McChurch: Christianity as a consumer product

You may have heard about the new phenomena of "satellite" churches that have been popping up... if not, they are basically remote locations that broadcast, via satellite video a sermon from the home or "mother" church. I have to say, I think this is a very scary proposition. I read about it this morning on a friend's blog and felt compelled to write about it.

You can see the original article about it here at the Christianity Today website:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2008/02/franchising_chu.html

I have heard of this before, and didn't think too much of it, but it seems that the concept is starting to spread. My main concern with this model of church is that it turns something that God designed to be tight-knit community of believers, living their lives together, sharing their struggles and triumphs, and turns it into a consumer product, much like going to the movies. We already have enough of a problem with consumerism in today's church, do we really have to go there? This makes a very bold statement, whether intentional or not, that the most important ingredient for church is the sermon, and the most important person is the pastor who is preaching that sermon. Neither of which are biblical ideas... church is about so much more than hearing a sermon, and the local church is about so much more than the pastor.

No wonder we have so much immorality in the church, we are unwilling to invest anything but money in it. We want to have our quick-fix and get on with our lives. We (the american church) have forgotten that church is meant to be a community of believers, sharing their lives, sharing their struggles and triumphs, encouraging each other and serving together. It is about giving, not receiving. It is about togetherness, not individuality. It is about community. It is supposed to be the whole body of believers, knit-together, fulfilling their roles, and being the body of Christ. Not just about the pastor and the sermon.

I am so thankful that I am part of a community-minded church that invests in people's lives and gets involved. And I know that not all churches in America are like this, but man is it disheartening to hear things like this. I pray that the Lord would shake his church up, and get rid of the things that can be shaken, so that that which cannot be shaken will remain. Lord, purify your bride. Amen.

Hebrews 12:26-29
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.