McChurch

The Word:

Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Additional Reading: 1 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 2:15

"McChurch" By Randolph Koch

When you go to any of the local "fast food" restaurants you expect things to be fast, fresh, hot, and right now. After all, you want things the way you ordered and paid for them and nothing less, right?

It seems that many are taking this approach to the operation of the church and the weekly services. Sadly in the western church culture, "church" for many has become more about convenience with a "what can you do for me attitude." In some cases watered down truths are being communicated from the pulpit in order to appeal to the unchurched or to simply be popular with those who show up to listen. Then there's also a real emphasis in some churches or denominations on marketing for the sake of growing the numbers that fill the pews when the emphasis should be on filling God's kingdom and helping believer's grow in the faith and knowledge of God. We might call all of this and more the "McChurch syndrome". McChurch is a shallow imitation of the real thing where we typically want everything to be quick, right now and on our terms only. Or as one fast food chains slogan says it, "Have it your way!"

Another side effect of this syndrome is that the believer's typically do not function as the church or grow in relationship as God intended. The believer's tend to stay at a superficial level with one another when they should grow as the family of God. The more we allow this to happen the more we move away from Biblical Christianity and away from how God's church should operate.

As more western churches strive to have McChurch, it's evident that there's a simply a desire to be entertained. For example, some churches, although not all of them that focus on the "seeker sensitivity" movement, instead of having instruction in the Word they put on a production each week full of drama and music and that's what they call their worship or church service. It may be very emotionally moving and entertaining but unfortunately the Word and Worship are missing and not a priority of their "production" at all. This focus tends to aim on the experience of the individual in place of a genuine encounter with the Living God.

To clarify, drama can be an effective tool when used effectively to help illustrate a point in the sermon or the overall theme. However, If it's not used in this way it distracts from the preaching and instruction of the Word and can fall into the simply entertainment category Why? Because there's no focus or spiritual emphasis to it as it doesn't connect to the message from the Word.

Others in the new McChurch make it their task to make everything convenient to everyone. You may have heard of churches catering to people's schedules or need to spend as little time in church as possible by guaranteeing that the service will be 45 minutes or less. Wouldn't want anyone to miss their tee time or coffee run, now would we?! Now let's think for a moment, how much time do people spend doing other things like watching TV, working out, or doing nothing? We start to look at our watches and wonder when the service will be over if it goes a few minutes over an hour! Some of this may come across as condescending to some but let me state clearly, this is not the intention at all. Rather, it's to sadly state that the one-day we go to worship is the only day most believers spend doing anything for their relationship with God and with others in His family.

Another observation of the new McChurch is that you better not talk about things that have the potential to convict but only such things that make us feel good. Now don't get me wrong, we need to be encouraged but it has to be balanced. If you simply encourage and never challenge believers through the strong and tough things the Bible says as well, it doesn't profit the hearers, as they are never challenged to grow and be better followers and people for Him. The same goes to the other because if all someone hears is the strong and tough things - the perceived negatives, they will potentially feel oppressed or down but they should also be encouraged. Again, it's a balance that we need - a healthy balance of encouragement and challenge.

When McChurch takes place, church ends up being packaged in such a way that we end up glossing over the truths so no one is offended by what God's Word teaches. Furthermore, what's also happening more regularly is that some churches from small to the mega are feeding their flock junk food instead of the true regimen or full balanced meal, if you will, of God's Word. God's Word said this would happen and sadly we now know it is. This is perpetuated largely as many just settle for the cheap imitation that appeals to their own desire, feelings, comfort, and entertainment.

Don't trade the real thing for the wrong thing and if you're in a church today that simply entertains you, I pray that you hunger for more of God's Word and find a church that will provide this as the essential part of your growth and walk with God. Let me encourage you to find a Bible centered and Christ centered church. Don't settle for anything else. Let me also encourage you to establish and keep a personal study time in God's Word. Spend time with God regularly and make it a real priority.

Remember, Church has more to do with worshipping and meeting God and meeting the People of God, and simply actively being the church, than it has to do with being entertained or meeting in a specific building they meet in. There is absolutely no true church devoid of God, His Word or the people of God. We need to pray for the leadership in churches today and then hold them scripturally accountable to leading and directing God's flock under His authority and for His purpose and Glory.

Do you want fries with that? No thanks, lets take the real thing the way God instructs His Church in His Holy Word. Let's strive to resist the McChurch syndrome and instead be the Church and have Church the way God designed it.

Questions to Get Started With:

-How would you categorize the church you're currently a part of? Are they having genuine Church or McChurch?
-How do you think God sees the church you attend?
-What's the problem with the "McChurch Syndrome"?
-Is God's Word important to you?
-What motivates you to attend and be a part of church?
-What should motivate you?
-Do you go to weekly services to be entertained?
-Do you find yourself wanting to be only encouraged and never challenged?
-Do you go to weekly services to be fed and to be an active part of His Church?
-Do you uphold God's Word?
-Whose responsibility is it to uphold God's Word and sound doctrine?