By Greg DesVoignes

Part 1: Sciences, Marketing, Surveys, and Demographics: Following God? January 1, 2000

"They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them" 1John 4:5

In this issue and in Parts 1 and 2, we will present an analytical and biblical view of what has been termed "The Church Growth Movement" [CGM] and its counter part, "The Purpose Driven Church". Thousands of churches have become involved in using the techniques of this movement over the past ten years in efforts to cause the numbers in their churches increase along with personal growth. But are there problems with it?

Have churches unknowingly compromised with the world? Have they unknowingly aligned with sources and techniques common to the New Age, but not common to the Bible?

CGM FUNDAMENTALS

A cursory look alone at the CGM indicates there is a problem concerning how the body of Christ is built, and what is being used to build it. It has been defined by its own experts as, "A group of pastors, denominational executives... who allow their ministries to be governed by Donald McGavran and fellow participants in the CGM". Peter Wagner, Win Arn, others, Church Growth: State Of The Art, Tyndale, 1989, pg. 284.

What are the principles of the CGM that churches and ministries open themselves up to be governed by? Church Growth participants do not refer to their principles as Biblical truths, but "worldwide truths which, when properly applied with other principles contribute significantly to the growth of a church". Ibid., pg. 284. Therefore, ministries that follow the principles of this movement are actually being governed by the philosophies that the world holds to, and not God and his Word.

What world truths or philosophies are churches submitting to as governing their ministries and causing their numbers to increase? "Church Growth" itself is defined as, "striving to combine the eternal principles of God's word with the best insights of contemporary social and behavior sciences...". Ibid. This translates into churches being ruled by, and following theories. These include the theories of sociology, anthropology, psychology, statistics, marketing, cultural relevance, and the ideal within each one.

So what is happening is that churches who follow the CGM are incorporating the same "sciences" and tactics that the corporate world is using to attract consumers, and much more.

Through a slow transformation process, the structure and character of these churches eventually manifest a "business" and "entertainment" looks. Something they say is more culturally relevant and appealing to the modern "baby boomer". This transformation process is sold through sermons, staff and lay leadership training, and required membership classes and "accountability" groups, with materials and "consultants", primarily out of Willow Creek Community Church and Fuller Institute of Church Growth.

However, as we look at scripture, we find that man's techniques of the world cannot build a church that God warned us not to follow the principles of the world, and not to add to His word. So let's compare what the CGM says, with scripture.

WRONG PRINCIPLES FROM THE WORLD

First, the CGM experts note that the principles of God are eternal. That is true. And since God's principles are eternal, i.e., what was said, and what worked almost 2,000 years ago and before, must apply to today. Thus, what happened to the eternal principle, "and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved". Acts 2:47, or "...who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling"? 1 Tim 1:9.

It appears to me that since the eternal principles here are [1] that it is God who called us by His spirit, [2] that the calling was a holy calling, [3] and that it was the power of God that added to the church; then this should also apply today.

Did Jesus call his disciples with sociology, psychology, anthropology, marketing, or any "world wide truth"? What is holy about these things? Most of them contradict the word anyway. Did Jesus preach a social gospel, an evolutionary gospel according to anthropology, or train his disciples to use the principles of the world along with His eternal principles? Then why do would we need the principles of the CGM? We don't!

Secondly, another eternal principle of God that Jesus said is, "Upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Matt 16:18. Upon whom is the church to be built, and who will build it? It is Jesus who builds His church and it is upon His eternal words from which it is built. Oh, but it must be all right to help it along. After all, we live in the 90's [now, the New Millenium]; we are a different culture today, right? In an apostate sense, yes!

This brings us to the third eternal principle. In Exodus 25, which is a foreshadow of the church and how it is to be built, God gave Moses the materials and the plan by which he was supposed to build the tabernacle saying, "And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it". Thus it is God himself who shows us how the church is built, not the world, and as He instructs in His word, this is how it is supposed to be built. [Read Acts 1-2]

God says in a fourth eternal principle, "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. So keep them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people". The principles of the CGM are in opposition to what God has said. For even they admit that they are "striving to combine" the ways of the world into the word of God.

A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S WORD

Why is this happening today? Why is it that these CGM experts can call God's principles eternal, but then reject them as being relevant and powerful today? Christian writer and preacher John McArthur assessed it well. He said, "Contemporary evangelism has been beguiled and sabotaged by a ruinous lack of confidence in God's word... They have accepted the notion that scripture does not contain all we need to minister in these complex times. So they turn to human expertise in the fields of psychology, business, government, politics, entertainment, or whatever they think might supply some recipe for success that's lacking in scripture". John McArthur, Our Sufficiency In Christ, Word, 1991, pg. 117.

