This week’s church marquee, “The perfect church for people who aren’t” (Middle St. Am. Baptist) reminds us there are no perfect people. It also hints at what “Emergent” churches are trying to do: Attract those unattracted to church. The question is: In their efforts, do they make changes sometimes exceeding boundaries of Christian legitimacy?

Brian McLaren, active in the movement, leads a church doing two positive things many churches aren’t: It attracts singles (50% of the attendees) and several racial groups. But what is being preached? On the day Julia Duin visited, there was Communion (but virtually no explanation) offered in a serve-yourself, cafeteria-like format including ‘stations’ to ask for prayer, light a candle, give an offering, etc. Refreshments followed. She found much choice, little depth, and no firm doctrine in evidence. (Baker: Quitting Church, 2008. 76-77).

Why? McLaren believes the only approach having a chance of success with baby boomers (41-59) is low key because they are burned out with fads (Passion of the Christ, Forty Days of Purpose, the Love Dare, etc.) “marketed to churchgoers. There is a fatigue factor that sets in. It has to do with overpromising results. It is a part of the hype of consumer culture, and if it doesn’t work, you just move on. Televangelism has turned the whole county into a burned-over district.” (77)

But is this because few churches challenge people to encounter Jesus Christ, to find a “love relationship” with the One Who makes the ultimate ‘overpromise’: “I make all things new”? (Revelations 21:5) I’ve never heard of anyone who’d really known Jesus personally who was dissatisfied with Him. But I do think most ‘appeals’ and ‘invitations’ are merely to mentally surrender to Him, to gain head knowledge of Him, to sign a ‘fail-safe contract’ that guarantees eternity in Heaven, but is all future, offering nothing-much-different here and how. Nobody would find that exciting. Churches market Jesus as future-destiny Insurance, selling seekers short of the life-transforming joy and intimacy of daily living with Him—walking and talking with Him—now!

Duin references singles who visited another ‘boomer’ church, finding a packed house, sloppily and scantily-dressed attendees, elements of Communion on a candlelit table, wild background music, and no explanation. Folks stood in line, ‘ate’ the symbols, largely cluelessly (78). Again, Emergents at work, “marrying the culture” because of not wanting to alienate it, claiming they are “on the cutting edge of new realities in culture.” They add, rightly, “Christianity is fast losing its grip on American culture” (78).

Barna ‘blames’ this trend on Americans’ not recognizing names of even the most ‘famous’ evangelical voices, although they are up-to-the minute on the life of Britney Spears. In one survey, 66% of Americans had never heard of T.D. Jakes; 75% had never heard of Tim LaHaye, who co-authored the most best-selling series in history (Left Behind); 40% had never heard of James Dobson; 75% had never heard of Rick Warren, whose books have sold 25+ million copies. Only 33% of evangelicals had heard of Warren or of Joel Osteen. “You cannot make a difference in someone’s life if you do not have entrée in that life,” insists Barna. “Even clergy compete for people’s attention and acceptance. So...Pastors, are you actively competing? Have you visited the unchurched on your rolls? Made personal entrée into the lives of your flock? Made your name known?

Have a good week!