What type of church do you attend? That question alone could require further clarification, or you may have a quick answer prepared. Some my classify their church as old fashioned. Others may consider their church to be modern. Another group may consider their church to be trendy and hip. While many different definitions and descriptions float around regarding the types of churches that are presently visible in our culture, the question remains to be answered – should we seek a church full of people just like ourselves or should we seek a church that is racially, age related and culturally diverse? If we attend a church that is focused on one type and one age range of people, is that church really focused on fulfilling the Great Commission? If we train our people to seek people that look a certain way, walk a certain way, dress a certain way, and talk a certain way – does that teach people to fulfill the Great Commission or deny people attention based on the fact that they do not fit a specific standard? What is the standard? Does God have a place for people of different skin colors, dress styles, speech patterns and ages? Does the “faddish” church movement enhance or subdue our evangelistic efforts in our culture?
Revelation 5:9 – And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
A few months ago, I was speaking with a friend who informed me of a situation that has recently occurred in his church. He told of how several families in his church left in order to start a “Cowboy Church” in their town. He said, “The new congregation of cowboy types is attracting many visitors and the church seems to be growing quickly.” After thinking about that situation along with other similar situations within the Southern Baptist Convention at this present moment (on the other end of the spectrum) it has caused me to think about the Great Commission in a way that shines light on the types of churches we attend and plant in our culture.
The Great Commission is really simple. It is a command by Christ to His followers to go out and reach the world with the Gospel. Acts 1:8 tells us how it is to be carried out. The Great Commission started in their own region and then spread outward to the ends of the earth. From Acts 1:8 to Matthew 28:18-20, we see that the Gospel is not focused on one group or one people, it is focused on the world. Paul was sent out to preach to the Gentiles the good news of the Gospel. Christ had broken down the middle wall that separated the Jew from the Gentile through His death on the cross. It was Paul who said in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel was to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. That mirrors what Acts 1:8 says and it should literally transform our evangelistic and church planting strategies.
Below are some problems that hinder the Great Commission within our church culture:
1. Faddish ideas about types of people our church should reach. Often this type of thinking is born out of a group of people who mean well, but they often use language like, “We are trying to reach a group of people that the typical church or traditional church would not be able to reach.” Therefore, in their attempt to reach a specific group (cowboy, young, tattoo wearing, body pierced, ultra modern – no suits or ties, loud modern music styles, etc..). This type of attitude is often the result of traditional church rejection or lack of focus on this type of people within their church.
2. Faddish ideas about worship music styles. This is often a desire to reject any modern song that is not found in the old hymnal or a desire to do away with all hymns and focus on all modern praise songs. Either way, both groups are guilty of being faddish in the way they approach worship. It turns the service into something other than worship and more about pleasing the flesh.
3. Faddish ideas about racial barriers. This is still a major problem in our present day. Many times you will hear people describe a church as a “black congregation” as you pass by their property. What does that mean? Should a white congregation not focus on other skin types in their evangelism efforts in hopes of remaining all white? Should a non-white congregation focus on their skin color or people group in order to remain non-diverse?
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
At the present moment within the SBC, we have groups of younger pastors who seem to be tired of fighting battles of non-essentials such as music, dress, and other issues that often become a problem in the traditional congregation. In order to avoid such problems, many of these people are leaving the SBC or forming faddish groups that seem to be focused on specific things that the typical traditional congregation has not accepted. This type of movement has sparked much debate, but the debate has most often centered on dress or music rather than the real issue – the Great Commission.
Those who are serving in a more traditional church (like myself) should not be drawing a line in the sand and focusing on suits and ties or music styles. The issue is much greater. It is a Great Commission issue. If a church is seeking to appeal to blue jeans wearing, body pierced, tattoos, and a youthful age group – what about the lady across the street that is 70 years of age and unsaved? How will that church reach that woman for Christ? Will she feel at home in their worship service? Will the members of the trendy church reach out to her or will she be overlooked because of a lack of tattoos and blue jeans? The issue is more than style. The issue we face today in our church is about love. It is about the Gospel. It is about the Great Commission. Therefore, we should be extremely cautious (both traditional and modern types) in how we structure our image as a church. Our image should be more interested in displaying Christ to the world as opposed to our modernity or traditionalism. In either case – we can leave people behind and overlook groups of people because they do not fit our standard. We must remember – the Gospel is for all!
