LifeChurch.tv came to my town a couple of years ago. They built a big building on the outskirts of town. It stands alone in what was a cow pasture. The landscape around the building hasn’t been much altered, not yet anyway. No artfully arrayed trees or bushes soften the building’s outlines or disguise its mass. There’re only multiple entrances and a large parking lot to let you know that it’s a place where people congregate. The building is incongruous; it erupts out of the ground like a monument. It’s not part of a neighborhood. If not for the LifeChurh.tv logos, you might be forgiven for thinking the place was some kind of sports and fitness complex.

The place draws a pretty good crowd on Sunday mornings. I had occasion to drive past one Sunday just as services were ending. The two-lane country road the church borders clearly wasn’t designed to handle that amount of traffic. People put up with it I guess. So the place must offer something people want. It’s not as if there weren’t already plenty of churches to choose from in my town.

I’ve never attended a LifeChurch.tv service, but one of my friends has. She and her husband were looking for a church to which they could take their kids. Neither parent is a firm believer; both are what I would describe as casual agnostics. But both felt that some form of instruction in public and private virtue would benefit their young kids. And, not least of all, neither wanted the children to be the odd ones out when all the other kids at school were talking about going to church. So they began looking for some congregation that didn’t demand too much in terms of belief or participation. They didn’t want to commit to a dogma or a community. They wanted to be able to take what they needed or wanted with few strings attached. I guess LifeChurch.tv gave them that. From what I understand there’s a lot of music and celebration, a few prayers and other items of church business conducted by a local pastor, and big screen sermon beamed in from the leader’s Oklahoma City church. I’m told it’s all typically fun, spiritually uplifting, and life affirming. No contentious political issues are discussed, there’s not much talk of narrow paths, the emphasis is on redemption rather than sin and damnation, and appeals for support are low key.

Of course my friends have only been attending the LifeChurch.tv services for a few months, so maybe they haven’t yet seen all there is to see. But to me it sounds as if the fast food analogy is fairly apt. You won’t find a lot of unique, local flavor in these churches but you pretty much know what you’re going to get. And what you’ll get has been designed to be broadly appealing. It’s convenient and you don’t have to worry that the place will go under without your patronage. I can see the appeal, I guess. I wouldn’t want to live exclusively on that fare, mind you, and I wouldn’t recommend that diet to anyone else. But plenty of people seem to like it.

Mr. Park, you are, no doubt, an intelligent and caring humanist, but the reporting found in your article reflects the same shallow analysis it purports to reveal about the makeup of the modern church. I am not a minister, but I am a Christian, so these thoughts may appear colored to you, but nonetheless, I feel compelled to offer an alternative, and more accurate, explanation for the rapid expansion of this concept.

Popularity and vain ambition play little role in a leader's decision to franchise his/her ministry. Ministry is not a career one enters to achieve self-satisfaction and aggrandizement. There is no argument that self-promoting evangelists exist, leveraging every possible form of media, but they are the great exception to the millions of dedicated pastors, preachers and rabbis performing the yeoman's work of encouraging others to adopt and exhibit biblical principals.

While most toil in relative obscurity, on occasion, a particularly succesful leader may find itself challenged with few options other than to franchise. His/her popularity arose precisely because they exhibit outstanding skills as communicators of the universal truths of the Bible while remaining modest and unpretentious, and not, as you intimate, out of a desire to make the church "big". None of them would claim responsibility for their success, and none would say they alone can fulfill all of the pastorly obligations of a large congregation. They give as they have been gifted.

However, many of them do provide the philosophical leadership that recognizes that the modern church must be more sophisticated, engaging, and multi-faceted than ever before. They understand that America's greatest challenge is that in response to the blessings of our prosperity, we are enticed to check-out our souls and check-in on possessions and entertainment. On a good day, Sunday morning services compete with lake houses, golf courses, day-spas and world-wide travel. It makes straight-away sense for services to be involving and compelling to reach fringe believers/seekers, whose uncertainty centers on the viewpoint that their lives are probably just fine without God.

These succesful strategies need make no apology for impacting lesser parishes. For those frequent attenders who feel the sermon is the main event of their faith, well, that's just sad, as well as antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. What you, Mr. Park, failed to reveal about Andy Stanley's church, and most others of this ilk, is that while the multi-media elements of the service provide a draw, it's really the sacrificial, voluntary involvement in the outreach of the organization that keeps its congregates engaged long-term, by developing the character of their heart and demonstrating neighborly concern. Ultimately, members are directed to enter into small groups that meet privately to encourage and instruct one another; to live life together at an intimate level and to develop an authentic and fulfilling relationship with each other, and the maker of all things. In this process the modern media-church fulfills the mission of the New Testament, to live life with Christ as our example, and to invest our God-given resources in improving the lives of others.

As to Mr. Hipps's critique, coming from one who helped further develop one of the ultimate brands on planet earth, it is no surprise that he views video franchising of the church as a brand exercise, but one need only look at the church's motivation to realize the alternatives are few and startlingly ineffective in today's media-saturated culture. Most churches might selfishly prefer to remain small, and self-serving, but that is not what the Gospel calls us to do.

