They’re so good at evangelism, they even converted a building! This blog entry is part of an experiment by a Christian radio talk show host named Drew Marshall. He offered to pay some non-Christians to go to some churches in the Toronto area. This blog talks about their experience at a mega-church, and it is worth the read. Particularly, it should wake Christians up to see how an educated non-Christian sees a mega-church that is relying on being mostly attractional in its approach to reach people. (Attractional Church = majority of time money and man hours goes into the Sunday service). An excerpt:

This part of Bruxy’s series was about attitudes towards money - specifically, those of “The Secret” versus those of Christ. Great talk, very clearly pointing out the Bible’s really clear messages on money and wealth. I was impressed with Bruxy’s insistence on putting traditionally over-used quotes in context, which makes them clearer and points out how they’re usually mis-quoted. I also liked his style - yes, he was preaching the traditional message of “Seek His kingdom and the rest will follow”, and “We shouldn’t value money or possessions enough to seek them”, but he delivered it well. The line “God doesn’t need your money” really sat well with me - what omnipotent divinity needs the feeble human trappings of finance? Also really liked the way he pointed out that those who are wealthy shouldn’t be judged as impure or imperfect - that lesson often gets missed by those eager to be “the meek and poor”, and thus the inheritors of the earth. That said, I always get irritated by this topic as far as Christianity is concerned. Why is it that I should not seek out possessions and money, but the church is permitted to do just that? Does taking 10% of every congregant’s income not count as seeking out money? Why should the institution be rich, and the congregation not? If you really believe you should be living the aesthetic life led by Christ and his apostles, why aren’t you doing it? If money and possessions aren’t important, why aren’t you meeting to discuss the meaning of Christ’s ideas and life in the local park? Notwithstanding the need to broadcast to your rather large congregation, and obviously you’d have to come up with a solution during the winter months, but really: why the son et lumiere? I found the medium more than a bit out of whack with the message.

It has come to my attention that the church must take more seriously the medium it chooses to proclaim the Gospel. I have no doubt that the preacher gave the clearest, doctrinally sound presentation of what the text in the Bible intended. But that is not the chief concern of the non-Christian here and in most of North America. Instead, it is the method used to communicate that truth (flashy lights and sound) that is essentially, drowning out the message altogether. If this is the case, then for whom does the church do the elaborate Sunday service? Probably not those who are genuinely unchurched.