While this is a practical approach from a secular business viewpoint, it is not the approach that should be characteristic of the church that is truly "of Christ" (cf. Romans
Many are trying to restructure the church and its worship services to make it more appealing to the general public. Often, before a new "church" is started, a survey is taken in the area asking people what they would like in a "church." The church is then structured according to the people's desires (with little or no attention given to God's demands), resulting in overnight success of the "church." An aura of entertainment now prevails in many churches with the use of special music, drama, Christmas and Easter pageants, etc. Women are being asked to take leadership roles. Little emphasis is given to in-depth Bible Study. The emphasis is on social issues. "Twelve-Step" programs, weight loss programs, child rearing classes, and financial seminars are all popular. While all these can serve a useful purpose in today's society, they do not address the real needs of humanity, nor are they the work which God has given His church to do.
The "market-place," user-friendly, generic" approach to Christianity assumes that the Lord's church is just a "toy" of society to be used in whatever way man may choose to use it. Such an attitude is a blasphemous insult to the One who accepted a Roman spear into His side, shed His blood and died on the Cross to purchase the church (Acts 20:28).
Jesus never promised His true followers a "user-friendly" way of life. In fact, He said, "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you...If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John
The public's general ignorance of the Scriptures makes them easy targets for the "spiritual host of wickedness in high places" (Ephesians
--Toby Miller
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