I just finished listening to Tommy Nelson's sermon series, "The Sixties." SO much good stuff. But the last sermon ended with him speaking on the church today, and its current condition. Here are several of his points that I think call for some discussion.
Church is a Business
Church has conformed to culture. It's no longer Theocentric, but Anthropocentric. It's a sound stage for a presentation and a program--a show. The Mega-church idea is not about a size, but about meeting every need of its consumers. If success in life is everything in our day, church will enable us to achieve that success. We have become light on truth. Success in YOUR marriage, with YOUR kids, with YOUR money. 8 ways to be better at everything. Not that that is necessarily wrong, but it is when it's exclusive and you no longer teach Bible exposition, systematic theology, historical theology. We want immediate gratification for our needs, and no longer want to go through the pains of spiritual discipline. We've forsaken Self-Denial, Commitment, Involvement, Discipleship, Service, Sacrifice, Discipline, and Holiness, and expect to be fed from a concert seat.
William F. Buckley, when asked what he thought of Vatican 2, "Don't You want your Pope to be relevant?" His response was simple, "No. I want him to be Holy." Have we sacrificed holiness for relevancy? Shouldn't there be ways in which we don't want to be relevant?
Worship IS Music
Music used to be apart of worship, now it defines it. Whatever happened to responsive scripture readings, the Apostles' Creed? Is our worship today nothing more that emotional, experiential driven music? Is it man-centered, as opposed to the contemplation of who God is that is rational-centered?
Accountability, Submitting, and Church-Discipline is Archaic
When did Church Hopping become acceptable? Whatever happened to commitment? Why do we think that our life is our own business and nobody else's?
3 comments:
Love the post, Billy. As someone who has had to settle for a little country church, so far removed from the likes of Compass it isn't even funny, I've got to comment about Worship being about just music. Bear in mind this is coming from someone who's whole life is music.
Music has always been used as a way to get closer to God, just ask David, but if people are trying to connect in a meaningful way just through song, it can't work. Some of the most powerful songs about worship talk about the removal of the music and just humbly coming before Almighty God's throne, i.e. "When the music fades, and all is stripped away..." or "I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise...". It shouldn't matter the quality of music being produced either in instrument or in voice, but as with so many things when you talk God, it's about your HEART! IF you don't activly work to set your thoughts on God and let the music be a tool rather than a show, then worship and communion with the Holy Spirit and a group of believers is lost somewhat. I absolutely agree also that the reading of God's word needs to be done more. It needs to be done strategically, though. It has to connect with the rest of the service, otherwise the impact of the words can be lost. Sorry this is such a long comment, but like I said, going from a Compass experience to a "home-church", traditional experience has really made me introspective about my worship experiences each week. Hope everyone is doing well!
>cracks knuckles<
The concept of church as a business both sickens and frightens me - it sickens me in the fact that that is what so many churches, both MEGA and MINI (which, in comparison to a mega, Compass is), adopt this mentality either whole-heartedly or in part. It frightens me that we have somewhat come to accept this as the norm.
You stated: Church has conformed to culture. It's no longer Theocentric, but Anthropocentric. It's a sound stage for a presentation and a program--a show. This, sadly, fits the description of WAY too many of the churches in the Miami area - and it's what many of my friends have become attracted to: the ultimate "what's-in-it-for-me" Sunday experience. The fact that we have so many plug-and-play services that honestly could be lifted from Church F and placed into Church S - and sadly probably HAVE been lifted in part or in whole - and you can't tell the difference between either service because the pastors talk the same, dress the same, and act the same, hoping to capture the same audience...or at least a comparabel audience.
We have traded the sleepy homogeny of the traditional church that so many of us wanted to strike out against because it didn't meet the needs of our HEART for the comfortable homogeny of the cultural church.
Pop will eat itself, indeed.
i'm a little late for this one but you cannot know how relevant this is for our church right now. our praise and worship team has been struggling with what do we do about the music until i am sick of it. i am to the point where i would just as soon do without the music so we can hear God speak! and as nathan said this comes from someone whose major part of life deals with music. i have finally come to the church is to worship my God (duh). if you want to worship with me then come on and worship if not then that makes no never mind to me. i will worship and adore b/c that's why i'm there.
i am not at church to be entertainment for you. i am not there for what i can give you through music. my one and only purpose for going to church is to worship and learn. praise God my husband preaches the word and does not shy away from things that are difficult to hear.
Post a Comment