April 11, 2007
Mini-Mega Church
I just read Jim & Casper Go To Church, written by Jim Henderson & Matt Casper. Jim (a longtime Christian) hired Casper (an atheist) to accompany him in visiting twelve of America’s best - and least – known churches. In the Forward George Barna states, “Marketers sometimes use a ‘mystery shopper’ – an unannounced, anonymous observer, who is secretly sent into a client’s environment to note what the experience is like for a typical outsider. In a sense, Casper was sent as a mystery shopper to examine the church environment in America.” I’m still digesting what I’ve read and I’m vacillating between two thoughts. Is it an eye opener or a black eye for the church in general? Most churches in America will not reach mega-church status – but that doesn’t keep them from trying. It’s interesting to read what’s happening in the mega-church and thought provoking to realize my mid-size church is emulating them even down to phraseology. I highly recommend this book to the average person in the pew. Not that it wouldn’t be a good read for leaders, but they, being the architects shaping today’s church, won’t be happy seeing their creations exposed.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----The Church in this world exists physically inside the church of this world, while we all carelessly refer to the church of this world as the Church. The church of this world operates as an organization and exists for that organization. But the Church operates as individuals interconnected by godly cares, helps, and rejoicings, each individual existing for their Lord as that one best understands Him. That is not to say there is no “organization” within the Church, but that the organization there only exists for the Lord and for His children. It contains His godly reflection from the hearts of all His individuals whose efforts and doings are its organization. That content corresponds to the descriptions of godly behavior found in the Scripture - not all of them reflecting from any one individual, but all of them reflecting among all of the individuals. And that Biblically defined behavior will effect change in the organization of the Church, while the church of the world, through its organization, will effect specified changes in the behavior of its members.
-----So, when you walk into a church it must be remembered that you are walking into two churches. One is a group who offers a Lord to anyone who will be open and arouses any godliness around it. The other is an organization who offers certain, specified services regarding a Lord, and a possible membership in the organization for any who will fit its chosen parameters.
-----But as inseparable as are the evil intentions of another man’s heart, and as inseparable as are the tares from the wheat of Jesus’ parable, the church of the world is inseparable from the Church. The church of the world is precisely what man has done to the Church, and man can not be taken out of the Church. However, the truth must always be spoken in the Church, by whoever has come to know it. For it is the continuous presentation of the truth, in word and deed, which holds at bay the evil tares.
Hi, Gail! Thanks for recommending "Jim & Casper Go to Church." I'm a volunteer with Jim's organization Off the Map and I wanted to let you know about our Live event coming up this November in Seattle. Both Jim and Matt Casper will be speaking at this event. Here is the link if you want to find out more: http://www.offthemap.com/live
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