Why the Church Needs to Stop Trying to Be Trendy and Hip: Raw Insights from a Young Widow

Why the Church doesn't need any more come as you are, causal everything, "lights, fog machines, couches on the platform" worship services.

Young widow, Kimberli Lira, explains how her husband's death has made her view church initiatives in a new way.  My social media feeds are full of churches boasting about the trendy new initiatives they have begun. I see pictures of Starbucks style coffee bars. I hear about lighting sequences that resemble a Broadway show. I read catchy sermon titles that incorporate movies and popular culture.

On 14th February 2017, my life changed. My husband passed away after a two year battle with cancer.

To say he battled cancer is an understatement. Over the first year he was hospitalized 18 times, for two weeks out of every month. He was rushed to the emergency room eight times and spent hundreds of days separated from our two children. Eventually the chemo, the treatment designed to get rid of the cancer, caused paralysis. For the last four months of his life he was paralyzed and confined to a bed.

But throughout the cycles of chemo, throughout the separation from his children night after night, throughout listening to doctors telling him bad news after bad news, he never once said how much he appreciated the coffee bar at church.

Not once did he say that he loved the lighting in the sanctuary.

He never told me how cool it was that they put a couch on the platform.

He didn’t boast about the use of graphics and props.

Why Every City Needs Healthy Churches Like This... (part 2)

In my previous article I highlighted some of the most important New Testament passages that shape and define spiritually healthy churches (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:28-29; 1 Tim. 3:15, 6:20; and Jude 3-4).  I summarized these jugular texts into four headings: 1) The church’s great commission, 2) the church’s chief priorities, 3) the church’s overarching mission, and 4) the church’s sacred trust.

As we enter 2016 and assess afresh where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re headed it is essential that we evaluate our ministries against the clear backdrop of Holy Scripture (I would encourage each of you to do the same).  Just this month I asked a number of people to answer a survey with questions like: “What evidences of grace did you observe last year that suggests that even after 170 years God is still at work here?  Where do we need to grow the most as a church? What are our most glaring weaknesses? Are we keeping the main thing(s) the main thing(s)?  How can I come alongside you to encourage you and to help expand your ministry efforts?”

By the grace of God, and through many dangers, toils, and snares, the depth and direction of First Baptist, Freeport is back on track.  Having said that, we still have a long way to go!  As we begin this new year may we say with Paul, “Not that we have already arrived at our goal, but we press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me….One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead!  Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).”

Having mentioned these things, as I look out on the evangelical horizon I sometimes wonder if I’m reading a different New Testament.  From my vantage point, many juvenile churches in America (especially those that are materially prosperous) seem to glory in their shame.  

The Greatest Problem Evangelicalism Faces Today is ____________

2 Disturbing Trends Within American Christianity (and a Solution)

Photo Credit: www.eerdmans.com

When I evaluate the contemporary church I notice many disturbing trends.  In the interest of time allow me to mention two:

1)  The Continued "Juvenilization" of American Christianity. 

Or to borrow the verbiage of another commentator, "When are we going to grow up?  We are all adolescents now."  This same writer goes on to describe a typical worship service in America, noting "The house lights go down. Spinning, multicolored lights sweep the auditorium. A rock band launches into a rousing opening song. 'Ignore everyone else, this time is just about you and Jesus,' proclaims the lead singer. The music changes to a slow dance tune, and the people sing about falling in love with Jesus. A guitarist sporting skinny jeans and a soul patch closes the worship set with a prayer, beginning, 'Hey God …' The spotlight then falls on the speaker, who tells entertaining stories, cracks a few jokes, and assures everyone that 'God is not mad at you. He loves you unconditionally.'

After 'worship', some members of the church sign up for the next mission trip, while others decide to join a small group where they can receive support on their faith journey. If you ask the people here why they go to church or what they value about their faith, they'll say something like, "Having faith helps me deal with my problems."

A few paragraphs later the author notes, "Juvenilization is the process by which the religious beliefs, practices, and developmental characteristics of adolescents become accepted as appropriate for adults. It began with the praiseworthy goal of adapting the faith to appeal to the young.... But it has sometimes ended with both youth and adults embracing immature versions of the faith. In any case, white evangelicals led the way."