustic guitar probably won’t pull it off…and you’ll look like an idiot.

Examples of this abound.  I’ve/We’ve been idiots many times.
Hope this post keeps you from going there.

(Special thanks to the Mavericks at Work guys for passing on this profound idea!)