I challenge any of Mr. Park's readers to attend one of these "unorthodox" churches. Talk openly about your faith, or lack thereof, with its members. I believe you'll find them non-judgmental, sincerely interested in hearing your story, and eager to reflect why their relationship with Christ matters to them, and how the church has helped them to grow it.

Regards,

TList

I am the pastor of a small church in suburban Chicago. For 38 years all my pastorates have been 125 people, or fewer. These small churches require a servant of the Lord to disciple them, love them, and marry and bury them. My desire to perform this mission wasn't the result of marketing surveys and customer demographics. It was the call of God upon my life. I've tried to see the wisdom behind video "campuses." I simply can't taste the nurture of this video pablum. People need to wrestle with the deep concerns of life, and struggle with God's Word, like Jacob, wrestling with God in search of blessing. This divine encounter isn't possible in any encounter less than fleshly. We work out our personal issues, not by being told how much like a champion we are, but in how much like Adam we are; at war with our old nature. The arena for this match is not, and never will be, a comfy seat in a plush auditorium with a carefully crafted video preacher standing six stories tall before us. Each child of God must confront our humanity in some very physical ways, as well as spiritual. Who helps this process? Video Pastor, or a flesh and blood servant who wrestles just as does the one in the pew? When the time to die comes to the video congregant, will he be attended by a Super Pastor? When heartache rends the family, will a video apparation comfort them in their loss? No. They'll ask me for help in that day. And I'll be there. Where will the video pastor be? I know the answer -- there'll be a video series to help with that need.. Makes me wonder -- Would you like fries with that?

Congratulations on the checkmark!

"Makes me wonder -- Would you like fries with that?"

Excellant post, checkmark worthy.

ColdRainAndWind:

There will be a video series from the mother chuch (which your local one has paid for) and a small community group with a local volunteer leader to make sure you watch it... and understand it... and to KNOW deep down that your video pastor truly and deeply cares about you and your problems, and everyone other chuch member who has gone through, or will go through the same.

(See? he's been so thoughtful as to have recorded a somewhat generic self help video for it!. No... WAIT... it can be INTERACTIVE...and CUSTOMIZABLE as a computer file... )

Dear Cold Wind,

I agree with your statement of the need for a flesh and blood Pastor to be with people in the time of need as well as to Marry, and council. I myself have had to bury members of my family as well as members of my church. Nothing has been more rewareding to me than to see lives changed and souls won to the Lord.

My week is filled with countless calls and meetings with people who need to talk or need help. I also visit my body members, and am there in thier peak moments as well as thier valley moments. I also attend to all my ministry duties that God has called me to, just like He has called you to.

Did I mention that I am one of those "campus" pastors, you know the ones that you insist are not there for people like you are. Also I recieve from God...not from the video but from thew word of God. It's funny how most of the Pastors who seem to be so strongly against campus ministries are the main reason why my chuch is full on Sunday mornings...I have been told more times than I can count that the reason a person attends my church is because they didnt feel wanted or loved in the "traditional" churches. So they choose to come to my church because they say they feel wanted and loved

I have experience Pastoring in a traditional sense as well as in a "campus" sense and I struggled with many of the same things you mentioned...but then I realized that if church as usual was doing it right...then why were so many people turning from faith and leaving churches? The answer is that the church has become an old stagnent place where tradition has taken place of The Holy spirit leading. Where doing it "the way we always have" has become more important than doing what is needed. Wasn't it Paul who said I have become all things to all men so that I might win some? Shouldnt we focus more on the needs of the people than the need to attack another ministry?

I will close with this point. I am not trying to blast you or those who feel as you do...in fact I respect that you have a conviction and feel led to lead the way you do...all I ask is that you extend that same respect to those of us who are called by the Same God to do something new and different. Remember Paul was an looked down upon by the Apostles because they didn't "like" how he ministered...yet If I recall he was simply ministering as Christ told him to. We all serve an Awesome God and we need to stop looking down our noses at people who minister differently, yet very effectively. My church went from a church of 50 in a rural area to now a church of 200 in short time from switching to a video message. God speaks and His word will not return void even if I hear it from a video screen.

Let's remember we are all different parts of the same body...and you can't expect a hand to do the same thing as a foot. Different calls, different gifts...same spirit.

Hi havelock,

You wrote: "I'm told it's all typically fun, spiritually uplifting, and life affirming. No contentious political issues are discussed, there's not much talk of narrow paths, the emphasis is on redemption rather than sin and damnation,"

Check out the last two messages from the website from the current series "So you're dead, now what?". Hell is discussed as well as "the narrow path" in regards to the way to Heaven.

Also getting involved and serving is talked about extensively at LifeChurch. They let you come and kick the tires but it becomes real clear, real fast, that if you like what is going on then you are encouraged to serve.

Feel free to check out the message or service online but I think many misconceptions will be addressed with becoming familiar with the subject. Take care.

