Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire, or From Political to Financial Institution

I just finished reading about the papacy of the middle ages in Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelly. According to Shelly, the 14th century marked a decline in the papacy because of the Great Schism – a time in which the Roman Catholic Church had two popes! How did this happen? In short, because men became power hungry and leaders of a heavenly kingdom desired prominence in an earthly one. Other horrible things transpired because of this greed for power – the inquisition, indulgences, and the crusades (some that even took place within Europe).

While I was learning a little church history my granddad suggested I read a Forbes article by Rich Karlgaard reviewing a biography of Walt Disney. Before getting into the review, Karlgaard mentions how difficult it is to find a good business book. As a side note he suggested Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Church. “Just substitute ‘business’ for ‘church’ and it is all there.” I was appalled to say the least.

I mention both these things because the American Church is looking dangerously like the world, just as the Roman Catholic Church did years ago. As evidence, I point to the Forbes article, and to a church’s children’s ministry having three plasma screen TVs. Another church having dirt bike stunts performed in their “sanctuary” provides another good example of how we have strayed (I don’t know if they really call it a sanctuary. “Stage” would be a more appropriate title, they are giving us a show).

These are just a few example among many, and all this reminds me of a sermon preached by a man named Roderick. If he preached weekly at our campus, I’m sure he would gain a huge following, only because he has a great gift of exposing hidden truths (or details?) in scripture.
A couple of months ago, he read about the temptations of Christ, in particular when Satan challenged Christ to cast himself from the temple rooftop (Matt 4:5-7). Roderick argues that there is more going on here then just testing the father. The temple is in the middle of a town. People are in a town. If Jesus jumped and survived unharmed, people would have quickly joined his ranks. But Jesus didn’t come to show off his powers. This is further evidenced by his refusal to perform signs for those who demanded them for proof of his claims (Matt 12:38, Mark 8:11, Luke 11:16). He often healed those who already believed in him or had faith in him. He didn’t come to entertain us or perform a show. He came for much more substantial reasons. To give us life.

Many churches have become well-run businesses with well-organized once a week shows, much advertising, and even borderline prosperity gospels. This makes me nervous to say the least. We must remember our roots – the early church had few wealthy people, and little attractiveness for the world. It was a social movement that was completely counter to the Roman culture. They trusted in God to provide, not the government, as everyone else did.

Today, we look exactly like our culture with all our concern for finances and for being glitzy and glamorous like Hollywood. The Graham family is in the middle of a huge feud right now because the oldest son wants to turn Billy Graham’s burial sight into a tourist attraction. Why? To raise money for the next generation of ministry! We are trusting too much in the world and its money. We need to turn back to a child-like faith and believe that it is God who provides for us, not supporters, not stock options, not paychecks, as everyone else believes.

I digress. The business model may be working for us right now, and some argue that makes it right, or at least okay. Remember, the papacy was effectively able to maintain territorial power for a period, but that does not make it right and time eventually showed how far off base it really was. I just wonder when the same is going to happen to the American Church.