a dynamic that is simply hostile to the gospel
I recently had a conversation with a friend that kinda rocked my world. Maybe I’ve been naive, but it sort-of opened my eyes to a whole different side of church ministry. And if I’m being honest, it kinda freaked me out. The progress that I thought was being made in these young, “new way of doing church” churches is actually being contradicted in several of them. People are no longer allowed to be free in worship. Crosses are no longer hung on sanctuary walls. Each part of the service is planned out to the second and there’s no room to allow the Holy Spirit to move (and besides, that might freak people out, right?). It made me wonder how many other churches out there are like this. I honestly don’t know. I was, admittedly, disheartened. And maybe I’ve been spoiled by my own church. Either way, I resigned to the fact that if you want to have a large, young church in this day and age, you have to dumb-down and dilute the Gospel with “everyday application”, and not mention the crazy Christ stuff too much in order to create a more palatable God experience.
Then, last Tuesday I had a conversation (albeit unrelated to the above topic) with Pastor Marilyn Hickey. She began to tell me about a church she had visited. The church was packed with 12,000 people every week and they moved in the gifts of the Spirit in a very real way in just about every service. The kicker, however, is that the church is not only packed with people, but it is packed with young people! Twenty and thirty-somethings dominate the demographic. This gave me some hope.
Then I kicked my own arse and remembered something I’ve heard and told myself thousands of times: Numbers don’t necessarily represent spiritual health.
Wow. How could I have forgotten my roots?! Spending years and years volunteering in startups and church plants. Chasing after God, not for a paycheck or recognition or to feel like I’m in the coolest church in town, but simply because we were hungry to see Him move in our lives in a transformational way.
Then I read this: [ht:Pastor Dave]
It seems that large churches generate a dynamic that is simply hostile to the gospel. Business models overtake ecclesial life. At this point they become more interested in preserving their life, or in preserving their image (success) than in the kingdom of God, and this becomes a violent and oppressive dynamic. [link]
Then that word starts to creep up…relevance
Oh yeah. We gotta try to be cool and look like the world otherwise people won’t come to church.
What?!
So you’re telling me that for the first time in the history of church and the Christian faith we have to stop acting like a church and stop doing what churches should do?
That sounds a little backwards to me. Let’s not be so vain.
[ht:Josh Brage]
Oh, brother or sister, God calls us to worship, but in many instances we are in entertainment, just running a poor second to the theaters. That is where we are, even in the evangelical churches, and I don’t mind telling you that most of the people we say we are trying to reach will never come to a church to see a lot of amateur actors putting on a home talent show.
-A.W. Tozer
We’ve turned our head pastors into nothing more than used car salesmen, hocking our shiniest new programs and facilities in the name of relevance. Our board members and business partners don’t let our pastors preach an un-vetted and unbridled message of Jesus. The fullness of Christ.
This translates to our congregations. Now, instead of going to church to give it all to God, they go to church to get for themselves some temporal experience with cool lights and smoke, self-help sermons, free lattes and the fuzzy feeling that they went to church and it didn’t hurt a bit. All the while avoiding any real, personal transformation.
What this has created is selfish church-goers. They complain when the worship team does a song or style they don’t like. They complain when the pastor doesn’t preach as good as some guy on the internet. They complain when they can’t pick up the free WiFi in the parking lot. They complain when the speakers are too loud or too soft. ETC!!!!
When did church become our spiritual convenience store? Our one-stop-shop for everything we want; and our complaint counter for everything that’s not to our liking? Why does personal preference have so much say in the planning of our services? I mean, the whole idea of following Christ is that we die to ourselves, take up our cross and follow! Right?
How did it all get turned around?
I know, I know, “but we gotta be relevant in order to reach the next generation of world changers”. And I agree! See, the thing is, Jesus is relevant. His message transcends time and culture. I don’t wanna stay old fashioned and stale (and I’m not going to), but time period and cultural fads don’t change the transformation that is held in a life of chasing Christ.
The idea that we need to somehow change the image of God to be more palatable to a mass audience should be offensive to those who consider themselves a follower of Christ.
