Frustrated Church-goer

Today I am a frustrated church-goer.  Now I'm not frustrated at the church my wife and I are involved with.  I love our church and the people there, although it's not perfect.  No church is.  But my frustration lies with the American mega-churches that have become so popular in the last 10-15 years.  

So as to not unduly offend any readers, names of churches and most individuals will not be divulged in this blog.  My wife and I have attended mega-churches together as well as individually, before we met.  I will be commenting on our experience, the experience of trusted friends and acquaintances and the general situation.  

I was thinking about a comparison to begin this dialogue.  The American mega-church has become the "McChurch."  I say this because I believe the mega-church of America has become a religious equivalent to the McDonalds fast food chain.  Not in every way, of course, but as you will read, there are enough similarities for me to safely coin the name, "McChurch."

The most pronounced way these two entities resemble each other is what I will call the Supersize mentality.  McDonalds has made millions of dollars off people's desires to supersize their meals; extra-large fries, extra- large soda in addition to the sandwich of your choice... all for a small additional charge.  The meals, to begin with, are already unhealthy, at best, lacking in healthy nutritional value.  Increasing the size only increases our body's intake of non-nutritional/unhealthy food, ultimately burdening us with added weight, higher blood pressure and acne.

Similarly, the mega-church in America (in general) has taken watered-down theology (lacking in spiritual nutrients),  a hollow community (lacking in substance/relational depth) and wrapped it all up in flashy, multi-thousand seat, facilities.  The congregants fulfill their roles in this comparison as consumers, ordering up only what they feel like taking part in at that moment and if they don't get exactly what they think it should be, they take their patronage elsewhere.

Now, not every mega-church is like this, I'm sure.  But, I am still looking and listening for information on the mega-church that has not become the McChurch.  So, what makes a mega-church become the McChurch?   A number of things are contributing factors, beginning with the American church model.  I have not always viewed the church like this, but then again, I was surrounded by only those who thought like I did and did things the way I did.  

The American church is, in essence, a mirror of an American corporate model.  Take a step back and see this with me.  Today's Senior/Lead Pastor is the equivalent of a CEO.  When did it become acceptable to have the spiritual leader of a community of believers be viewed as the CEO of the church.  The Word of God speaks of pastors/elders being the shepherd of God's flocks.  I've never heard of a shepherd sitting in his office directing the flock from a ergonomically designed chair, behind a desk and staff that protects him from any of the flock intruding on him in his office.  Yet, that is exactly what I see in the mega-church pastor.  They seem to be more concerned with the management of the company, er... uh... I mean church.  Administrating the personnel, holding them accountable for making the right numbers and facilitating growth, in people and in dollars.  They want to keep their pastorate, yet be invited to speak at churches and conferences all over the word.  I actually know of a pastor who has stated that he IS the CEO of HIS church.  He also stated that taking care of the families of the pastoral staff is their problem and responsibility, not his (he worked the pastoral staff to the bone and gave very little time off).  I thought the shepherd was in the charge of taking care of all the flock, including those who help him lead the rest of the flock.  And then there's the corporate mentality taking precedent over Godliness, character, and integrity.  This same pastor actually knew that one of his senior associate pastors was lying to him and to others about issues that directly affected numerous others.  Instead of holding the associate pastor accountable for his actions, he allowed, in full knowledge, a subordinate to be let go, who had done nothing wrong, because it would "be less detrimental on the church body" if the subordinate left and not the associate.  Sounds a lot like a corporate cover-up to cut their losses.  Ok, enough on this guy.  Needless to say, I would have a very difficult time giving him any respect as a pastor, leader or man.  Honestly, I'm still praying that God gives me grace to not be so angry at this mega-church pastor, who is still leading his ever-growing church (which I will never darken the door of).  To give you a public example of the point I'm making, look at Pastor Joel Osteen.  This guy has become the public face of the evangelical church in America.  He's seen on TV in suites that the money spent on them could provide enough food for a homeless shelter for at least a week.  Flying around in your own personal executive jet?  Come on, are you kidding me?  The money it took to buy that jet could build a state of the art homeless shelter, or rehab center for addicts.  How many churches has Pastor Osteen's church planted in the US and around the world?  I don't know this guy personally.  I'm sure he's a very kind man with great, Godly intentions (as I believe most mega-church pastors probably are).  But he has gotten way off track somewhere.  Living in the blessings of our Heavenly Father is one thing.  owning and flying around your own executive jet and living in a mansion like his is a blatant perversion of every scripture reference that speaks of God's blessings for his children.