Israel had this same problem and frequently took assistance and combined the "best insights of contemporary social and behavioral sciences" from the world of the nations around them, including those from Babylon. For while they were supposed to go in and take the land God had given them by His power, they themselves were many times converted to following the world. The results were disastrous. They were seduced, spiritually turned away from God, and then taken over and ruled by the very systems they were intrigued by. As we will see, the same thing is happening in this system!

A fifth eternal principle from God asks, "To whom then will you liken God?" Or what likeness will you compare with Him". Isaiah 40:18. In verse 12 God shows the arrogant ignorance of man, by comparing the heavens with the span of His hand, and in verse 22 compares the inhabitants of the earth to grasshoppers that he has provided a tent for. In other words, what can we grasshoppers come up with that can compare with what this great and mighty God has done and will do among the "best insights" of the works of the world? Is it God's word that needs assistance from man? Or is it man that needs everything from God? The CGM misses the point.

THE FRONG IN THE KETTLE

The transformation of a church is accomplished over a period of several months to a few years, the latter recommended by the experts. In fact, it is interesting that some of these experts recommend that pastors who desire to implement these philosophies and techniques do not try to transform their current churches, but start a new church based on these philosophies. Why? It has been well proven that this movement has destroyed churches. Even though they know this and state this, they still provide the techniques to transform a current existing church!

It usually starts with a trip to a seminar sponsored by a mega church such as Willow Creek in the Chicago area. Church pastors and staffs attend a "dynamic" public service, listen to speakers give ideas on how to make a church grow, and then get an eye full of the programs and the impressive buildings and their facilities. They come back excited about what they have seen and learned. Possibly a few months later, new ideas and terminology will start arising. The pastor may present a "vision" for the church.

THE CHANGE MASTERS

However in CGM methodology, presenting the new vision requires tearing down traditional Christianity. Not that some tradition should not be done away with, i.e., traditions of men added to biblical worship, which is worthless, but this is quite different.

Jim Dethmar of Willow Creek says, "Change only occurs when there is significant disillusionment with the status quo. This is 'Change Theory' ". So, that is what begins to happen. Tearing down subtly begins. Jim Dethmar gives a suggestion on how to do this when he says, "...a simplified view of how to do change is find something that is wrong, it might be a little one, and rub it raw, irritate it". {Willow Creek Seminar Tape} And so the "rub" begins.

This new vision has to do with being culturally relevant. You may hear that the church needs to create a non-threatening environment, in order that it may attract seekers. That non-threatening environment may mean several changes to accommodate the modern "seeker". There may be discussion as to whether or not it may be offensive to a seeker if you raise your hands while worshipping. Sunday services will change to seeker services for unchurched Harry. Messages will drift away from expository verse by verse teachings out of the Bible, to topical subjects. Not that topical teaching is wrong, but you will hear less and less of Biblical teachings and more use of psychology, sociology, statistics, etc., things you get out of modern college classes and business relation seminars.

For instance, you may start to notice more quotes from business leaders, psychologists and others such as Peter Drucker [Father of Modern Business], psychologist M. Scott Peck, or Stephen Covey [the latter two are New Age idealists]. You will hear less of messages of repentance and the cross, but more of felt needs, along the lines of Abraham Maslow's theory of "hierarchy of needs" philosophy: Get the needs taken care of first, and people will come to God [quite opposite of "Seek ye first, the kingdom of God..."].

MAKING A CORPORATION

More business aspects will arise. The church will come up with a Mission Statement, develop a Strategy, a Statement of Purpose, ascribe to Excellency, and make a call to Social Action or to be a conscience to the world.

You may hear of the need to create community, and the need to use demographics to do so. Accountability groups will form [called "quality circles", or "Peer Pressure groups" in the Corporate world], and will be used along with Cell groups and ministry teams to monitor and bring about behavioral changes, and frequently stress the "vision" and involvement.

GOSPEL OF SOCRATES?

You will start hearing the term facilitator being used. Home fellowships and other ministries will no longer have a leader or teacher, but a "team" facilitator.

