See this article in Christianity Today about the evangelical churches in the Minneapolis area and how so many differences are packed into such a relatively small area. Believe this, then go here. Believe that, then go there. Believe this but want it emphasized less, go here. Believe that, but would like it emphasized more, go there. Disagree with this but don’t want it harped on, go here. Disagree with that but want to make a bigger deal of it, go there. Want a preacher laid back with no socks, go there. Want one with a suit, go here. Want one with a robe, go there. Want one with a robe but nothing underneath, go here.
At the center of “religion” is, in addition to other things, an authority relationship, a relationship of submission to the Almighty. Yes, there are other matters in the core – love, forgiveness, mercy, etc. But submission is also there. I do wonder what the “have it your way” mode of ministry is actually doing to any kind of authentic discipleship. Even those who benefit by this market segmentation know, even as they sit in the pew (chair, seat or whatever is the best word for the kind of church you go to) what is going on, and they are wondering to themselves what else has been sacrificed to market share strategies. They will allow this to a degree, but only so far. At some point, they are going to snap back.
I think this is why a significant number of evangelicals are reconsidering the liturgical church as an option, if only to say to the leadership, “dont’ spend all your time worried about what I think; root this ministry in the Bible, the deep history of the church, and don’t spend all your time on so many things that make no difference in the long run.” Some day the group Mercy Me or whoever will be considered old hat and their cds will be stored beside the Best of the Gaithers. Some day the “so now” will become the “so yesterday.” We should all do ministry with this in mind.
