Church Growth Pastoral Idolatry
Over the past several years, I have written much on the idolatry of the church growth movement. If a church is mesmerized by church growth, they will have their own silly, unbiblical jargon. They will be led by young, ambitious people who want to change the world (Eccl 1:9). Jesus, as they call him, only wants to increase numbers like a multi-national corporation. Simply put, church growth is a product of the world, permeating the church.
Over time, these goat factories have produced offspring of their own kind. They create vision instead of singing, “Be Thou My Vision.” Numbers of goats in attendance is the prime measure of success or failure. When numbers decline, it is imperative to change the programs and search for an ever-younger pastor, preferably of the hipster version.
Never satisfied with Christ, their contrived model for church growth replaces biblical teaching meant for sanctification unto holiness. Instead of a quest for the knowledge of Christ, which alone transforms the born again into maturing children of their heavenly Father, the obsession with enterprise success prevails. The result is better entertainment on Sunday, an extension of social programs for activists — in fact, there is something for everyone because that is the corporate outreach target market.
Who will lead the idolatrous church, obsessed with numerical growth? You must have a man (or woman because they don’t care what the Bible says in 1 Cor 14:34–35; 1 Tim 2:9–15) who believes everyone needs Jesus, regardless of which Jesus they have created. A popular version of Jesus is one who loves everyone just as they are. Jesus just wants to intentionally connect with everyone. He, too, is hoping everyone gets saved.
Reaching everyone, everywhere, and at all points in history (yes, Judas Iscariot gets saved is some versions of the church growth model), is the mission. It is imperative that the Bible not get in the way, so themes must be imported by “woke” pastors, with degrees in psychology and philosophy.
Knowing the human mind and behavior is not enough for the lead pastor, however. He is not just a Christian counselor, but he must be equipped to run the business, too. Having a proven track record in growth statistics is essential for the pastor, leading the idolatrous church. It is all about performance, not faithfulness or the care of souls.
Having created the vision for everything bigger, the entertainment and programs must now be managed for growth. Therefore, the young, leader/pastor must be a people person. His charismatic personality, that of an angel of light, will attract warm bodies to the show, and having won their hearts to the movement, the pay day soon follows.
Power and big money follow the successful goat herder. Having reached the masses, the mega man of the church reaps the harvest of prosperity he has subtly been preaching (read Ezekiel 34). This is often achieved by a book deal, to sell unsuccessful pastors and churches on the superiority of his version of, “This is how we did it, and how you can do it, too!”
One must only read his or her Bible to see how foreign all of this tomfoolery is to the true Christian experience. Leading change in the mobilization of goats does not afford much time for study of the Scriptures, however. Human potential and capacity requires an attitude of, “Let’s do something more for Jesus.” With a sprinkling of biblical jargon, the idolatrous pastor can “unleash your spiritual potential.”
Successful growth idolaters will soon be members of the fastest growing church in America (a title used by wannabes who are not members of the largest church in America). Therefore, they must become relentless until they are both! The yoke is heavy and the burden is weighty on the wide way to self-glory.
Church growth models eventually unhitch themselves from the Old Testament, having already unhitched the church from Israel. Therefore, the prophets’ voluminous charges against Israel (the church) in the Old Testament have no place for the conviction of today’s idolatrous church. “We are not like those simpleton Israelites in the picture book,” they say.
Biblical ignorance thrives, while church numbers grow. Ironically, the people get exactly what they want to hear, from the man of the church growth model that the church growth model now produces. Instead of receiving the loving discipline of the church’s one and only leader, our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 23:10; Heb 12:4–11), God turns the idolatrous church over to the reprobate mind of the church growth pastor, who is an idolater like his flock of goats. This is the judgment of God.
Christian, if you are a member of the whore of Babylon (Rev 18), then heed the words of your Shepherd, “Come out of her My people,” for you are occupying unholy ground. When God executes His vision on those who have created their own vision, then those under His judgment and wrath will wish they really were dreaming dreams.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 30, 2022
