THOUGHTS ON CHURCH GROWTH By William Heinrich
The evangelical
Church under the advice of the prolific writer
George Barna has learned how to sell itself to
day pastors with growing churches
have placed themselves on the
"Cutting Edge". They have studied what people want or will buy
and have learned how to sell it. This is called according to Barna,
"Marketing the church". They have found the majority feels that
They desire a real spiritual experience and cannot relate to the music
and the traditions of the generation before them. They are
concerned for those of their own generation and want the church to
become fitted to their needs. They quote surveys, polls, market
analyses and experts demanding change. Traditional churches,
desiring growth and believing growth is proof of God's
blessing,become contemporary churches. The gospel which once
was presented as good news for man's offensive sins is usually given
without emphasis on "offensive sins". Songs once classical like
"Power in the Blood" are no longer sung because the mention of
blood might be a put off to a so-called "Seeker".
People looking for a church today are more often than
not
shopping for the best buys. They go to this church for the music,
and that church for the children's programs and so on.
Commitment is rare, membership is not desired, repentance is
omitted, guilt from preaching about sin is unheard of and the old
hymns, tried and proven for hundreds of years, are unsung.
The atmosphere must be warm, the sinner present must be
supported, the message must be positive, short, simple and
uplifting, the dress informal, the music moving, often to clapping
and the uplifting of hands. Drama and skits draw many and serve
greatly to satisfy a market of people desiring to be entertained. T.V.
has exalted to popularity. In the past Christians gave up popularity
when the accepted the gospel.
The church of today is changing to what the people want.
Instead of catering to "felt needs" and encouraging focus on self such
as self-interests and self-centeredness it should be showing people a
way out of self. Chuck Colson was right when he said "The church
is no longer regarded as a repository of truth, nor a source of moral
authority, but merely a place to go for spiritual strokes." The church
has become obsessed with itself. They concentrate on what they
want, how others can meet their felt needs and how God can relieve
them of their burdens.
Isn't it time for the true believer to evaluate the
whole church
growth movement? Is our situation improved or in serious trouble?
We have come a long way. The evidence is available to all who will
come out of the euphoria of it all and compare today's "Church
Growth" to God's only standard, His Word.
PASTOR
WILLIAM HEINRICH