~jason

Your dedication to your congregation is noble, even remarkable. I am certain that God is blessing those under your care. However, I must say that I am struck by the insistence that one's spiritual guide, mentor, instructor, counselor, brother, teacher, partner, helper and confidant, must all be the same person. I don't recall reading anything of the sort in the Bible. I do recall Paul quizzing the church at Corinth; asking if it was in his name that they were baptized. That is, do not confuse me, the messenger as the message. I'm certain Christ used an analogy of the body requiring contributions (not fiscal) from all of its members to function most as He wished.

I can speak from experience in stating that just because a church watches a video pastor during some segment of its Sunday morning service, does not mean that marriages, funerals, birthdays, baptisms, communion, confirmations, graduations, divorces, and all manner of human triumph and tragedy go unaccompanied by spiritual companionship. I would say that my "big" church actually provides much more relevant and deeply personal guidance than my traditional church of 250 members ever did or could.

Look, a mega-church is not the ultimate for everyone. No argument there. Just wanting to point out that this article is misleading and inaccurate in its construct and ethos.

Just wanting to point out that if you were selling any product other than religion you would have already been flagged for abuse as a spammer.

Do you suppose the Freditors have a quota of checkmarks that they’re required to hand out?

I hope you and yours are doing well.

Cheers.

As I noted in my top post, my description of the LifeChurch services was based on what I was told by my friend in casual conversation. Strictly hearsay, you might say. So I agree with you that anyone with an interest should check things out for themselves.

Of course what my friend described to me related more to general areas of emphasis rather than to specifics. I’d be very surprised if any more or less mainstream Protestant denomination didn’t have something to say about sin, damnation, and the narrow path. And I expect LifeChurch’s congregants are indeed encouraged to support the church and participate in its various activities. My friends simply had the impression that as newcomers weren’t pressured to commit in quite the same way they had been by some other congregations. Also, they seemed to feel it was a little easier to remain somewhat anonymous in the larger crowd. But I haven’t talked to them about it lately – maybe their feelings have changed.

In any case, I have to say that I think the most interesting and even poignant element of the story is how my friends felt more of less compelled to attend some church just so their children wouldn’t feel like oddballs. That doesn’t seem quite right to me. But then I’m not one of those who believes that going to church is intrinsically good and any reason one has for going is a good reason.

Thanks again and take care.

I recently attended a video venue of Northpoint Church. It was at Brown's Bridge Community Church in Cumming, GA. Let me first say that I have been attending churches for over fifty years. I am a fifty-seven year old male. I grew up in small baptist churches but have relocated to GA and through all this I have been a member of Mega-Baptist churches in ARK, Non-Den Churches, a Presbetyrian Church (currently)- at Perimter Church in Duluth, GA (may be one of the greatest in the world). So I have been around the block. The service I attended was on the big screen and yes a band was on stage (great group) a local pastor made us feel welcome, etc. This day Louie Giglio was the speaker and I won't go into the sermon but let me say that it didn't matter that it was a video. The group of worshippers this day were so quiet as the sermon progressed. In the end there was not a dry eye and I say people kneeling at their seats (no invitation given) it was simply God moving and touching lives. It did not matter if Louie were there or not.....God was there. I attended the first service that day and I drove home and got my wife and we attended the second service (yes I sat through the same identical service and saw the same identical impact). So I would say that God can move in these venues and lives can be changed. If one attends a church because a pastor is present and you really love to hear him....this will not last...it takes community and the Northpoint Group of churches works hard to establish small groups and these are the key to a lasting relationship with a group of believers....so I say it is our duty to always utilize all tools and technology available to further the kingdom.

my wife and i attended a video venue of a mega church for a year and volunteered with the high school kids and found that it was one of the best experiences we've had at reaching out to people and meeting real needs. In the 2.5 years since, the church hired us both on staff to better represent the church locally. With soaring gas prices and housing woes here in Florida, it's been a perfect solution for our community. in many ways, this can be a very effective way not just to 'do church', but to 'be the church'. sure, for 25 minutes a week, the people watch a message on video most Sundays, but children's groups, youth groups, support groups, young married groups and others meet for an additional 600+ minutes each week. People aren't just watching a video. They are able to connect with a smaller and more intimate crowd, and more congregants are allowed to be part of the leadership. I applaud this article for acknowledging some success stories. And some of the comments for acknowledging that real people with true gifts are allowed to operate in those gifts because churches like these are expanding.

A pastor cannot effectivly pastor that many people. A shepeherd cannot shepherd that many sheep.

I want to attend a church where the pastor knows me by name and I know him.Where he prays for me and God talks to him about the needs of the congregation.

These churches appeal to this genereation who refuses to make commitments or spend time being a part of anything. They do not want to get involved in their spiritual needs. Many of them spend more time on a soccoer or baseball field than they do in church.

Interesting the Willow Creek and others are standing room only, yet they have done all that they can do finacially as far as building goes???? If people are giving according to the Bible, there should be plenty of $ to build. However I do not believe these mega churches are pleasing to God.