Has church become too commercialized?
ByThere has been a growing trend in the church market. There are more books, websites, and programs for church leaders and their teams than ever before. Church growth, Gen X services, post modernism, authentic communities, emerging movements, worship experiences, and planting missional churches have all been the buzzwords over the last decade and has led to many of the fore mentioned products. It seems that Christianity is a big business. You can even bling out your dog now in the latest JC apparel.
I recently asked a pastor about how the Exponential Conference went last week and before he replied the word jumped into my head – commercialized. He said the conference was more about speakers promoting their books and agendas than church planting. I won’t go into my personal experience with the National New Church Conference but I can totally see my friend’s point of view.
Christianity has become too commercialized in some aspects and I think we need to get a reign on it.
It appears in some circles that selling books, CD’s, sermon series, speaking gigs, metrosexual identities, and being the top blogger is the “in thing”. This has really been observed in the church planting world and evident by the groupies who continually blog about stalking their idol at conferences or who market their personal blog more than their church…all the while wearing long sleeve black shirts with big collars unbuttoned to their chest with faded jeans, Doc Martens, and a soul patch or frosted hair to match.
You know what I would like to hear more about and see?
Jesus Christ, biblical inerrancy, small guys in the trenches, life transformation, spiritual discipline, serving and washing feet, becoming the least, humility, toned down church marketing and advertising, and the realization that people NOT in church or our faith see what’s happening but many Christians don’t.
Please know that I have personally struggled with these issues myself and I thank Jesus every day that I see in a new perspective. I’m jacked up too, but friends, we have to start looking at Christianity in America through a new lenses or we will reap what we have sown.
I think it’s all about putting first things first. The cheesy christian products aside…Christ has to be the main focus. Great design, media, websites…those should be for flavor, not the main meal.
Michael,
It IS about putting the right things first. But what I am seeing is a trend where people (who I realize are full of sin) are placing their idols, agenda’s, and media above Christ. We can’t continue to operate like the world and then sprinkle a little Jesus into the mix.
Cory,
I was at Exponential.
While there was certainly much good I did wonder what Jesus would have done had He walked into the building. It was commercialization to the max.
I wrestle with the tension here on the hand the need for resources, on the other hand the commercialization of spiritual things.
Paul,
Thanks for the thoughts! I admit that I struggle with this issue personally because on one hand I am against the insane commercialization going on, but yet I also help churches to brand and communicate – and was once a vendor at NNCC / Expo.
It’s a delicate balance but it’s so easy to get caught up in the rockstar/glamor/commercial mode. I did! But now, thankfully, I just want to stay small and keep it real.
My prayer is that we as Christians will get back on track with the right focus or perspective.
I think commercialisation of Christianity has also stemmed out of the CEO mentality that many Pastors and church leaders seem to have. Many churches are being operated as if they are a large business whose main goal is to turn a profit, or attract a large crowd.
This appears to permeate through all aspects of the church world, a true shepherd is looking to raise up disciples and win the lost. A leader with a CEO mentality is looking to gain the best people he can, even if it means advertising for them or taking them from other churches, rather than going through the “expense” of training and raising them from scratch.
We are called by Jesus to “feed His sheep” not to sell them the feed.
Excellent points Paul!