Do we have too many churches?
I've spent the past week driving my wife around the central valley, and it's been interesting. I've seen a BUNCH of churches. Yesterday, while in Fresno, I went driving trying to find a supermarket. I noticed that fast food restaurants outnumbered supermarkets a bazillion to three, but it wasn't just fast food shops that outnumbered supermarkets.... I think in the three mile drive to the mall where I've lived the past three days, I counted five churches.
So what can we say about residents of Fresno, based on my deeply scientific study I conducted yesterday? That Fresnoians care about eating very unhealthily first, God second, with fresh food/ cooking coming in third.
All kidding aside, on Monday I was driving around the "lovely" city of Stockton trying to find a sports bar to watch the France/ England soccer match.... and I literally drove by ten churches in the course of a couple miles!
The origin of my title for this blog entry came later, when Nicole was telling me about the outcome of the info meeting that she had. She is looking into race discrimination occurring in the Stockton public school system. The unbelievable fact that she mentioned was that her potential co-counsel works for the ONLY law firm/ agency addressing any kind of ethnic discrimination in the area around Stockton! I'm not sure if it was the city, or the county, or what geographical delineator she mentioned... but that's unbelievable, don't you think?
That gets me thinking... why is that the case? Not saying that the only public benefit comes from Christians, because we know that that would be a fallacy, but it doesn't take that much of a leap of faith to imagine there must be at least some lawyers that attend the plethora of churches in the Stockton area. So there has to be a few that care about civil rights. And some that care about their community. But... there only exist a few, if any, that put their money where their mouth is. (Apologies, but I'm making the assumption that I didn't drive past the only ten churches in Stockton on my soccer watching crusade, so the inference is that churches in Stockton are numerous).
This reminded me of a question that has stayed with me from my time in seminary.... "If your church ceased to exist today, would anyone in your community notice tomorrow?"
The point of that question is to ask us as future leaders of our churches what kind of faith we wanted to live out/ preach/ teach? Unfortunately, the epitomy of the faithful life in the United States is too often equated with two things: not sinning and faithful church attendance. Thus, we have hundreds of churches, with only a small number of their attendees aware of the greater Christian calling to minister in the community. They've been taught a faith that solely focuses on being in church as much as possible.
I think the stark realization that I have after my time in the central valley this week is that, if the type of faith we as Christians profess is as simplistic as not sinning and not missing a church service or meeting, then we as Americans have too many churches. We've missed the point. To go back to my observation of a bazillion fast food restaurants... at least those places offer tasty (yet unhealthy) food at an affordable price. What is a church that only cares about itself? It's called a group of friends just hanging out. Blech. I don't need church for that.
So what can we say about residents of Fresno, based on my deeply scientific study I conducted yesterday? That Fresnoians care about eating very unhealthily first, God second, with fresh food/ cooking coming in third.
All kidding aside, on Monday I was driving around the "lovely" city of Stockton trying to find a sports bar to watch the France/ England soccer match.... and I literally drove by ten churches in the course of a couple miles!
The origin of my title for this blog entry came later, when Nicole was telling me about the outcome of the info meeting that she had. She is looking into race discrimination occurring in the Stockton public school system. The unbelievable fact that she mentioned was that her potential co-counsel works for the ONLY law firm/ agency addressing any kind of ethnic discrimination in the area around Stockton! I'm not sure if it was the city, or the county, or what geographical delineator she mentioned... but that's unbelievable, don't you think?
That gets me thinking... why is that the case? Not saying that the only public benefit comes from Christians, because we know that that would be a fallacy, but it doesn't take that much of a leap of faith to imagine there must be at least some lawyers that attend the plethora of churches in the Stockton area. So there has to be a few that care about civil rights. And some that care about their community. But... there only exist a few, if any, that put their money where their mouth is. (Apologies, but I'm making the assumption that I didn't drive past the only ten churches in Stockton on my soccer watching crusade, so the inference is that churches in Stockton are numerous).
This reminded me of a question that has stayed with me from my time in seminary.... "If your church ceased to exist today, would anyone in your community notice tomorrow?"
The point of that question is to ask us as future leaders of our churches what kind of faith we wanted to live out/ preach/ teach? Unfortunately, the epitomy of the faithful life in the United States is too often equated with two things: not sinning and faithful church attendance. Thus, we have hundreds of churches, with only a small number of their attendees aware of the greater Christian calling to minister in the community. They've been taught a faith that solely focuses on being in church as much as possible.
I think the stark realization that I have after my time in the central valley this week is that, if the type of faith we as Christians profess is as simplistic as not sinning and not missing a church service or meeting, then we as Americans have too many churches. We've missed the point. To go back to my observation of a bazillion fast food restaurants... at least those places offer tasty (yet unhealthy) food at an affordable price. What is a church that only cares about itself? It's called a group of friends just hanging out. Blech. I don't need church for that.
nice post Nori... check out the article I posted on facebook somewhat related to this... your scientific findings parallel my Texas findings exactly, except there, all the churches are really big with electronic billboards...
ReplyDeleteNo matter how long I walk with the Lord or how much I think I know, I'm surprised at how much I am still learning.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I get puffed up with knowledge and wonder how someone can fall away when they knew that they knew that they knew they loved God or how others would attend church every week and still not be saved was a mystery to me. If I wasn't walking with the Lord out of my love for him then on Sunday mornings I would be sleeping in after a late night with friends the night before. But, I try not to question because He always shows me for my own understanding. It isn't always pleasant.
Everyone I knew at Horizon Christian Fellowship loved the Lord as much as I did and was there to grow in the knowledge of Him. But, after moving to Wisconsin I quickly learned that everyone in the Midwest professed to be a Christian, to my delight. Many even attended church weekly and enrolled their children in Christian private schools. As my relationships grew I discovered that all these people who sang hymn's and professed to be Christians were really only attending to increase their businesses. It was all about networking.
I have seen loud street evangelists preaching the gospel and watched as some responded and went on to attend churches like the Potter House. While the in the face technique preached by some turned other more conservative people, even some Christians to embarrassment and found themselves crossing to the other side of the street.
Personally, I don't like church membership. I enjoy visiting other churches to see what God is doing. But, for now, its not what I want, rather where God would have me serve. Isn't that what gives life in a church? When people are serving the body and reaching the lost, then usually it is because the Spirit is at work within that church. I see that movement much more so when studying the word in someone's living room with other like minded Christians who are seeking God with all their heart, soul, and mind.
Why are there so many churches? We all respond to the message from different types of services. My husband still enjoys attending a Catholic Church because of the deep convictions and traditions he grew up in.
I know people who attend Assembly of God churches because they like the charismatic preaching and workings of the gifts of the spirit.
But, how many would miss those buildings if closed down tomorrow? Some churches that are doing God's will, will surely be missed by those growing in Him, the community that was being served, the homeless and hungry who were being fed, and the nations where missionaries were sent.
Unfortunately, others would be hardly noticed when the parking lot remained empty. God will separate the wheat from the chaff, the saved and the lost, only He will pass judgment and in His time. As for you and I? We will pray for a revival as never been seen before and trust God in His mercy when we fall short.