A Catholic criticism of neo Protestant church planting

Specialization faith
January 22, 2008

I think that the fragmentation of the Protestant church is accelerating-Study Reveals State of U.S. Church Planting.

Approximately 4,000 churches are being planted in the United States each year – an all-time high…. Church planting is much more varied than in the past with “missional,” “seeker-sensitive,” “purpose-driven” and ethnic church planting models being developed. And these new models were found to produce more evangelistic conversions…”There is this bulge of young adults that come up and begin to create new forms of institutional faith. There will always be a need for new churches and new church plants to serve those needs.”…”Most successful church planters today are specialists who emphasize a particular style of worship or a specific demographic,” he said. “For example, they may exclusively plant house churches or ethnic churches – or perhaps build purpose-driven, seeker or missional churches. And the trend toward specialization is likely to continue as more tools and resources that serve specific types of planting strategies are developed.“

I have to conclude that the individual doesn’t desire to join an existing church. They want to be part of building a “new” church. One tailored to what they perceive what a church could or should be. It’s a classical tail wagging the dog situation. It’s also totally unbibical. The individual doesn’t create the church. Christ calls the individual to be in the church - one that already exists and has existed since Pentecost.

Adding to this is the “multi-site” concept where there is “one” church with multiple-locations model, there is a different band and local leader, but the pastor and sermon is hooked up via satellite to all the local locations. I can’t help but see this as assisting in the further development of the “cult of personality” problem. The pastor as the rock star and the Gospel message is overshadowed or the pastor’s interpretation takes on a greater authority then a Pope has every claimed. And even if the pastor has a healthy does of humilty as soon as he steps down the church fragments or is taken over but someone with nothing but career enhancement in mind.

Another irony is that this will create more diversity (as in more options for the individual worshipper) but it will in fact create a belief so specialized that tolerance of other forms may be perceived as liberal or heretical simply because there is little held in common. The individual is never challenged to confront their own belief system, when it comes in conflict with their perceived idea of what scripture means, becuase they can simply hook up with a different church which will offer them what conforms to their beliefs. Failing that they simply plant their own church.

In fact, the idea of denominations in this trend seems to lose its means drowned in a sea of creedless Purpose Driven cultural relevance rather than theology.

As a Catholic, I don’t see this as a positive. There simply won’t be any way to seek common ground with Protestants. Denominations and non-denominations were splintered badly enough, but these forces will destroy even that common ground. The bible will hopefully be THE common ground, but after that you’ll never know when a person says they are a “Christian” if they hold to Dr. Phil theology, or some local mega or Giga church and their brand of THE truth.

At least when someone use to say they were a Baptist, Methodist, or Anglican I had some knowledge of what they believed in and what we held in common. Now I have no idea and I frankly don’t have the time to understand all the various splinter variations of what is “essential non-essentials.

Me: Concerning the reference above at the beginning of the article to the study on Church Planting in the U.S. - see the link at the bottom of this post to read the article (not long) on the study so as to better understand where this person is coming from.

So what do you think? I may add that this one Catholic who I know is a very committed believer in Christ and a good person. No problem there. But I think his statements also contain common themes and threads contained in Catholic theology toward the one true church and its maintenance. I don't agree with all of his comments. He wonders what new forms of institutional faith mean and I can see areas where he may have misunderstandings but maybe there is something in them worth talking about to some degree.

[url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071115/30104_Study_Reveals_State_of_U.S._Church_Planting.htm]Study Reveals State of U.S. Church Planting[/url]

([i]Moderator Edit: Recrafted the link to reduce the page spread[/i])

I think a lot of good points are made here.

Church planting is what we all want of course, but they must be based on Gospel truth. Too many churches are started and Christ is left outside. It's a tragedy of eternal significance.

I pray however that God will raise people up within them that will be light to the good people who attend them.

Our Lord in His grace warns these churches clearly in scripture. The passage below seemed harsh to me initially, but when considered in the light of it's eternal significance I've come to realise that it is filled with His love.

[i] 14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Rev Ch3 v14-22 KJV[/i]

docs wrote:

The bible will hopefully be THE common ground...

You said it. :-)

Contained within the article I linked was:

"While denominational growth has been on the decline, church planting has become the cutting edge [i][b]for reaching more people for Christ[/b][/i]."

"Now, pastors or people right out of seminary have access to a growing number of church planting networks and resources to help them jump start their mission [i][b]to reach communities and the unchurched[/b][/i]."

"Church planting has become a "preferred ministry option" and a primary ministry focus when it comes [i][b]to reaching the lost[/b][/i], according to Stetzer."

"All these new models were found to produce [i][b]more evangelistic conversions[/b][/i]."

