Mega Church Evangelicalism
November 28th, 2008
In case you missed the sarcasm dripping from my previous post, I have issues with postmodern mega church evangelicalism today. I don’t agree with the thinking that we somehow have to DO something to help God get his message across. I’m tired of gimmicks designed to get people to come to church. I don’t like the overemphasis of cultural relevance at the expense of sound biblical teaching. I don’t care for the arrogant attitude that assumes because it’s modern it must be authentic.
Earlier this week Michael Spencer posted similar remarks on his blog in response to a seven day sex challenge issued by Ed Young Jr., Senior Pastor of Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, a challenge reportedly issued to churchgoers while sitting on a bed. You can read Spencer’s post below, but I caution you, Spencer’s remarks are frank and laced with innuendos. If you find this kind of talk offensive then don’t read this. You’ve been warned.
Within 24 hours of his post Spencer received 131 comments in response, some in approval but many in criticism, accusing him of denouncing the very existence of Fellowship Church (which he clearly did not do), some even threatening him with impunity. Spencer published a follow-up post addressing the pandemonium in the wake of his remarks, but for whatever the reason he promptly removed it from his site. While much of the follow-up was just Spencer venting, which is probably the reason for the deletion, he did make some observations that I think bear consideration.
Millions of us are affected by the megachurch. It determines far, far more than what goes on in its own doors.
Thousands of pastors will now be pressured to do a “Sex Challenge.”
Millions of evangelicals are for the teaching of sexual ethics, but disagree with making the sex lives of the pastor and his wife the focus of national TV interviews.
Millions of us are concerned that the “Anything goes as long as it’s goal is to reach people” method is running evangelicalism into the wall, and on the other side of that wall is disillusionment for millions.
Thousands of young people, troubled marriages, singles, hurting spouses, widows and so on are affected by the “Sex Challenge” in ways that aren’t considered.
Spencer’s right. You know who gets invited to speak about church growth at pastor’s conferences, evangelical workshops and denominational meetings? It’s mega church pastors who have “missional street cred” because of the throngs of people that flock to their churches every week. They come riding in on their white horse to tell us “little people” about what we need to do in order to build our churches to become just like theirs. We leave feeling guilty for not being as cutting edge as they are. What it all boils down to is that if we’re not willing to be hip and relevant, then we’re not really serious about reaching people.
But isn’t it possible that maybe, just maybe, God might have some involvement in the growth of His Kingdom? Maybe authenticity is measured not by the trendiness of our worship services but by the transformation of the Holy Spirit taking place in our hearts. Maybe the way to draw people to Jesus is to allow people to actually see Him at work in our lives. Maybe He must increase and we must decrease. I’m just sayin’.
October 22nd, 2011 at 10:50 pm
If I understand your argument, it seems you’re suggesting that we sit back and allow God to do the evangelizing. I agree that authenticity is measured by heart transformation, and that we can draw people to him by seeing this in us, but wouldn’t having a healthy marriage (which in my definition would include a healthy sex life) be an example of showing them how God is working in our lives? I guess I see outreach/evangelism as 100% God working in 100% conjunction with the believer, and I believe we see this model in the New Testament Church.
As for Spencer’s comments (in order) we can’t fault a church for setting a trend simply by trying something new. If other pastors feel pressured that is their own business. If they don’t have enough self confidence to craft sermons instead of blindly repeat Warren or Young they probably shouldn’t be in leadership anyway. We can’t control what an anchor asks, and if they pry into a healthy Christian couple’s marriage let that couple demonstrate what a healthy marriage looks like instead of dodging questions. “Anything goes” is a far step from challenging married couples to intentionally improve their sex lives (anything goes would have included non-married couples, which Young was blunt in addressing). The final argument has no real credibility. How are people adversely affected? Do we have an example? Was it because they misunderstood the message?
Anyway, I’m not encouraging the anything goes mentality, and I won’t be preaching a series on my sex life anytime soon, but perhaps showing how God has strengthened our marriages is a good way to allow Him to reach unbelievers.
October 24th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Kris,
Thanks for stopping by. The point I was trying to make is one I’ve been arguing for some time. No, I’m not suggesting that we just sit back and allow God to do the evangelizing. And no I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t ever try anything new. All I’m saying is the example in the New Testament is that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Did the church participate? Of course they did and so should we. But it is foolish for us to think that God is somehow dependent on our participation, that somehow if we’re not relevant enough, or cutting edge enough, or sensational enough that the message will be lost. What I’m saying is that it’s God who does the saving. He doesn’t need our gimmicks. We’re really just along for the ride. All He really wants from us is our surrender. Just surrender whatever it is you have to offer to the Lord and let Him bless it and multiply it and use it as He sees fit to further His Kingdom.
As for the late Michael Spencer, I didn’t always agree with a lot of the things he wrote, but on this point, I guess I was kind of taken aback by the number of attacks he received in response to his original post. It sort of struck me at the time that there’s something very wrong when a person gets that kind of hostile response to honest criticism from people who supposedly call themselves Christians.
Now according to you, Kris, “If other pastors feel pressured that is their own business.” But here’s the thing; that pressure is very real. It’s guys like Warren and Young that are held in such high esteem as examples of how everyone else is supposed to do things. Pastors are “feeling” pressured to adopt certain mega church gimmicks, because they are “being” pressured by their peers and by their denominational leaders.
Everyone struggles with feelings of inadequacy and lack of self-confidence. I’ve been in the ministry for twenty years and I’ve yet to meet the pastor who doesn’t. But let’s face it; the reality is that most of us are not cut out to be a Warren or a Young. Most of us are just average Joes doin’ the best we can with what we’ve been given. Yet when we hold these guys up in comparison, it really does bring pressure to bear that somehow we must not be doing something right, and I think that’s just a wrong mindset. I know I’ve struggled with those feelings myself, and I think that’s what Spencer was try to say.
I could go on and on, but hopefully you get the point. The program driven business model has so permeated our church culture to create this contemporary environment that says, “What new and wacky thing can I do this week that’ll get people’s attention ‘to the glory of God.’” I’m sorry, but I just don’t see that kind of precedent anywhere in the New Testament. Yes, by all means let’s show the world how God has strengthened our marriages. But I’m pretty sure we can do that without sensationalizing it with pillow talk. I hope that makes sense and maybe clarifies where I was coming from.