“To criticize a church for being big is to imply disbelief in Christ's commission.... A church gets big because its spirit is big.... Nobody ever started a business without hoping that someday, if he or she worked hard enough, it would be a big success. That is the American dream, isn't it?” – Pamphlet from Roswell Street Baptist Church in Atlanta
http://hirr.hartsem.edu/bookshelf/thumma_article2.htmlReading this quote while researching ‘megachurches,’ my brain was thrown into a frenzy, questions and thoughts bouncing around my head like lightening in a jar. The thought that stands out to me the most centers on the culturalization of religion in America, which leads to a church diminished.
From my experiences, culturalized 'megachurches' feel as though they’re impoverished of two crucial spritual elements: tradition and the sacred. Hence why many worship services now resemble rock concerts.
Another type of loss can be seen in the diminishing of the traditional mainline church and a fluctuation of people to such culturalized churches. I am reminded of this at least once a week when I pass by Shandon Baptist’s massive “worship center,” currently under construction. I’m reminded when I think of the faces that left the congregation I grew up in for the upstart Seacoast Church (where “less tradition, more gimmicks” should be the motto).
As a Presbyterian, I’m a spokesman for being the church, “always reforming.” Still, there’s a paradox out there lurking like a wolf under Grandma’s bedclothes. If we give in to it we’re next week’s breakfast, if we ignore it we’re eaten alive on the spot. There is no one answer as to how we approach this paradox. We’re still learning. The great challenge for the mainline church today is in how we respond to the needs of people in a postmodern ethos without compromising our traditions and without compromising our faithfulness to God.
Briefly back to Shandon’s new sanctuary. Their website notes that the “building fund” slogan is “God’s Purpose, On Purpose. Building for Eternity”. This raises another question. How do we really know what God’s purpose for anything is? Some might say we could head down to Lifeway and pick up Rick Warren's
Purpose Driven Life for the answers. Tradition, on the other hand, teaches us that the answer comes through discernment: prayer, scripture, and engaging the community.
Is God’s purpose for the church to resemble the “American dream?" I sincerely hope not. Is God’s purpose for us to buy the fanciest sound equipment, build the largest building, tout the highest attendance, and wield a seven figure budget? I have my doubts, but it’s not entirely out of the question.
As a young, idealistic Presbyterian, God’s purpose as I see it is for God’s people to engage a hurting world with love. Admittedly how we do so is up for interpretation. Is our love for God and others shown through these materialistic needs of the church and her people? Or are we so wrapped up in the capitalist ideal of ‘bigger is better’ that we risk sacrificing our integrity to self-serving idols?
I include my own church in the mix of idolaters: my denomination, all three congregations for which I’ve worked, and every church I’ve step foot in or come into contact with. I also include myself. Any self-professing “Christian” who doesn’t needs to take a long look in the mirror.
In the end I’m willing to question the ideals of the Presbyterian Church alongside any other church. I don’t fear wondering whether or not we’re conforming too much to society or if we’re trying too hard to bury our heads (usually in the name of guess what… tradition). In the end we both succeed and fail to answer God’s call. In the end we’re both wrong and right.
The question the church, any church, must ask is if it’s trying to please people (not to mention itself) or if the church honestly desires to heal the suffering, strengthen the weak, free the oppressed, and, consequently, change the world. Once we can begin coming to terms with that ideal we’ll find ourselves on the narrow path Christ implores us to live.