14 Comments
So well said and couldn’t agree with you more, Mark. We’ve become “of” the world instead of strictly in it. We attend church to consume instead of be discipled. We’re so NOT transformed we have to be marketed to, “Tell us what we need and we’ll buy it.” But if it isn’t instant and easy, we’re off looking for something new, like the children in the market Jesus spoke of in Matt 11:16-17 who are never satisfied, but constantly acting the contrary critics. Where is the revelation that sets us free? We desperately need to be awakened from this dullness of heart.
You might also want to read “Consumers or Disciples” http://theriverblog.wordpress.com/
Pastor Sharons last blog post..LOVE: The Challenge of the Great Commandment
The thing that is somewhat confusing, is it seems like we hold very tightly to traditions/ideas that are ~50 years old rather than Biblical things that are 2k+ years old. It’s an interesting dynamic, having society change, and watching how the church sways with that rhythm.
josh mickelsons last blog post..Bigotry?
Awesome post…
I’ve been hearing about this type of scenario quite a bit lately and think the whole “cool church at the expense of God really moving” thing is destined for failure. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for cool and relevant church, but NEVER when it puts the primary focus (God moving in peoples lives, go figure) on the back burner. At some point those ‘cool church’ recruits will find themselves getting bored, wanting more and looking to churches who focus on Him first and being cool/relevant second.
Dan [djByron]s last blog post..Ignatius – Superstar Youth Pastor
Its interesting to think about “church” & the different developments / eveolutions its been thru in history. In its infancy, it just struggled to stay alive, literally and yet, under unbelievable pressure, it completely flourished. Futhermore, I look at church in an int’l context & the places where “church” is experiencing explosive growth is in many places where there’s signficant persecution. Its also growing the most where there’s a strong move of the HS. I’m mostly thinking aloud here, so sorry to meander.
Here’s my conclusion: the HS is essential to church. Anytime church is done w/out the HS it eventually collapses.
As for relevance, I believe there’s an organic tension between making the HS comfortable & welcome along w making people “comfy”. Jesus came for people & that’s indisputable. He died on the cross for the selfish & magnanomous. He died on the cross for the consumer & surrendered. His death & resurrectn are without our qualificatns. As for growing, yes, we need to grow & I believe that the HS uses church as an integral part of our spiritual development. The cross is horizontal & vertical – horizontal in our interpersonal relatnships & vertical in relating to the Divine Trinity. Both components are essential to the cross becoming all that its intended to be in our lives – Col 3:3. Church requires to HS to be everything she’s supposed to be – most of all the bride of Christ.
Sorry to ramble, but just some thoughts
Such an awesome post Mark.
You’ve said it all. Jesus is relevant. He is our role model.
Like, duh?! How do we so easily forget that and get caught up in the latest shiny new toy.
Don’t answer that, I know already
Davids last blog post..Worship : 19 April 2009
I can’t help but think what we’re seeing these days is simply a poor copy of the originals; just bad art. Churches that are still around who started out as groups of artists looking to experience God “Wholly.” That is to say letting God have the freedom to move in a worship service, by honoring the arts as an expression of God and by making room for God’s spirit. That idea took off but people forgot the inspiration behind it. Basically I think it’s a Christian trend, a WWJD bracelet for steeples. A fine idea if incorporated into an existing church model but a poor one as a single rationale . I can picture church folk visiting those original churches and saying “Wow, did you see all those people? This kind of service is great!” But without reason behind that you just get flash and shine…
Great post Mark
Archie Mcks last blog post..Prayers
Well said Mark! I have felt the same way you are feeling for the past few years. Many conversations with friends just like yours who are dumbing down the gospel to try to get people to commit to it. That is why Curt and I loved ORCC so much! We never felt like Pastor Reece and Sarah were more committed to the “show” than they were to the HS moving. We loved it and miss it so much! I think Christianity in America is losing is spice because we are dumbing it down so much. We will never compete with movie theater’s and concerts if we dont keep Jesus and the cross at the forefront and give the HS time and a place to move
I hope you keep screaming this message from the top of your lungs. The church of America needs to hear it. Bless you guys! Cant wait for June to make her arrival.
