My wife and I have once again been ensnared in the clutches of an exciting, thriller-style TV show on Netflix. With 4 young children at home it is often difficult for us to watch a full-length movie on most evenings, but we have discovered that through Netflix we can watch a TV show commercial free and it lasts about 45 minutes. So we have got caught up in a show called "Prison Break." I am not recommending it for everyone, but we definitely enjoy it. The entire first season is about a brilliant engineer trying to break out his brother who has been unjustly framed for murder. In the second season they are now running from the local law enforcement, the FBI, and everyone who has seen the local news. As I watched the show last night it struck me how paranoid they had become. Anyone who looked at them twice had become someone to run away from, even though the reality is that most people wouldn't actually connect the dots. The fear was mostly in their own minds and they had become afraid of everyone and everything. What a horrible way to live. Constantly looking over your shoulder wondering if someone was going to rat you out and judgment would be around the next corner. But what I find most interesting about all of this is that I believe most Christians from conservative or fundamental backgrounds are living their lives exactly like these paranoid men on this show. I would like to propose that the Church has created Christians who are afraid to be Christians.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Christless Church
This is a continuation of my critique of the church in America. When I use the term "Christless" Church I am not referring to any particular congregation, but more to a mindset in general that I believe is prevalent in American Churchdom.
So, what is the "Christless" Church? I believe that this question can be answered by applying a test to our congregation or assembly. The question is this, "If Christ (or the Holy Spirit) were to be removed from our churches what difference would it make?" We have created so many programs and ministries that keep God's people running around busy and feeling like they are serving, but what do they have to do with Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit? How many people in our churches would still have their Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School's, AWANA programs, basketball camps, ladies fellowships, etc. and never even notice that Christ wasn't really part of the picture?
Just look at the "tried and proven" method of creating a large church. Usually we get a team together of successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs, shrewd retirees, and idealistic students to combine forces with a dynamic pastor and create a "successful" church. We need a few key elements to make this church a success. First we need a great performance. This requires a charismatic communicator as the teaching pastor. Even if we have to put him on a television screen this is an absolute must. Next we need an accomplished musician to lead the worship team with a strong band. Third, we need a place to hold the crowds that will come. Everything better be top notch, excellent and attractive. After all that is what we expect and deserve, isn't it? Fourth, once the crowds get there we have programst to keep them interested. So we start first-class, well-done programs for kids, teens, families, every age and every stage must be accomodated. We need professionals to run them. That way parents can drop off their kids and not have to worry about them. We should post a sign at the door that says, "Don't try this at home."
You may not like this picture, but isn't this what we honestly believe is a "successful" church? But notice what is missing? None of this - the dynamic speaking, the first-class programs, the great facilities - requires Jesus Christ. How many churches could continue running their programs, smoothly and effectively, drawing crowds each Sunday even if the Holy Spirit were virtually absent? That is my question for the church in America.
What if we didn't have any of these things? What if we just had the Bible? What if we said that we would meet at 8am (normal work hours during the week) on Sunday and open our Bibles and start teaching and discussing the Bible. Maybe we would go until lunch or maybe we would go all day. We would take time for questions and we would do our best to answer them. There would be no music, no piano, no band, no announcements, no programs, nothing but God's Word. Would we come? Would we be interested? I wonder.
So, what is the "Christless" Church? I believe that this question can be answered by applying a test to our congregation or assembly. The question is this, "If Christ (or the Holy Spirit) were to be removed from our churches what difference would it make?" We have created so many programs and ministries that keep God's people running around busy and feeling like they are serving, but what do they have to do with Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit? How many people in our churches would still have their Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School's, AWANA programs, basketball camps, ladies fellowships, etc. and never even notice that Christ wasn't really part of the picture?
Just look at the "tried and proven" method of creating a large church. Usually we get a team together of successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs, shrewd retirees, and idealistic students to combine forces with a dynamic pastor and create a "successful" church. We need a few key elements to make this church a success. First we need a great performance. This requires a charismatic communicator as the teaching pastor. Even if we have to put him on a television screen this is an absolute must. Next we need an accomplished musician to lead the worship team with a strong band. Third, we need a place to hold the crowds that will come. Everything better be top notch, excellent and attractive. After all that is what we expect and deserve, isn't it? Fourth, once the crowds get there we have programst to keep them interested. So we start first-class, well-done programs for kids, teens, families, every age and every stage must be accomodated. We need professionals to run them. That way parents can drop off their kids and not have to worry about them. We should post a sign at the door that says, "Don't try this at home."
You may not like this picture, but isn't this what we honestly believe is a "successful" church? But notice what is missing? None of this - the dynamic speaking, the first-class programs, the great facilities - requires Jesus Christ. How many churches could continue running their programs, smoothly and effectively, drawing crowds each Sunday even if the Holy Spirit were virtually absent? That is my question for the church in America.
What if we didn't have any of these things? What if we just had the Bible? What if we said that we would meet at 8am (normal work hours during the week) on Sunday and open our Bibles and start teaching and discussing the Bible. Maybe we would go until lunch or maybe we would go all day. We would take time for questions and we would do our best to answer them. There would be no music, no piano, no band, no announcements, no programs, nothing but God's Word. Would we come? Would we be interested? I wonder.
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