Mega-hindrance?
April 4, 2008
This is a follow up to my mom’s comment on my previous post that I gave no explanation of why I thought it was worth passing on.
I thought the pastor’s comments were very insightful. The mega-church is not necessarily the problem (I completely agree with Sam’s most recent post). Let me be to the point– I don’t think there is a right way “to do” church. Too often, we get too self-righteous in whatever approach to ministry we choose. God didn’t give us a model, He gave us a mission to make disciples that obey the way of Jesus in every culture to the ends of the earth.
The issue for me is not necessarily the structure, but are we aligning our structures with where God is moving to fulfill His mission in the world? The moment we think we’ve got the right model, then we lose because God’s Spirit works through people who hear and respond to Him. Our structures need to submit to His Spirit working in people, or else we end up trying to manipulate or control people.
The reason that I found the post worth passing on is that no one had even thought about the idea that Sam mentioned about planting multiple communities rather than building a bigger building.
Sam’s idea was just one idea- there are tons of others that were probably not even considered. What if they went completely underground, and gave the money to build orphan centers? What if they invested money in church-planters to start a new movement across the country? What if they developed a church-planting incubator to experiment with different church plants to reach their particular city? There are probably other ideas I haven’t thought of.
Especially from a misssional perspective towards our culture, mega-churches usually draw people from other churches or who have grown up with a Christian world-view. Other forms of church are needed in order to connect with those alientated from the gospel or from a post-Christian world-view. Further, the structures of these huge churches often promote personality cults rather than developing communities of disciples that make other disciples.
Whatever, structure of the church we participate in, a couple important questions are:
- how are we aligning our structures to join God’s mission in our particular context?
- how are we making disciples that make other disciples?
April 4, 2008 at 7:18 pm
this was very helpful to me!! thanks- the mom
April 4, 2008 at 7:20 pm
dear mother,
why are you commenting under my name?
April 7, 2008 at 9:39 pm
First, what would it look like if people stopped caring about what “leaders” were saying and started to care about their “neighbors”? My personal opinion of course. I think we need teachers and leaders, but only in the context of where we live and I and the pastor do not know each other, it is difficult for me to care what he/she says. This is a responsibility on both of us, to form a relationship.
I mean look at me, I have been going to church for 31 years and have been in all different churches, but it still looks, sounds, and feels the same as it did 31 years ago.
So, I would say that the Mega-Church is a problem, not necessarily only because of the size, but because where we live is detached from society, meaning I have to drive to church, so I will naturally place my investment into the structural church instead of in the people in my community. People are the true investments. What if we taught people how to talk to other people? Most people lack social skills, because they have only been surrounded by their families. What if we taught people that even where they live is spiritual, because it reflects upon what they think about evil, in how we respond to crime, violence, and humanity.
I think your idea about the church becoming a structure which provides the actual resources to establish people in society is a phenomenal premise. I would love to hear more about it. Talk soon, Paul P.
April 9, 2008 at 12:37 am
Hey Paul Pace,
Your initial question is quotable. I might quote you at some point and time on that. Do I have to copyright you?
“What would it look like if people stopped caring about “what leaders” were saying and started caring about their neighbors?”
I am excited about helping people have the resources to grow in Christ and love other in the neighborhoods, but I sometimes just wonder if people care?
Religion can so easily become a opiate that keeps us from thinking about the state of our souls and the lives of those around us.
I’m thankful Jesus has come to change my heart when I get cyncial. He gives me hope that people can change.
April 10, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I of course err on the side of cynicism, but I am grateful that Corey Paxton will say, “Jesus has come to change my heart when I get cynical. He gives me hope that people can change.”
Thank you for that quote.
Word! Peace!