Adherents of the Church Growth Movement (CGM from hereon) started well with a desire to evangelize and reach the nations for the gospel, but the “American system” took the CGM and turned it into a deadly weapon that would eventually hurt churches and hurt ministers. There is, however, another movement within Christianity that also hurts churches and hurts ministers, and that is the “Prosperity Gospel.” What I want to show you is that there is a connection between the CGM and the Prosperity Gospel. First, let’s survey the prosperity gospel.
What is the “Prosperity Gospel”? Dr. Kate Bowler, an expert on the Prosperity Gospel, (PG from here on) has characterized the PG in the following manner:
“There’s a branch of Christianity that promises a direct path to the good life. It is called by many names, but most often it is nicknamed the ‘prosperity gospel’ for its bold central claim that God will give you your heart’s desires: money in the bank, a healthy body, a thriving family, and boundless happiness” (source).
Another definition that further characterizes the PG is:
“Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success or seed faith) is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have faith in God, he will deliver security and prosperity” (source).
The PG (in error) says, “If you sow a ‘seed’ of some financial proportion, then you will receive a certain amount back.” What this says is that God can be “nailed down” and that God can be predicted. The PG says that moving God to do something is within your own hands and can be done by your giving or by your faith. The part I want to focus on is the “If…then…” part of this equation as it relates to the Church Growth Movement.
Those under the sway of the CGM have, unwittingly, taken on this type of mindset as well. There is an “If…then…” that also exists within the CGM as well. “If you will do this particular type of outreach to the community” or “If you will put on a good enough ‘show’ for the people by having the lights properly placed, the air conditioning rightly set, and the sermon as polished as possible, THEN God will certainly move and you will be assured of the results you desire.” We believe that if we just “push the right buttons” or “pull the right levers,” then “success” is sure to come in our churches, and, maybe in our own lives. This is false and there’s nothing in Scripture that backs up this claim.
Within both systems is the desire to “control and manipulate God,” even though no one would exactly put it that way. What we have here is too much of a trust in systems. We love systems in America, and we love them because they help us to automate particular tasks in our lives and businesses so as to simplify them. What we fail to see and realize is that God is not a system, and neither will He be controlled or manipulated by the buttons we push or the levers we pull. God is a person and He can choose to do what He wants (see Psalm 115:3).
We have taken the CGM and have created “promises” that God Himself has never said to us. Many of us think that if we simply perform a certain task or put on a certain event THEN God Himself will “surely bless” that task or event with positive, visible results and massive numbers in abundance. Believing the tenets of the CGM, we suddenly find ourselves putting words into God’s mouth that He has never said. We wind up creating a god within our own American image who will “produce” on demand and who will “multiply” just as our factories and businesses multiply in like manner.
Within both the PG and the CGM system is an outright ignoring of the Sovereignty God to bring about the results (See 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, especially “God brings the increase…). Certainly, God uses means, but the means that we most often want to emphasize and use in many of our churches are not the means that God has prescribed in His Word to bless and grow His people. Relying upon means outside of the preaching/teaching of God’s Word, public (& private) worship, public (& private) prayer & Christian Community is to say, again, to God that “We know best how to run Your church.” Whenever we do this, we place a greater value in our ingenuity and automated systems than in God’s prescribed means of ordinary grace in His Word.
I would concur Billy. I also had a person contact me about the lack of personal intimacy with the pastor/staff of their Church (one that focuses on seekers) and they needless the shepherding of the flock which attributes to shallow, quid pro quo faith. If we can teach that God gives in measure to our contribution we are not held accountable to minister. Maybe they should “give” more. Just thoughts… If our goal is to grow the church but not the members we can adopt a business model, if not we must really on the ordinarily extraordinary means of Grace. That is the true preaching of the Word.
Growing members, not just churches! Good thoughts! Thanks for commenting, Matt!