I just finished reading Franchising McChurch: Feeding Our Obsession With Easy Christianity by Thomas White and John M. Yeats.I have decidedly mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the authors describe in gory detail how a consumer mentality has invaded and deeply damaged the American church. Almost every pastor I know would probably agree with that assessment. We are all dealing with the fallout of our culture's self obsession.
But I'm not entirely convinced that White and Yeats have chosen the proper boogeyman. They point fingers at the seeker sensitive, the megachurches and especially at the increasing numbers of churches choosing multi-campus church options. While the overwhelming majority of their concerns are completely justified and well worth sober consideration, there isn't enough recognition of the value these churches bring to the overall Gospel conversation. While I share the deep concerns expressed in this book, I also recognize many of my bigger church brothers and sisters offer great benefits to the church. I used to speak very disparagingly of a local megachurch in my ministry area until I had a chance to review their Adult Bible Fellowships brochure. Their offerings were both biblically deep and spiritually solid; I would have profited from any of them. I still don't want to be part of their church, but I'm not ready to toss out the baby just yet.
The real problem we're all facing is me. I'm selfish. I'm sinful. I want my church like I want everything else in life; according to my own definition, taste and comfort zone. Scratch me and, underneath, even though as an experienced pastor I especially should know better, I'm just as selfish, superficial and sinful as the next person sitting in any church. While I deeply agree we're seeing a consumerism in America and in the church that is truly demonic and troubling, I believe we must deal with the issue personally first. The big picture church issues will take care of themselves (especially in a consumer society!) if the consumers have a change of heart. I believe religious consumers like me need an epic change of heart.
May God give us a true hunger for only the best things! May God give us a genuine change of heart!
