Gairney Bridge

Because my wife and I live in a new subdivision, we frequently get mailings (and sometimes bags hung on our front door) from “new” churches in the local area (not that anyone has actually bothered to stop and knock on our door — aside from two Mormon missionaries, but that is another story for another day — it is much easier to simply mail/hang and run). Since we are working toward the planting of a new ARP church in the area, I have been attempting to save these mailings, as an example of how not to plant a church.

What do I mean? Let me provide you, dear reader, with a few examples. These are actual quotes; I will leave off the names to protect the easily offended.

“At [X] Church, we won’t alienate you with boring services, hard pews, angry preaching, church gossip clubs, or irrelevant music. With an unbelievably talented young worship leader and a way cool band, [X] blends the best of modern pop-styled Christian music with just a small, but meaningful, accent of the greatest hymns of faith. At [X] you will enjoy encouraging and relevant Bible-based messages, exciting videos cast on a huge movie screen, cup holders in every seat, and the guarantee that your children will be safe and well cared for in one of our 3 main kid’s environments (Sandbox Babies, Sandbox Pre-K, and Explosion K-Grade 5).”

Admittedly, this was written to the unchurched. It appeared on our door one evening (while we actually were home), and I was struck by the fact the current teaching series featured on the information sheet was entitled, “Desperate for Intimacy.” I may be wrong, but I would suggest that a first step toward intimacy might actually be having face-to-face contact with people. But none of that here — a plastic bag with a bag of microwavable popcorn and a short info sheet. At least the info sheet does briefly touch on the gospel: “We simply want to introduce you to the God who loves you and who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sin.” That’s a little weak, but it’s better than most (such as those who don’t even mention the name of Jesus Christ or mention sin). Of course, even in the context of this, Church X managed to rip off Campus Crusade for Christ: “Perhaps the biggest thing you need to be reminded of is that God loves you and has a purpose for you life.” While I suppose it’s true that God’s love is immeasurable and He does have a purpose for our lives (as opposed to CCC’s “wonderful plan”), this kind of ooey-gooey cloying catch phrase doesn’t exactly communicate the gospel very clearly (in light of Romans 9:17ff, I would find it odd for someone, say Moses, saying this to Pharoah, although it is true that God says to him, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”) For instance, why should I bother going to your church if God already loves me and Christ has already paid the penalty for my sin? Can’t I just go on doing what I’m doing already? Where was such a message proclaimed in the book of Acts?

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know– this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. … Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:22-23, 36)

I suppose Peter had it all wrong. Maybe he should have simply told the Jews on Pentecost that God loved them and had a purpose for their lives. Sounds like he made a mistake when he resorted to “angry preaching.” After all, declaring the truth will only drive people away, right? It was only a mere 3000 who received his words on that day.

The sad thing is that churches like Church X are trying so hard to be cutting edge. The problem is that they are not. I’ll admit that cup holders are a bit innovative, but virtually everything mentioned here is straight out the modern church planting textbook. All of these new churches are trying the same approaches because it’s something that’s been “successful” somewhere else. It’s not faithfulness to the gospel that’s being suggested, but whatever works in our modern entertainment culture. Video screens and relevant music — that’s what’s most important. Church X fails to see that it’s not cutting edge as much as it is cookie cutter.

The justification for this approach is that something like this must be done to reach the current culture. Yet the 1st century Roman Empire was a “bread and circuses” culture, was it not? And the ancient Greeks were entertainment pioneers, for goodness sake! But when Paul wrote to the Galatians, ” You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified” (Gal 3:1), he did not mean that he formed a drama team that performed a Passion Play to pull on the heartstrings of the Galatians. Our Lord’s crucifixion was “publically portrayed” through the preaching of the word of God. Innovations are no substitute for the work of the Holy Spirit. He has declared the means through which the gospel is to be proclaimed, and a way cool band ain’t it.