The 21st Century Church
In this 21st Century, when we are doing everything in a new and different way--seemingly, moment by moment, the church, too, has seen some changes. Churches used to be the place where "everybody knew your name"; now, though with the advent of the Mega-Church, you may not know if the person you are seated next to, is even a member of that assembly or not. I think Church growth is a wonderful thing--propagation of the faith is our responsibility as Christians, but have our methods gone awry? How does the Mega-Church fit with the requirements of the Church, laid out in Scripture? Whose purpose does the Mega-Church serve? Is there a better way?
I am going to make a statement that many will disagree with--but here goes. I think Mega-Churches, primarily serve Mega-Preachers. In a church that has thousands of members, how can one pastor serve all of them equally--and if the answer is, to delegate to under-shepherds, then why not train these men (and women) when they come into the ministry, to pastor their own churches? Why not prepare them for that, and support them in that effort and set them over a body of believers as the main body grows (too large for one shepherd, anyway). In our communities, we would then end up with vital churches as established in the New Testament, with an Overseer/ Bishop and (who is Pastor of the original church), and the newer churches pastored by the fully-trained Pastors with memberships consisting not only of their family's and "babe's" in Christ, but seasoned members (chosen prayerfully and carefully by the Bishop) who understand the operations of churches (to teach the newer saints).
This doesn't happen today, because our focus is on the leader--instead of the Leader--the Head of the Church--who is Christ Jesus. I don't fully blame leadership. We have put them in a position of glory--and in so doing have set them up for failure ("Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who deals wisely and heeds [God's] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord--happy, blessed, and fortunate is he." Proverbs 16:18-20). The other issue is that we have, dotted throughout our cities across the land, miniscule churches with disgruntled "pastors", leading two to ten members, unsuccessfully, out of anger. They are leading out of dysfunction and bitterness--because they didn't "feel" supported at their previous church, so "God called them"??? There is blame enough to go around and problems are rampant, because we do things according to what we think is best; the root of this problem is the same--lack of humility and a need for repentance.
Many of our churches are burdened financially, while others are "fat". Just as that should not exist with individuals in the Body of Christ (according to Scripture), so it should not exist among churches. At the inception of the Church--the New Testament Church; although the Body grew by thousands (even daily), there was a cohesiveness that could not have existed if there had been Mega-Churches. They were close, meeting the needs of one another--even "having all things common". I don't suggest Socialism--if that's what you're thinking! I do suggest a return to New Testament ideals, though. Although, we live in the 21st Century, God has not given us a license to depart from principles of love, oneness, and concern for one another. ("Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself] 1 John 2:15,16 (The Amplified Bible) ( "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2, KJV). I don't see how Mega-Churches support this. Perhaps, there is one out there???
How does such a large body support everyone without someone ("the least of these", possibly) slipping through the cracks? And who will be responsible for that soul? That occurs at churches much smaller--so it has to happen at Mega-Churches, too. If those people are important to God, then they must be important to us, too! If we could just abandon this idea of "ownership" of God's people and recognize that leader's are shepherds--caregivers, servants, then perhaps we wouldn't be so driven to acquire more and more.
I pray that as new pastors and leaders are raised up, there is a desire to return to New Testament ideas about pastoring the people of God. It really is time to bring love and oneness back into the equation and remove ego, prestige and power.
What Would Jesus Do--to coin a popular phrase???
"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, The Amplified Bible)
I am going to make a statement that many will disagree with--but here goes. I think Mega-Churches, primarily serve Mega-Preachers. In a church that has thousands of members, how can one pastor serve all of them equally--and if the answer is, to delegate to under-shepherds, then why not train these men (and women) when they come into the ministry, to pastor their own churches? Why not prepare them for that, and support them in that effort and set them over a body of believers as the main body grows (too large for one shepherd, anyway). In our communities, we would then end up with vital churches as established in the New Testament, with an Overseer/ Bishop and (who is Pastor of the original church), and the newer churches pastored by the fully-trained Pastors with memberships consisting not only of their family's and "babe's" in Christ, but seasoned members (chosen prayerfully and carefully by the Bishop) who understand the operations of churches (to teach the newer saints).
This doesn't happen today, because our focus is on the leader--instead of the Leader--the Head of the Church--who is Christ Jesus. I don't fully blame leadership. We have put them in a position of glory--and in so doing have set them up for failure ("Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who deals wisely and heeds [God's] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord--happy, blessed, and fortunate is he." Proverbs 16:18-20). The other issue is that we have, dotted throughout our cities across the land, miniscule churches with disgruntled "pastors", leading two to ten members, unsuccessfully, out of anger. They are leading out of dysfunction and bitterness--because they didn't "feel" supported at their previous church, so "God called them"??? There is blame enough to go around and problems are rampant, because we do things according to what we think is best; the root of this problem is the same--lack of humility and a need for repentance.
Many of our churches are burdened financially, while others are "fat". Just as that should not exist with individuals in the Body of Christ (according to Scripture), so it should not exist among churches. At the inception of the Church--the New Testament Church; although the Body grew by thousands (even daily), there was a cohesiveness that could not have existed if there had been Mega-Churches. They were close, meeting the needs of one another--even "having all things common". I don't suggest Socialism--if that's what you're thinking! I do suggest a return to New Testament ideals, though. Although, we live in the 21st Century, God has not given us a license to depart from principles of love, oneness, and concern for one another. ("Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself] 1 John 2:15,16 (The Amplified Bible) ( "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2, KJV). I don't see how Mega-Churches support this. Perhaps, there is one out there???
How does such a large body support everyone without someone ("the least of these", possibly) slipping through the cracks? And who will be responsible for that soul? That occurs at churches much smaller--so it has to happen at Mega-Churches, too. If those people are important to God, then they must be important to us, too! If we could just abandon this idea of "ownership" of God's people and recognize that leader's are shepherds--caregivers, servants, then perhaps we wouldn't be so driven to acquire more and more.
I pray that as new pastors and leaders are raised up, there is a desire to return to New Testament ideas about pastoring the people of God. It really is time to bring love and oneness back into the equation and remove ego, prestige and power.
What Would Jesus Do--to coin a popular phrase???
"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, The Amplified Bible)
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