Christianity is unique.  No other religion in world history considers the chasm impassable between God and mankind by our own efforts.  All others believe humans can do something to influence their eternal fate.  If you don’t think we can fix what we broke, then Christianity is your only option.  If you feel the need to take action to secure your place in the next life, then you can select from any other faith in the world – whichever fits your perception of what that action should be.

Religions are conceived and designed to accomplish one primary objective – to prescribe a path for reconciliation of created with Creator – the deeply flawed with the imminently powerful.  Christianity contends Jesus had to descend because we can’t ascend.  Every other religion can be broken into two reconciliation paths: 1) fulfilling legalistic requirements to earn God’s favor (vs. the gift Jesus offers) or 2) self-discovery in search of inner divinity (vs. seeking Jesus).  Diligent work on mankind’s part to climb a ladder to God contrasts with the abject humility of irredeemable sinners in dire need of a Savior.  Human achievement presupposes what Christ did on the cross wasn’t necessary.  It becomes easier to grasp the concept of hell if you envision the audacity of telling God He didn’t need to sacrifice His Son in an excruciating display of unconditional love because, “I had it covered” or “I’m a good person”.

In no way should the lines blur between Christianity and other religions.  Yet over the past few decades, America’s church growth movement has made believers look more like our non-Christian counterparts.  The principles and practices spelled out in our 30 Theses for Contemporary Church Reform have been borrowed from man-made religions in two ways – elevating mankind and their institutions.  Whether a belief system is conceived by people or ordained by God, there will be leaders attempting to accomplish human, sinful objectives.  Some were even created for the purpose of exalting men and their religious (or political) institutions.  However, Christianity was created by God for His glory, not ours.

The methods used by Christian and non-Christian leaders to elevate mankind and institutions may differ, but the motives and goals are similar.  This post’s caution is for Christ-followers to avoid pastors or churches that exhibit the following “red flags”…

Elevate Mankind

Be wary of any doctrine or any faith narrowing the gap between man and God.  There are only two options for contending it’s possible to shrink that vast expanse – either bring God down or raise us up…

How do other religions do this?

Bring God Down

• Assign limitations to deities, not omnipotence
• Take the keys to salvation out of divine hands
• Question how “god” could allow bad things to happen
• Form man-made idols to worship
• Build structures intended to house deities
• Teach that a man became a god or demigod
• Relegate higher beings to worldly time and space
• View god(s) as exclusive to a people or culture

Raise People Up

• Teach followers they can take on supernatural powers
• Appoint leaders intermediaries with direct lines to “god(s)”
• Confer capacity to forgive, confess, or atone for “sin”
• Permit leaders to dictate the terms of salvation
• Lay out a set of rules rewarding the most obedient
• Tell people divinity lies deep within them
• Proclaim “god’s” preference for them over anyone else
• Otherwise play to egos to attract and retain adherents

How do Christians in America today do this?

Bring God Down

• Less dependence on God through the power of prayer
• Not enough emphasis and reliance on the Holy Spirit
• Tolerate cheap grace without life transformation
• Devalue the Bible as the infallible Word of God
• Conform to postmodern culture by compromising truth
• Welcome doubts, inviting deconstruction
• Define faith as belief in a certain outcome vs. God’s will

Raise People Up

• Pastors assume responsibilities belonging to members
• Too much credit and deference given to popular leaders
• Focus on what God will do for “me” (e.g. victory, prosperity)
• Seek God most sincerely when we need Him urgently
• Alleviating suffering as a central theme (i.e. Christian music)
• Less concern about personal sin or the need for repentance
• More emphasis on my role (opinions/votes) than the Lord’s

Whether intentional or inadvertent, those tendencies (enabled by contemporary church growth practices and principles) foster the illusion that Christians can ascend to heights typically only sought by non-Christian religions.

Elevate Institutions

If you see any of the following signs that religious leaders value their organization, its preservation, or its growth more than their deity(ies), then run…

How do other religions do this?

• Mandatory attendance at services or events
• Punishment enforced for non-compliance
• Family or community ostracization for apostacy
• Persecution of non-believers, particularly Christians
• Housing idols to be worshipped within their facilities
• Giving orders to perform duties “in ‘god’s’ name”
• Legalistic about obligations to leaders or organization
• Requiring pilgrimages or prayer in a certain direction
• Testing loyalty through demands exceeding capacity
• Celebrations of leaders at the institution’s facilities
• Financial giving a prerequisite for inclusion in services
• Reward structure in afterlife or on earth for obedience
• Only leaders can perform rituals and sacraments
• Dictating laws around reproduction or birth control
• Stipulations over who followers can date or marry

How do many Christian churches in America today do this?

• Cater to members, asking little and expecting nothing
• Reward for doing what the Lord demands of all followers
• Not preparing members for personal evangelism (apologetics)
• Pressure to invite non-believers to a holy worship service
• Delaying compassion initiatives until after building projects
• Measure attendance, giving, and retention as “success” KPIs
• Discipleship methods selected to breed institutional loyalty
• Empowering messages designed to get attenders to return
• Heavy investment in vastly underutilized buildings
• Giving in exchange for usurping member responsibilities
• Allow church to be defined around a pastor, place, or event
• “Outreach” checks the charity box or advertises institution
• Only engagement, not life change, requested and measured
• Budget almost entirely spent on organization and leadership
• Not confronting sin in order to preserve influence, not holiness

The list of “red flags” continues with tendencies of the contemporary church growth movement toward centralization, consumerism, commercialization, control, cheap grace, choreography, and other Kingdom conflicts of interest.

It’s Your Turn…

Do you see signs your church adopted principles and practices of man-made religions that close the gap between humans and God while elevating leaders and institutions?