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This is the final article in a series I wanted to write on the three church models that I have had the opportunity to examine and actually see in action and hear about. The first article was about the house church structure. The second was about the cell church structure. And this one, I want to take a look at some reasons why I see the traditional American church as being the predominant form and why I see it being this way for a little while yet before we turn over to one or both of the other models.
Right now, the United States is a very consumer-driven culture. Everything is based on what we want, the way we want it. Burger King's slogan has been "We fix it your way," or something like that. The American dream has been ingrained into our minds as being financial success. That's what is spoken of, implied and shown in the way we live and pursue the things we do. Material possessions here are viewed as status symbols rather than actual tools to accomplish a goal. A Mercedes convertible is seen as the ends rather than the means to an end.
Does this bother me? Sure. It should bother every American follower of Christ, but not because it's wrong for the sake of being wrong. It should bother us because I feel we have allowed this consumer mentality to infect the way we function as the body of Christ in America today. Churches are quickly adapting the corporate model. We drive 30 or 40 miles out of our way just to get to our "favorite brand of church." How similar is this to the times you have desired a certain flavor of coffee or ice cream and driven an extra few miles just to get it?
I had the opportunity to visit a very large church in Houston recently (I won't name it because that could be construed as slander) which is quite well off financially. I was able to take a tour of their youth ministry floor (yes, that's right, they had almost an entire floor where their youth ministry was housed) and see the elaborate "themed" attractions. There was a huge meeting area with a big-screen TV inside an artistically modeled aircraft. There was a "fun" room where they had actual full-size video arcade games (not the stand-up kind, but the actual ones you could sit in). And there was a beautifully decorated, carefully maintained "theme" to the entire floor.
For the first full hour while I was here, I was amazed. When the person giving me the tour told me that most, if not all, of the teenagers that were members at this church treated this room with complete disinterest, I was shell-shocked. Half of me wanted to cry and just walk out. And the other half of me wanted to come back to my dorm and immediately begin fixing up my resume!
However, the problem is, this mentality is prevalent amongst our culture today. We are a capitalist nation with a consumer mentality. And a church where we have to be real… where we have to be challenged… where we have to let other people into our lives because that's the only choice for you and the person sitting across your own living room from you… our society may not be ready for that.
For decades, the church has been struggling to keep up with the culture. And now, culture is shaping the church in America. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. God moves in churches all across America every week. Is this the optimum way to do church? Maybe, maybe not. This could very well be the way I am called to be a part of the church… going back on staff at a church and doing youth ministry the way I know how.
But the thing I want to consider… and I hope you'll consider this with me… is, what would this country be like if the body of Christ began meeting in homes. Just imagine it with me for a second. Having to completely bare yourself to other followers of Christ who would hold you accountable and who would know your strengths and weaknesses and who would be privy to your deepest struggles and triumphs. Would it be a good thing or a bad thing? A strength or a weakness?
And would we be willing to give up our wants for what could be our greatest need as a body of believers?