Wednesday, October 05, 2005
beyond consumer Christianity
I recently took my 15 year old son to a 20,000 member church in Dallas. He was mildly impressed - but said he wouldn't worship there if it was next door to his house. I was not surprised. The "Seeker Movement" is now being called passe. The "mall church," big buildings, one-stop shopping, put on a good show, do some heavy marketing and gather a crowd. For some reason the next generation isn't buying it - and I think there is something refreshing about it. They want to go to church. They can go to the mall - or a good show anytime. I believe the "Church Growth Movement" has greatly benefited the kingdom! It taught us that we need to do things better - we need to be on the edge - we need to be sensitive to our culture. I have learned a lot - and I remain a student of the movement. But there has been a downside. In many churches we are not making disciples- we are making consumers. The result is consumer Christianity. In every community all over America there are people who shop around for churches the way they shop around for restaurants. They are looking for the best "service" in town! As I interact with the emerging generation (some of whom work on my staff), I am impressed by what they are not impressed by. Yes they want quality - they want to be on the edge - they want to be sensitive to the culture. But more than anything they want "authentic Christianity." They want the church to grow - but they are more impressed with "real" than "big." I'd like to know what you think . . .
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3 comments:
as a member of the "new" generation (generation x or whatever we're called), i would say that anything "not-churchy" (in the traditional sense of the term) that is happening in the church is at-first-glance attractive--especially worship pertaining to the arts (we are an art-driven, media-minded generation).
but as you mention "authentic christianity," i would add that such faith must be grounded first of all in Truth. if we're worshipping, or "doing church" in such a matter that Truth is plowed over, or even "undercover," i would say we're doing something terribly wrong. there are extremes in all movements, i suppose. but we must always be checking "the next best thing" with what we find in scripture. perhaps this is simple a matter of methodology over philosophy. in that case, i would daringly say, as long as a certain method doesn't directly go against the teaching of scripture, Why Not?!
(check out the comments left in "investigating the emergent movement"...)
Being a business major, with an MBA, I was constantly taught to "Sell the Consumer". I can see why some churches are going toward the "Good Show". They are trying to do what companies do on a daily basis, "Sell the Consumer". In order for some churches to grow they need to mask their theological backgrounds in the glitz and glamour of the "Show". That is what I truly love about Calvary. That we are not performing for the congregation each week, we are singing (and preaching) to the Audience of One. Authentic, heartfelt worship can be done without "Selling the Consumer", and our churches can still grow. Being taught the Truth is the most important thing that needs to be done in church, and I feel that it has a hard time happening when we are all about the "Show".
Real can be big... but then we would really need to have the true fullness of scripture...
the old teaching the young.. discipleship...
TRUTH being taught, not compromised..
Iron sharpening Iron... in true love and patience..
As ash said.. if it is not against scripture, then why not... since God gave his all, then why can't we give Him ours... if that is lights, if it is dance, if it is drama, then why not.. God did bless many with gifts to be used for the edification and building up of the body...
I also think that if we truly give God our all, then that can be a child singing, a prayer being prayed sitting silently, or maybe a big production... use the gifts, serve the master and be a body funtioning to win people to Christ without compromise of message or doctrine...
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