It doesn't take much looking to notice how market-driven many churches have become these days. And it's getting harder and harder to find a church, particularly a large church, that doesn't give at least the appearance of being very focused on material things and being some kind of successful business enterprise.
Just my opinion (and one that won't be popular with some), but the more I think about all this, the more it strikes me as the natural progression of the whole mega-church concept. The existence of local churches composed of thousands or tens of thousands of members is a very recent phenomenon, unique to our modern age – something made possible by technology, easy and relatively inexpensive transportation, mass media communications, affluence, etc. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, and great resources have been made available by bringing so many believers together, united in a common fellowship and purpose. But along with success, popularity, and significant financial and other resources, whether of an individual or of an organization, comes influence and power. And with power and money come pride, greed, and corruption. It is just the nature of living in a fallen world, and Christians (pastors and congregations alike) are by no means immune. (That’s why we are warned in Scripture over and over about the deceit of riches, the love of money, and the need to be focused on service instead of positions of power.)
I’m sure that some who read this will dismiss what I’m saying, and claim that the problem isn’t with the size of the church, just with the character of its leaders and/or its members. But my point is not that big churches are inherently bad, but that truly godly men and women of character are fewer and fewer these days, and even those who start out good can too easily be corrupted – slowly, over time – so gradually sometimes that they can’t see what has happened.
Still not convinced? Check out how many times members or former members of Bellevue Baptist Church, FBC Jax, or FBC Dallas have written of their churches on blogs as being the “flagship church of the SBC” (which one is/was really the “flagship” anyway? – a fleet can only have one). It would be hard to think of another term that displayed a greater sense of inappropriate pride, even arrogance. If the members of a church think of their church as somehow better than other churches, it's no surprise that the pastors would think far too highly of themselves. And that sense of pride (“Look at me, look at what I am, what I have accomplished”) is what’s really at the root of the worldly focus in today's churches.
When will the churches be healed and restored, and receive godly leaders? When the members repent of their own arrogance, greed, apathy, self-reliance, and devotion to the things and values of this world more than to God. Not before. May God have mercy on us all.
3 comments:
Excellent post. They will always tell you it is not about size but it really is...indirectly. The size determines the 'system' by which it must operate and it becomes an organization that serves the organization. Instead of members directing the church, a 'board' with a CEO does and paid staff implement everything.
The leaders become celebrities. What goes on behind closed doors is so far from the pew sitter who is there to be 'fed' and not to feed that they really have no clue what is going on in their church except what they see from stage. It is all carefully orchestrated.
But in order to keep them there (because numbers drive the organization) they must be entertained and have their felt needs met.
The whole focus of the organization becomes numbers and money to keep the organization growing. this is important because most mega's have as many leaving as coming. So, they come up with ways to get them to stay: CAfe's, wireless rooms, events, programs, etc. People do like being a part of a big movement.
They are imitating the world. They do not look or act anything like the ecclesia of the scripture.
I personally think the concept is dying. I think it is a phase and many will be doing more and more to stay viable...many are now doing satellite churches.
As the economy worsens, it will be interesting to see if people are willing to continue to pay six figure salaries to these celebrity pastors mega. I am sure many will but not at the numbers we have seen. Can they pay to keep utilities going for these temples of entertainment?
The problem for me is that having lived for 13 years in three countries outside of the US and visited churches in many more coun tries, I have a tendacy to have a low view of what we call Church in America. You are addressing "mega" Churches but even smaller Churches appear market driven.
Charles,
I agree.
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