Twitter: holyheteroclite
keep on with your holy wrestling!!!!!!!!!!
It may seem unrelated, but have you seen the video clips below:
dave wainscotts last blog post..the subtitles will help..a must see
Twitter: themarkthomas
I hadn’t seen those (until just now). Great stuff. What’s your commentary?
Thoughtful post, Mark, and a few thoughts in response. I’m struck by your focus on “young church” or perhaps you mean more than simply age of parishioners? I was part of the Vineyard in the mid-70s when it was still a Bible study in Larry Norman’s Beverly Hills apartment and as it outgrew that location and started to become a Sunday morning church gathering instead of a Friday night Bible study I was bothered by the fact that this vibrant Christian community was almost entirely attractive young people; hardly anyone over 30 (!!). I looked at my young son and realized that I didn’t want him to think the Body of Christ was comprised only of folks that could make a living as actors, models, and musicians.
Where were the middle-aged, infirm, elderly? Where were families with pregnant moms or pimply teens? Where were the wise Christians who had walked with Jesus, grown from grappling with their faith through life’s challenges? Where were people who had wasted decades in folly and were now grateful to be included, aware of the grace they’d received and doubly appreciative because their future days were growing few?
I didn’t want my son to see the Body of Christ in such a limited variation and think that was normative.
I’ve never been a big fan of program churches but maybe that’s just me. My church is small enough that there’s no place to hide so it takes a fairly confident person (or a very hungry one!) to wander in and come back for more. FWIW, it’s almost always young folks. It’s an interesting dynamic.
I kind of figure that just as each generation has to learn as individuals, so do churches. Knowledge isn’t static nor is it inherited: we each have to grasp it for ourselves and make it real. Most of it isn’t intuitive and when we figure out something that works we tend to freeze it, set it in concrete so we won’t lose it, but all that really does is mummify it and after a few generations there’s an escape or collapse and life is renewed. The downside for non-denominational churches is continual reinvention of the wheel (”doh! I could’ve had a V8!”) – there can be advantages to church traditions; some of them are well-grounded in scripture and God can –and often does– use them powerfully.
But we’re two or three generations into the age of “have it your way” church and I think you’ve rather succinctly put your finger on how that can manifest!
On the other hand, Paul in his lifetime had to chastise the church for wanting to remain babes, spoon-fed a milky diet rather than developing the muscle to chew meat… it’s not a new problem! Blessings–
Lynn Maudlins last blog post..Mormons to Christians to Jews…
Twitter: themarkthomas
Thanks so much for your input Lynn! Great stuff!
My intent was not to focus completely on “young” church and I completely agree with your point.
Yeah, it seems like these great movements eventually become bureaucracy and need to be thrown out. And maybe that’s the crux of being an imperfect human being trying to hang out in the presence of God all the time. We accomplish something great and (like you said) turn the method into doctrine instead of focusing on what God actually wants to do!
thanks for clarifying that! I wasn’t sure and I don’t like to presume one way or the other; you might have very good reasons for focusing more on “young” and I may be oblivious– (hey, it could happen!).
I often read the gospels and think of Judaism in Jesus’ day as having fallen into a very legalistic, doctrinal approach to God and that alerts me to the danger that every good, God-inspired movement will face: the temptation to turn it into a formula.
I tend to cringe when folks say, “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a *relationship*” because it IS a religion – which is relational at its very core! We humans are exceedingly fond of pigeonholes… *sigh* Perhaps it gives us the illusion we’ve got a better handle on reality?! Lord only knows– anyway, I appreciate your thoughtful approach and your enthusiasm for worship and sharing the gospel – blessings!
Lynn Maudlins last blog post..Mormons to Christians to Jews…
Thank you for saying this! I completely agree!
Twitter: holyheteroclite
this post really got me thinking.
i would love to talk this topic with you, Josh, Marilyn Hickey (and Tozer, if we can raise him)..now THAT would be a conversation worth taking notes on!
The catch is that the temptations inherent in “megachurch” creep in as soon as you get..say, 12 people in a church..
dave wainscotts last blog post..Kingdom adventure