In Search of Church: A Journey, Not a Destination

Circle of Friends: Towards An Eclectic and Everyday Ecclesiology

We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many years just trying to fit in
Now I've found a place in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends we have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside there's no need to pretend
That's the way it is in this circle of friends
In a circle of friends
We have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That we'll gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends

Douglas McKelvey & Steve Siler, Circle of Friends

As one scans the ecclessiastical horizon, one sees many movements afoot in an effort to make the Church more relevant and attractive to an increasingly indifferent and fickle society. Of course, there are churches that don't see any need to accomodate change; they will remain faithful to their received traditions no matter where the winds of change may blow. Examples of staunch Traditionalists include KJV-Only fundamentalists, exclusive Brethren, and exclusive-psalmody covenanting presbyterians. For many churches in the reformation stream, worship in church is to be strictly governed by the "regulative principle".

On a similar note, others - let's call them the Reformers - feel that the church has been compromised by pragmatism and relativism, and call for a return to a more biblical model of the church. Mark Dever, for example, lists "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church".

Some churches - let's call them the cautious Renewalists - attempt to make minor tweaks and incremental changes, such as introducing more contemporary music or changing the name of their church (e.g. from Westlake Presbyterian Church to Westlake Christian Community). There is generally a reluctance to rock the boat for fear of alienating their members (especially those who are the main financial supporters!).

Of course, there are the seeker-sensitive mega-churches (the pragmatic Marketers, exemplified by George Barna, Bill Hybels, and Rick Warren) who attempt to provide a "complete package" experience to lure people in (often unintentionally stealing sheep from neighboring churches). My personal view on the mega-church movement is that it is misguided and ultimately ineffective in accomplishing what church is all about. Its approach to church as a business organization and its focus on meeting "felt needs" doesn't seem to square with the NT teaching on church life. Others have written incisive critiques already, and I refer the interested reader to them:

• Gregory A. Prichard, Willow Creek Seeker Services: Evaluating a New Way of Doing Church
• Douglas Webster, Selling Jesus: What's Wrong With Marketing the Church
• Os Guinness, Dining With the Devil: The Megachurch Movement Flirts With Modernity
• Philip D. Kenneson, James L. Street, Selling Out the Church: The Dangers of Church Marketing
• David Hopkins, Control Alt Delete: Rebooting the Purpose-driven church
• John H. Armstrong, The Mad Rush to Seeker Sensitive Worship
• Various writers, The Malling of Mission: How Suburban Values Control the Church Growth Movement
• David M.Doran, Market-Driven Ministry: Blessing or Curse? Part 1 and Part 2
• Laura M. Kaczorowski, Willow Creek: Conversion Without Commitment
• William Chadwick, Stealing Sheep: The Church's Hidden Problems of Transfer Growth
• Matthew J. Mardis, Niche Congregations and the Problem of Institutional Isomorphism: A Study of the Church as Institution
• Church Growth in a Consumer Culture: What is the Calling of the Local Church?

In his book, Natural Church Development, Christian Schwarz strongly critiques the megachurch approach and offers an alternative method based on worldwide research of many churches. It involves a lengthy survey/questionnaire along with tools to analyze the data. He argues that healthy churches exhibit these eight characteristics:

1. Empowering Leadership
2. Functional Structures
3. Gift-Oriented Ministry
4. Holistic Small Groups
5. Inspiring Worship
6. Loving Relationships
7. Need-Oriented Evangelism
8. Passionate Spirituality

While Schwarz's approach can be helpful, I still think that it suffers from similar problems as the megachurch approach. Again, it is beyond my interest and scope to look at this any further.