We were given a quote last night to discuss in groups.  Did we agree?  Was the quote to harsh?  Is it accurate?  What do you think?  Here it is:

“A new way of “doing” church is emerging.  In this radical paradigm shift, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performers, doctrine with drama, and theology with theatrics.  The pulpit, once the focal point of the church, is now being overshadowed by a variety of church-growth techniques, everything from trendy worship styles to glitzy presentations to vaudeville-like pageantries.  In seeking to capture the upper hand in church growth, a new wave of pastors is reinventing the church and repackagin the gospel into a product to be sold to “consumers’.

Whatever reportedly works in one church is being franchised out to various markets abroad.  As when gold was discovered in the foothills of California, so ministers are beating a path to the doorsteps of exploding churhces and superhyped conferences where the latest “strike” has been reported.  Unfortunately the newly panned gold often to be “fool” gold.  Not all that glitters is actually gold.

Admittedly, pastors can learn from growing churches and successful ministries. Yet God’s work must be done in God’s way if it is to know God’s blessing.  He provides the power and He alone receives the glory only as His prescribed plan for ministry is followed.  When man-centered schemes are followed…the flesh provides the energy and man receives the glory…In a strange twist the preaching of the cross is now foolishness, not only to the world, but also to the contemporary church.”