I have searched and searched, but I cannot find the gift of "facilitator" in the Bible. But I have in secular business and leadership books, and other places. In fact, one ministry facilitator notes that the concept is the "Socratic" method of teaching... saying, "I'm just a facilitator. Instead of lecturing, I try to help them discover for themselves what all this means". {Daily Herald, May 18, 1988}

Socrates used philosophy not the theology of the Bible, which was evident by his attributing evil to ignorance, not sin. Socrates was not exactly an Isaiah or Peter or Paul, but his ways are some of the "world wide truths" the CGM combines.

Along this same thought, Dethmar suggests not having a senior pastor, suggesting that churches decentralize, utilizing teams. In The CGM philosophy, the vision and its aspects run the church through teams and facilitators who must follow this vision. This is strange because Willow Creek has a senior pastor, Bill Hybels. However even he says that the church runs fine without him having to be there.

These concepts are also found in the business world. One TQM [Total Quality Management] philosophy for leadership is "...to be coaches rather than controllers of people, and to facilitate things rather than mandate them". {Effective Management Systems, Seminar material, Leadership Skills}. Since God calls us to teach, preach, lead, shepherd, feed, exhort, rebuke, and many others, this whole facilitator concept contradicts the Word. It is not a "vision" that guides the body of Christ, it is Christ through His Word and Spirit; and definitely not Socrates.

MEMBERS ONLY

Membership applications are suggested for those who want to become members. Those who do must have had regular attendance for one year, consistent participation, attend membership classes, have a personal interview, and sign a Statement of Commitment each year. One of the reasons given for this formality is "...to implement the principles of accountability and commitment to the local body of Christ, as defined in the New Testament and practiced in the early churches..." (Willow Creek Community Church Structure Of Ministry, pg. 11).

I cannot seem to find this formal membership and signing of a Statement of Commitment in the New Testament, nor accountability other than to Christ. I have had some parents tell me that their teens are becoming disillusioned with their youth groups because they have become more of social groups and use peer pressure accountability to change their behavior. I asked one youth pastor who uses the "accountability" concept, if changes in some of the youth in his group were from a heart changed by God, or from the pressure of conforming to the group. He did not know, and did not know if the outward changes were real, or a show because of group peer pressure.

Businesses who have adopted incorporating accountability "quality circles" or "peer pressure groups" in ethics and values programming among their employees, know that it is the peer pressure to conform to the group that forces an outward change.

Computers are suggested to track class attendance records, tithing, and behavior changes of members [sounds familiar to the Outcome Based Education system]. Why become a signed formal committed member? The CGM people say that this type of membership has benefits. Hmm, it seems that just being a part of the body of Christ isn't enough for membership or benefits. I have not decided yet if this follows the cults or Costco. It is also similar to "Partnering" in the business world where companies sign agreements to do business with another and adopt their values and receive benefits as well.

Are these all aspects of business? Yes. Modern business and business leadership books contain the same teachings and philosophies.

PLEASING THE CUSTOMER

Next will come the demographic studies, a form of sociology used in marketing research. The church may start doing studies of their surrounding area by the use of surveys distributed in the area. Church members may be given surveys to give to friends. These surveys have questions designed to find out why people don't go to church, and find out what would make them come to church. The purpose then, is like market researchers, change and design the church to fit what would attract the population.

But then this marketing may go another step further. It seems the CGM suggests picking Target Groups, i.e. what part of the population should be targeted to get into church? It usually consists of targeting an age range, but may go beyond this.

Bill Hybels, a forerunner of the CGM and pastor of Willow Creek Community Church says that, "The messages must have high user value... When unchurched Harry comes out here for a service, he's going to be asking, 'What value does my being here have for my life?' So in preparing messages, we keep asking ourselves, 'So what? Jesus Christ was born to a virgin - so what?' That's the question Harry's going to be asking." Chicago Daily Herald, May 19, 1988 "Suburban Living. I don't know about you, but it appears to me that the Bible, the Word of God, the "sword of the Spirit", is not some product that is developed to have "high user value". It also appears to me that if a pastor is anointed by the Spirit of God, and is a vessel of God, then if he teaches out of the Word of God, the Word of itself is of a great value to anyone who hears it.

Several years ago I had to attend a three-day Total Quality Management seminar [referred to as TQM], which was put on by a management consultant for managers at my place of employment. The first day of the seminar it was De JA Vu. I started seeing the same things I experienced while in a church that had been involved in the CGM [such as what we just covered], and also in many of the books I had studied while researching the CGM.

