Jesus- The Greatest Minichurch Pastor

According to NPR, there are approximately 1,800 megachurches in the United States. Each of these super-sized churches have roughly 2,000+ members in attendance. In other words, Christianity has never been more popular. Pastors have morphed far beyond wearing three-piece suits, this is the day of ‘celebrity pastors’ and ‘pastor panels’. Honestly, for someone fairly well versed in the New Testament, this all feels a little foreign.

A cursory reading of the New Testament reveals that of all people, Jesus wasn’t much of a megachurch pastor. To be sure, many came to hear Him speak, but they left just as quickly. Looking past the fact that Jewish culture was a little different than ours today, let’s face facts; Jesus was a mini-church pastor. As far as we can tell, He only had about twelve consistent followers, or if you want to strike out Judas, then that number becomes even smaller.

Is Not Attending Church a Sin?

The Bible says not to ‘forsake the assembling of yourselves’. I would never claim to know more than God, but I am part of what is being called the ‘de-churched’ generation. I went to church a long time ago. The memories are hazy, but I do remember what it was like singing the latest praise chorus and sitting under a Pastor for about forty minutes. I never experienced harsh treatment in a church or had a traumatic encounter of any kind. Everything was nice, pleasant and bland. Maybe that’s why today I’m not in a church.

I can’t help but feel disconnected from what churches have become. It isn’t just me either. There are literally hundreds of thousands who feel the same as I do. For a lot of people like me, we are expected to be a certain way act a certain way because that’s what everyone else does. Surely this isn’t what Jesus died on the Cross for. This cannot be the ‘abundant life’ he promised us. I just cannot force myself to go back and play the cultural game with everyone else. Jesus promised His followers freedom and an abundant life. Yet can I afford to ignore the Bible when it says not to ‘forsake the assembling of ourselves’?

Make no mistake, telling other Christians you don’t go to church usually has an instant effect. You will get stared at as if you were some sort of polka-dotted alien dropped down from outer space. I’m not exaggerating. Down in the deep south region of the US, when you get asked what church you go to, the question is actually a social ruler by which you are immediately judged and evaluated. No one is asking if you go to church, as virtually everyone does in this region. Oh no, the sort of church you attend is a social marker, and depending on how you answer will determine how well you are treated or accepted. Church has now become a social club. I have nothing against clubs or societies, but I do have a problem with people saying this is what Jesus came to establish.

The Almost Reformation

About fifteen years ago, there was a movement that flashed briefly where people were questioning the way church was being done. For a brief time, this movement (you may have known it as the ’emerging’ or ’emergent’ church) was starting some much-needed discussion in theological circles. Authors like Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Spencer Burke and Tony Jones were all raised some important points. Unfortunately, as quickly as it flashed, the movement died out just as fast. Instead of keeping the conversation focused on what was important such as the lack of authenticity in the church, and the shallowness of our spiritual lives, the conversation started veering off into how post-modern philosophy/theology and whether bean bags should be in churches. Today, no one has any idea who these people are. What could have been a great change, ended up fizzling out, and right now we are exactly back where we started.

For someone who doesn’t wear a suit or speak good ‘Christianese’, the church has little to offer. Everyone calls one another ‘brother’ and ‘sister,’ yet they treat their neighbors better. We call it ‘fellowship’ and yet there is little if any real community going on. For the hundreds and thousands of people like me, we didn’t choose to be de-churched. We feel that the church left us.