So Many Churches, So Many Choices

Ever wonder why there are so many churches in today’s world? Ever wonder why there are so many different types of churches in today’s world? Well, join the crowd as the mailing list on those questions is quite long. This is especially true for people who are familiar with the formation of the Christian church in the first century. In the beginning there was but one church, and those who worshipped, prayed, studied, and served were Christians. The one church was all about following Jesus. Overtime there were disagreements and subsequent schisms, some small and some large, and the result became the myriad total of different Christian expressions prevalent today. Today it is more likely that a person views themselves as being a _____ rather than as a Christian.

The most recent issue of benign division relates more to worship styles than to denominational or theological squabbles. Sadly, churches across the spectrum have engaged in internal strife over the style and format of worship services. All of this began after a couple of visionary pastoral leaders began churches in places where the historical and hyper-traditional worship formats no longer attracted unaffiliated younger adults. In Chicago and in Southern California these new approaches to “going to church” began to reach large numbers of people and a new strategy for evangelism and discipleship was born. Being “bandwagon-prone,” churches all over America began to copy the styles and strategies of these two mega-churches. In some places the new insights and practices worked well and churches became successful in reaching adults for Christ. Conversely, many churches and eager pastors all but destroyed their churches by instituting new worship styles. The old adage just because it works in one place doesn’t mean it will work in every location was lost in the translation and many people suffered in the process.

Traditional, Blended-Traditional, Contemporary and Emergent churches are all excellent options for reaching people for Christ, which is after all what we are called to do. It’s not that it takes all kinds of people, it’s that there are all kinds of people, so we should have unique worship and church options for all of the different types of people who need a relationship with Christ. One option isn’t better than another option, just different. Each option is valuable and obviously God-inspired. The only rule is to not be nutty. If you are a nutcase pastor leading a nutcase church you cease being a viable option for positively impacting the Kingdom.

In a nearby state there is a church that plans to burn non-King James Bibles on Halloween, along with books by authors who have been influenced by Satan. The Reverend Nutcase in this church deems Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Mother Teresa and Billy Graham as offensive writers and plans to burn their books along with Bibles not written in Middle English. I’m thinking of sending him a copy of one of my books so I can be in the company of the aforementioned Christian giants (which may be my only shot). Nutty Christians do not profit God’s plans to reach the millions of people who desperately need Him. So remember: unique churches with unique worship styles are good; nutty churches aren’t.

MM