Therefore, the church that is too young, too old, too pierced, too tattooed, too trendy, or too traditional may be more interested in serving fads or traditions than serving Christ. A healthy church is one that reflects a family structure. It will have all ages and types. It will have the smell of bad diapers in the nursery as well as white haired seniors on the pews. It will have children running through the halls and “20 somethings” on the pews. The healthy church will not have old people sitting in the pews where no children’s cries or footsteps in the hallways can be heard. The healthy church is not one that is full of young moderns without any senior citizens with white hair. The healthy church is not one with cowboy hats that does not focus on white collared business persons. The idea of the church seems to be identified in the Great Commission itself. The church should not be hyper focused on one type. The church should be reaching out to all groups, types, and skin colors – all for the glory of God! The church is about Christ, His love for the world, and His Gospel Commission to the world – for His glory – not our trendy or traditional images.
Pastor Josh Buice
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24 Responses to “Faddish Churches and the Great Commission”
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“A healthy church is one that reflects a family structure. It will have all ages and types. It will have the smell of bad diapers in the nursery as well as white haired seniors on the pews. It will have children running through the halls and “20 somethings” on the pews. The healthy church will not have old people sitting in the pews where no children’s cries or footsteps in the hallways can be heard. The healthy church is not one that is full of young moderns without any senior citizens with white hair.”
Wow, I couldn’t agree more.
I’m not sure church’s that are good at reaching someone in particular are necessarily “faddish.” We sponsored a church plant in a neighboring community called One80 that really reaches the down and out. The important thing is that they don’t ONLY reach one type. yes, there are bikers, former druggies (current druggies!) and so on. But they reach people that will not walk in the door where I pastor. Still, their focus is 100% on the gospel and discipleship.
If a Cowboy Church reaches cowboys that wouldnt normally come to church, then Praise God!
If a deaf church reaches deaf people who wouldnt normally come to church, then Praise God!
When searching for a church, we should find one that first and foremost preaches John 3:16, one that then supports missions-locally and globally, and one that is committed to training up strong Believers to make an impact in their world.
The church does reflect a family–it has the younger, the older, the ones that might drive you crazy and the ones who you get along great with! And most of all, it has an umbrella of love and forgiveness, an umbrella of compassion and meeting needs, an umbrella that covers all things and encourages a better, closer walk with Christ.
One thing I appreciate about family–they cant kick us out! No matter what, I know my family will love me and welcome me, even when Im wrong, when Im doing wrong, when Im sad, when Im confused, they are the ones that support me no matter what. An unconditional love. THat’s what the church should be as well.
Call it a fad if you want. But the point is to reach souls for Christ. If that means meeting in a barn, Praise God. I know God is right their with them when they ask Him to be.
I find it odd that you always think of a traditional church as almost more conservative.
Jesus rejected conventional, traditional “religious” things.
I think a “fad” church could also be one that focuses solely on rejecting anything it perceives to be a “fad.”
Im also confused because you are talking about a 70 yr old woman being comfortable at church, but a church making cowboys or tattooed people feel comfortable is a “fad.”
We all do have personal “tastes” and “comfort levels” when it comes to how we worship. Finding a church that meets those desires is not wrong or “faddish.” It’s just what we as humans do. I wish it were acceptable for people to raise their hands, pray aloud, dance in the aisles and speak in tongues at all churches, but it isnt acceptable because people get in the way of that, often times trying to force THEIR idea of what worship is. THat is why we see different types and styles of churches.
We all do have personal “tastes” and “comfort levels” when it comes to how we worship. Finding a church that meets those desires is not wrong or “faddish.”
you know, I agreed with a lot of what you said until you said that. Since when did we meet God on our comfort level? was Moses comfortable when he was placedin the rock and the glory of God passed by?
Paul didn’t tell those who spoke in tongues to start another church for people who do speak tongues, he told them to stop it in public worship. When the church divides up then blessings are lost. I like cowboys. . . why can’t I worship with cowboys? I like Marines and worship weekly with Marines. But what if our mostly marine church said: “No army. There’s an army church down the road.”
Remember Jesus’ image of a body? What if everyone who is a hand only went to one church? Or what if all the eyes go to one church?
Blessings,
David
i never said a church should exclude anyone. i just said there are groups of believers who we may more closely identify with. i used to have a totally different opinion on this subject. it used to make me angry that my church had no black people in it. it used to make me angry that the tattooed people seemed to be ostracized. but as i’ve gotten to know more and more believers in different situations, i’ve realized that sometimes we just have different styles of worship. some people are comfortable raising their hands, clapping, dancing before the Lord (i am one of them) but some people just are not comfortable in that way (like my grandmother). it isnt that i look down on people who do not do those things, but i will seek out a body of believers where i feel comfortable worshiping the Lord in that manner. my grandmother has done the same thing. i see nothing wrong with that.
i didnt see we had a personal comfort level on finding God, i said we have a personal comfort level on HOW we worship God. remember eric in “chariots of fire?” he worshiped God by running. that’s how he gave God pleasure. i think that is amazing–to run and worship the Lord. i never worship God by running, because i never run!! LOL. but that’s how he worshiped his Lord. and his family tried to tell him he was wrong for doing it, but he knew he was worshiping. WOW.