On to the next level of the McChurch.  The Associate Pastors (Associate Pastors, Youth Pastors, Children's Pastors, Seniors Pastors, Assimilation Pastors, Integration Pastors, etc...)  are equivalent to upper management.  I don't have such an issue with this group as I have with the Senior Pastors of mega-church.  The Senior Pastors set the tone, hire their yes-men, and begin the trickle-down effect.  My issue with this group is that they are specific, occupational ministers.  I've been here.  I was a youth pastor.  I was given the charge of "pastoring" the youth, 7th grade through high school and college.  I was not given the availability to minister to any other age group at the church.  When I did take an opportunity to speak what I know the Lord had given my for the church, I was basically shut down by the man who at the time ran the church, although he was not the pastor, had never been the pastor, but controlled everything that happened in that church.  That was the beginning of the end at that church for me.  Although I felt then as though God wanted to use me in that specific situation to speak to His church, which I still feel was God's message for them at that time, it was years before I began to believe that associate pastors should pastor, elder, lead, anyone God brings to them, regardless of age, demographic, etc.  When you look at scripture, do you find Youth Pastors?  Children's Pastors?  Integration Pastors?  No.  You find pastors, elders, teachers, prophets.  Of course, all people, regardless of calling or ministry must be aware of gender specific issues.  But other than that and a few other concerns (those with past sin issues ministering to individuals struggling in those same sins can very risky and potentially unwise... for the minister).  If you have a calling to pastor or elder, get trained, matured, descipled and when you're ready to pastor anyone who needs leading, regardless of age, demographic, gender, etc., then you're ready.  Pastoring/eldering is very important, but left in general terms for a reason.  I just don't see biblical evidence for pastors/elders being occupational specialists, at least to the level that has become normative in the American church.

The church's office staff would equivalent to the middle management.  They carry out the will of the CEO and the upper management.  These are usually hard-working people who, in McChurches, have to put up with the consumers (congregants) and the pastoral staff.  Honestly, I feel for them, especially in having to deal with the egos of McChurch pastors.

Then we have the congregants.  I have also been here.  The consumer.  The church-goer who is searching not for what God would have them do in ministry to their community, through this particular church body, but rather someone who is looking for how and what the church serve them.  Does this church have the ministry programs that will keep my family and I comfortable, meeting all our desires?  If the church doesn't have everything they want, the consumer goes to another church looking for the service they want.  Since when was this a description of the church in the Bible?  If I'm not mistaken, we are to go to church to be a part of a community of believers that are actively ministering to the spiritually lost community they reside and work in.  One man described the church as a hospital, where broken, hurting people are welcome to be healed, loved and trained to care for, love and train other broken and hurting people.  There is some very real truth to that.  The blood of the martyrs was not spilled so we could attend a church that gives our children a disney-land-esque entertainment level, acts as a boys and girl's club for our youth, and placates the adults with marshmellow-fluffy, pseudo spiritual, chicken soup for the adult church-goer teaching that makes everyone have warm fuzzies and walk away always feeling good about who they are and how they're doing.  We should be challenged, prodded and  equipped by the teaching.  Our youth should be likewise challenged and taught the principles and ways of our Lord.  This can be done well... I've seen it!  Our children should be taught about a God who loves them more than they can imagine (enough to sacrifice his only son) and has gift for and expectations of them, even as children.  We are not consumers of the Church!  We are the Bride of Christ, the Army of God and we have work to do!  

One very practical problem I see in the mega-church is how the sheer size of the congregation severely limits the intimacy of the community.  When my wife and I attended a mega-church, we immediately involved ourself with a small group through that church.  I guarantee you that small group is what kept us at that church far longer than if we hadn't been joined that small band of friends.  Those friends really became tour church, in practicality, for us.  But, when we would attend the weekend services (and we had at least four choices of times and locations) we rarely saw anyone we knew.  We tried to get to know more people by integrating ourselves in some of the ministry opportunities the church offered.  But after each ministry event was over, we never saw any of those people again.  What a lonely church.  That's exactly what we were; lonely.  We wanted a church family.  But how can you get to know the family when it's a mass of people four thousand strong and you hardly ever see the few people you have become close with?  I have to believe that this issue is consistent with most, if not every, mega-church.  But, I also believe that this issue can be accounted for and effectively dealt with by extreme intentionality in meeting the relational needs of the body.  Yes, this is a simplistic answer, but it's a foundation that can and should be built on.

I know that as soon as I publish this post, I will think of other issues, perspectives and thoughts I want to relay to you.  But, I think I've conveyed the general gist.  So,  what's the point of this rant.  To make you think.  I know there are those who will read this who will not agree with me.  There are those who will be very defensive.  That's fine.  I would be defensive of my church too.  But, that doesn't mean the criticism is wrong.  This is healthy criticism because I want us, as the Church of Jesus Christ to be what the Father created the Church to be.  I don't have all the answers, but if we are all willing to critically look at what we're doing and what our church is doing and how it's being led, in the reflection of scripture, I guarantee the church will be exponentially more effective in loving, serving and saving the lost.  I love the Church and look forward to a lifetime of being used by the Father to continually learn and utilize what He wants the Church to do to make the largest impact on the world as possible.  I look forward to your thoughts.