"Some mainline denominations are rediscovering church planting, says Setzer. Some of the national churches that have a church planting emphasis include the Reformed Church in America, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian Church in America, the Baptist General Conference, and the Missionary Church." Me: Those hardly sound like a group of people who would let the Gospel become overshadowed in their efforts. Hardly.

"They're seeing [i][b]North America as a mission field needing to be evangelized and re-congregationalized[/b][/i], Stetzer says."

Me: I think my Catholic friend may see these people as going out to start new denominations or communions. The phrase, "create new forms of the institutional church", in the article bothered him. I think perhaps he may not see that it may not mean what he thinks. It may mean things like just because our church worships or does things like this it doesn't mean in a new location or among a different ethnic group that things would have to be done exactly the same. I think he is worried also that perhaps the non-denominational aspect (anathema to Catholics) may be taken too far by congregations believing that "Our local church leaders and our church have no need to be submitted to anyone." It may not be the case in all new churches that have been planted but perhaps in some cases.

I don't see anything wrong with making a new and massive effort to reach souls for Christ and plant new churches. Proper forms of authority etc. need to be remembered and practiced so as to take the "lone ranger" aspect out of efforts. Besides that, who can really complain in my opinion. My friend is not against conversions by any means but all this activity is a little unsettling for him and I don't think it needs to be altogether. Things are never perfect.

"The Lord added daily to the church such as should be saved." Amen!

"Doc"

"The Future of the Catholic Church in Britain",

Tom Horwood said:

"The Catholic Church in Britain is suffering from a terminal decline in membership, irregular commitment among the remnant, and, in the wake of persistent child abuse scandals, a leadership of bishops and priests that has toppled from its pedestal with a mighty crash."

A study carried out by Anthony Spencer of the Pastoral Research Centre covering period from 1963 to 1991 has found that:

Mass attendance has slumped by 40 per cent,
Baptisms by 50 per cent,
Marriages by 60 per cent,
Confirmations by 60 per cent,
Convertions fell by 55 per cent
First Communions by nearly 40 per cent.

It describes these figures as the “greatest pastoral and demographic catastrophe” since the Reformation of the 16th century. Mr Spencer collated the figures from statistics gathered by parish priests and dioceses, and published by the Church since 1911.

At the present rate of decline, the number of people attending Mass on Sundays will drop to zero in 2035.

What alternative do you offer my Catholic friend.

I could offer him a long historical Protestant concern to reach out to the lost. It's not that Catholics haven't done so and don't believe in doing so. But I think some of the modern evangelical outreach efforts are sort of puzzling to some Catholics. They see it and understand it (not entirely in my opinion) but it is still sort of unsettling in a way in their view. They don't have mass evangelization efforts in the way Protestants do. I hope I am not attributing things to Catholic brethren that that may not be so but I don't think I am altogether wrong. I have no problems with more churches being planted where the true gospel is being preached. It doesn't have to be my certain stream or denomination either.

Let me ask you why are you a Catholic?

Is it because you where born into a family that where catholic?

Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin I am a Christian because of this work of conviction by Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit filled me I ask I to be changed and I spoke in a diffrent tounge. The Kingdom of God set up a throne in my heart and Jesus is my King. He has a plan and a purpose for my life. He wants me to go to the lost. Know that Jesus reigns in my heart I have a love for the lost.

I recieved the Holy Spirit I have been set free from violence, from drugs, from anger, I don't chase after women. He has given me a wife a family. Everything I have is because of Jesus.

I have in me the answer to the worlds problems Jesus Christ. I care for a lost and the dying world.

We will follow Jesus,
Though we may be small;
Gladly may we listen
To His loving call.

Little ones may follow,
Follow all the way.
Jesus bids us follow
Every passing day.

We will follow Jesus,
Everywhere He leads;
Show Him unto others
By our loving deeds.

We will follow Jesus,
To the lands afar,
Till each tribe and nation
See the “Morning Star.”

Just to follow Jesus,
Makes the day seem bright,
Fills the heart with singing,
Through the darkest night.

Jesus in us compells us to go to a lost a dying world.

I have to be honest that there men who have came into our midst claiming to be like us who know not Jesus who we serve. Who seek to line there pockets, who seek to lift there name up instead of Jesus, who preach a false gospel, a gospel of greed, a gospel with no power to set the captives free, a gospel that tickles the ears but does not pierce the heart. A gospel with no repentance no conviction of sin.

1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness

If I have, I didn't mean to come across as critical of the church planting endeavors. I support them. See my post near below. I am not a Catholic myself even though I grew up in the Catholic communion. I explained in my first post on this subject that I was sharing comments critical of this type of church planting from a certain Catholic perspective. I thought it might engender some conversation as to where the criticsm might be wrong which I think it is. But if not that's okay. Every post doesn't get a desired result. My post right below contained my own opinions as a non Catholic.