Maybe you could be good enough to show me somewhere in Scripture where believers break up and go to church’s where they are more “comfortable” with the worship style.
Three days. . . I’m wondering if you are having trouble lining your opinions up with a Biblical world view.
david,
you know exactly what i am saying, and you know good and well i am not advocating that believers “break up.” get real.
three days? really, it’s been that long? contrary to what you may think or how you may choose to do things, i dont spend every day on the computer. out of town, actually. next time should i let you know i’ll be away? please.
i am speaking tongue in cheek here, but really…
Well, aside from that rant, you managed to write a lot but not a single Bible verse.
You said, “remember eric in “chariots of fire?” he worshiped God by running…” so should we start a church for runners?
You also said: “We all do have personal “tastes” and “comfort levels” when it comes to how we worship. Finding a church that meets those desires is not wrong or “faddish.” It’s just what we as humans do. ”
So where in the New Testament did the humans break up according to their “comfort levels”?
Mae,
Who is Christine?
Why are logging in under that name?
There used to be someone who used the name “christine” on this blog. Were you both?
I have no clue why my name showed up as Christine.
it showed up correctly that time. Weird.
Josh, We left traditional churches and we are serving at a Cowboy Church now. I can tell you this, God’s Word is still the same. The only problem we see is that the churched people that help start the Cowboy Churches try and go back to traditional ways because of a need to defend there old traditions. These traditions may not be bad, but they are traditions all the same and we must be careful about teaching the doctrines of men as the Word of God. The Cowboy churches are structured with a pastor and a group of elders. This is the first church we have been in that the majority of the members were not churched people. It’s awesome! God is using these churches to further his Kingdom. All local churches are a part of the body of Christ (The Church) if indeed they are Christians. The Cowboy Churches are just one part of the body of Christ that fulfills The Great Commission in obedience to our Lord and Savior in using our gifts and talents in serving our Lord Jesus Christ just as First Baptist or any other church that is lead by God. We are all part of the body of Christ and have a specific function in that body.
1 Corinthians 3
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Let no man deceive himself If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” So then let no one boast in men For all things belong to you,
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
I think we sometimes forget that we don’t go to church to worship us, we go to worship God. I think we need to find out what is pleasing to him and not us. Too much focus has been put on the human “experience”. I also think that attending a Godly church doesn’t necessarily have to be a comfortable experience.
Bill,
What a great way to explain it. Wonderful! Sometimes God has to make us uncomfortable to reach us.
David
Thanks David. I think we often forget that the “church” is for (and is) those that have been saved. The lost should not ever feel like they “belong”. But when a lost person visits they should be welcomed and loved by those in the church. Sadly today there are churches where even fellow believers don’t feel welcomed or loved that’s when you know you have a problem……….
Bro. Josh–In your experience do you believe a church will take on the personality of their Pastor or vice-versa?
Julie,
The point I am making with this article is that we should not focus our church image too narrowly upon one group (youth, seniors, cowboy, or all men). We should be a family of diverse (age and color) people who have been saved by Grace and who desire to serve the Lord together as a family. That should also prompt evangelism and mission work – which will be much more open to reaching the entire town / city as opposed to just looking for people with tattoos and blue jeans who are under 40 yrs. old. My point has been that the church which is too narrowly focused on one group will often lose focus on a global or city wide evangelism strategy.
Josh Buice
Bill,
Yes, most of the time the church will take on the personality of the pastor at some point. Sometimes it happens faster than others, but over time, the church will take on the personality of the pastor (especially in areas of exalting the Word and missions / evangelism).
Josh Buice
i would hope the church takes on the personality of Christ, and that the pastor has that personality as well.
mae,
I’ve heard that statement, too “a church takes on the personality of a pastor.” I think it means that they begin to focus on areas where he is also passionate because that is where he leads them. Thus a pastor strong in pulpit ministry leads a church to be serious about the Word.
I am not particularly strong in the area of “fellowship” , though I have sought to grow. We do host a home group and do new members class in our homes, but as I’ve been at this church I’ve seen the focus become very much on teaching and preaching the Word. What that means for me is that I need to be aware that where I am weak as a Shepherd can also cause weakness in the church — so I must be extra vigiliant.
Does that make sense?
Blessings,
David
this might be considered a little “faddish”, no?
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=31094&ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0818
but souls were saved! Hallelujah!
I’m not one to judge another’s servant, but do need to say I’m in agreement with what you say. Sunday morning can’t be the most segregated time of the week.