I began asking the consultant questions about business leaders and books that I had seen in some of Fuller Institute of Church Growth and Willow Creek advertising materials. He was familiar with the books stating that TQM also used the philosophies of some of the writers I mentioned. During a break, the then Director of the place I work asked me what had motivated me to study modern business aspects. I told him that these same principles were starting to come into churches. He had a most remarkable response for a non-Christian. "I thought a church was supposed to be run by the Holy Spirit". Interesting concept!

I suddenly had a thought that God might be pleased if Christian businessmen allowed their businesses to be run by the Holy Spirit! Naw, silly thought. But if the business world is not run by the Holy Spirit, what is it run by? And if churches or other ministries are run by business concepts and not the Holy Spirit, what, or whom are they run by?

USER FRIENDLY CHANGES

Aside from the aforementioned changes, physical changes slowly began to occur. Since it is believed that traditional Christianity turns off seekers and it's icons, Christian symbols will start to disappear. Crosses and other such symbols may be replaced by some sort of banner on the wall behind the pulpit that contains a message or symbol representing the current series the pastor is teaching.

Next the suggestion arises that the physical aspects of the church must be changed to become more user friendly [kind of like K Mart]. Perhaps getting rid of the pews and going to more comfortable theater seats would attract more people, or parking lot parkers to show people where to park would show that this church really has it together.

Or maybe, as Bill Hybels stresses in CGM conferences, the secret of a successful Sunday service can be attributed to proper lighting, quality sound equipment, an attractive building and others. What do proper lighting and sound equipment have to with anything? This has much to do with the next aspect of the CGM. : Entertainment.

MULTI MEDIA MANIPULATION

According to Bill Hybles, drama and music can lower a person's resistance to persuasion, which enables him to communicate the message "...through the back door. People don't even know it's happening." Ibid. Now where did this idea come from? On the outside, the business world. It’s a tool used in advertising.

Why do you think commercials contain music and skits? And why do you think that all of the sudden you want to go to the refrigerator and eat what you just saw? And you don't even know it's happening either! Now the interesting thing about this is that these very same principles are suggested by the New Age as powerful methods to trigger a change in our thinking.

What is the reason given for the use of drama and music in CGM churches? To reach people at an emotional level. The heavy metal rock bands know this too, don't they? Psychology? If so, where did psychology get this concept? Let's see; music and drama have a power to manipulate a person's mind, a power that can lower the mind's resistance, a power to manipulate the mind to an emotional level, a power that is going on and people don't even know they have been manipulated, a power not seen taught in the Bible. Think about it a minute. According to the Word of God

"For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved, IT IS THE POWER OF GOD...

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe...

For my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18, 21; 2:4-5

Music in the church is for the corporate praise and worship of God. God said He inhabits the praises of His people. However, in "seeker services" there is not much corporate worship. Just music, and sometimes it is secular music, or music to arouse emotions. Seeker services are non-participating services, services designed so as not to offend the seeker, or make them uncomfortable. Have we become ashamed of our worship? The Word says;

"From Thee comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows to the Lord before those who fear Him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord." Ps 22:25, 26

"I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a mighty throng." Ps 35:18

"I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips." Ps 40:9

We have forgotten the purpose of our gatherings together and have turned them into a dog and pony show in order to create a non-offensive environment. Pay your vows to the Lord before the people. Follow God, not the principles of the world.

TRANSCENDING CULTURES

The Greeks were well known for their drama, and it was used to change thinking, politically and otherwise. But then they also followed the gods of the myths, the perverted word of the true God. Don't you find it interesting that although we find accounts of Paul being in Greece that he did not suggest using their culturally relevant methods to reach people? In Acts 17 it plainly shows he was in an area where religion was relevant, but the Word was not, "because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection." Vs. 18.

This account tells us that Paul was speaking in the synagogue and in the market place and finally gave a verbal message to the Athenian council. This offended some, but "...some men joined him and believed" Vs 34, including a member of this most powerful council. All without the use of their own culturally relevant methodology. This should tell us something.

Another example of the power of the Word, and not techniques or special effects or programs, is the account of Jonah. God gave him just eight words to speak to an entire city. "Yet in forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed". Not popular, but when its God's Words given to an anointed person to speak it, things happen. Those eight words of God caused an entire city to repent.

Consider the simple message of John the Baptist. Under the power and authority of God all he said was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 3:2. Now here was a pretty un-culturally relevant person. He didn't even preach in the temple! He didn't dress like the acceptable culture of the time, he did not preach a social gospel, a felt needs gospel, a watered down "light" message, as suggested by the CGM. But what happened? The power of the Word happened!

If we can get it into our heads that God's word has power, does not need help, and all we have to do is say what he tells us to say, things will happen. By giving this simple message it says that people from Jerusalem, Judea, and those around the Jordan were going out to him, being baptized, and confessing their sins. That is church growth, and it is the power of the Word of God that causes it.

IT DOESN'T WORK!

Do you know something else? By their own admission, the CGM experts say their philosophies and techniques do not work! Yes, churches grow in numbers, but it is transfer growth, not "...the Lord adding to their number day by day those who are being saved". Acts 2:47. And do you know what their solution is? Peter Wagner of Fuller says they have to look for more techniques!

Could it be that 1 Corinthians 1 is really true when it says that through the wisdom of men, man did not come to know God? Wow, what a concept; God's Word must be right! But some how, many just refuse to believe it, or cannot see it.

"God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation..." 2 Thess 2:13

"You did not choose Me, But I chose you..." John 15:16

"Yet others I will gather to them." Is 56:18

"No one can come to Me, unless the Father draws him..." John 6:44

If it is God who chose us from the beginning, if it is He who gathers, and if no one can come to Him unless it is He who draws, then how much time, money and energy must be wasted with all the attractions of man! If it is God who has already done this, no wonder the efforts of the principles of the CGM do not work!

It is interesting that TQM does not work either. This philosophy of business, which was in Japan years ago, was finally dropped because they found it really did not work. It did not work, nor even get off the ground where I am employed. It was a time consuming drudgery that caused burnout and dissension, and division, just as it does in churches today.

But do you know what the real thing is that makes me wonder about the phenomena of church transfers to CGM churches and the felt needs, "light" gospels? It is something that Paul warned Timothy about, a significant prophecy. He told Timothy,

"Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." 2 Tim 4:2-4.

But today we are told that the church is not culturally relevant; it is out of season. But Paul says to preach the Word, not what the culture wants to hear. He warned that there would be those that would gather to those who taught a relevant gospel, teachings that would fit their own desires. Are we setting up churches to fit the desires of people in order to attract them? Absolutely!

What Is The Real Attraction?

And of these people who are transferring from other churches to fill CGM churches, what is the attraction? Is it the wonderful programs, the emotion raising drama, the comfortable seats, the professional music, the building and its modern amenities, the non-threatening non-offensive sermons? Or is it Jesus and a desire to get to know Him, to have His word speak to their hearts whether it is a reproof, rebuke, or an exhortation?

How many people would still be around, pastor, if the drama was gone, the lighting did not work, your sound system was gone, and all the things that you used to attract seekers in, were gone, and it was just you and the word of God? What really is the attraction? Is it itching ears, peoples own desires, the programs or is it the Word, Jesus, and what He has to say?

I wonder greatly about those people who transferred into churches that follow a system of the world that does not work, not only according to their own system experts, but according to the word of God. And I wonder, thinking about all the prophesies concerning apostasy and how faith in the Word would diminish, I wonder why many feel it necessary to combine the ways of the world with the "eternal principles of God", and allow themselves to be ruled by some other authority.

Why do we continue to follow something that does not work? Because there is a blindness caused by this system that seduces. Jim Dethmar of Willow Creek said of the CGM model, "Changing to the Willow Creek model is not something you do because you want to or because you think its a good idea. Its something you do because you have to... you are compelled". (Willow Creek Seminar Tape)

What is it about this CGM model that compels some to change to it? It doesn't work and it's not in the Word. Is it listening to a seminar minister speaking the word of God with power, as Paul did? Or is it the dynamics of the model that appeals to one's senses and emotions; the drama, the lights, the music, programs, business - like aspects and success? Could it be, as the prophecy says,

"An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?" Jeremiah 5:30

Elshaddai, "The All sufficient One", is no longer Elshaddai. What happened to faith and following the eternal principles of God? Although they speak of these things, they do not follow them. The Word, it seems, is no longer considered sufficient without the philosophies of man.

We are going to have to, once and for all, make up our minds. Are we going to follow the world, or the Word? If we continue to incorporate the world, we are going to have to take the hidden things that come with it, as Israel did. Are we the bride of Christ, or the bride of the world? Paul warned the Corinthians;

"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, the to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ". 2 Cor 11:2,3

Are the CGM principles simple and pure? They neither carry the simplicity of devotion to Christ, and as we will see further in Part 2, nor are they pure.

Go To CGM Part 2: Business And The New Age