I saw a video that my friend Jon Reid posted on his blog here. It is a parody of the contemporary, attractional church. However, when you watch it, if you didn’t know better, you’d have no idea it’s a parody. Take a look for yourself:
“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
“We’re so cool, we call it ‘Contemporvent!’”
“This is the song that everyone knows, this is the song that everyone knows.”
“This is my new song. Nobody knows this song. I want to invite you to buy this song after service.”
Sound familiar? It should! Seriously, this is the message I hear far too frequently in the contemporary, attractional church. In fact, this may be what you hear when you get together to worship on Sunday’s. Is there anything wrong with it? Well, yes…and no.
I don’t want to bash the attractional, megachurch, but in reality it does come across kinda cookie cutter to me. While in seminary we always went out on Sundays and visited 3 different church services to discuss as a group. I’ve seen a lot of various megachurch services and somehow they all seemed the same. Is that a negative? Well, if it works, then not really. However, in trying to reach people outside of the church, I find it can be a negative. It seems like culture is changing. What is relevant isn’t contemporary Christian songs that everyone already knows. Programming songs by length and keeping a sermon to a finite amount of time may not attract newer generations.
The oddest thing about all of this to me is that in the church we still use the terms contemporary and relevant (that’s where the name “Contemporvant” came about in the video) when in fact, this model of church was established back in the late 80′s and early 90′s. Is something 10-15 years really considered contemporary and relevant? For me, it just isn’t.
Personally, I don’t like the idea of mocking church as was displayed in this video from North Point Ministries. We do enough in the church already to build resentment and fueling that with a parody video just doesn’t seem sensible for me. If this were shown to a strictly Christian audience of regular church attenders there could be humor in it, but again, do we really need another thing to point to what the church isn’t doing right?
As all followers of this blog will know, I am not a cookie cutter model person when it comes to ministry or the church. If it works for you, great…doesn’t mean it should work for me. I care more about deeper relationships, encouragement, and acts of service in growing our relationships together in Christ over programs, great worship musicians and commanding speakers trying to be relevant. For me, engaging in conversations--which can be done in the context of preaching--is the way to reach people that are exploring their faith or seeking to grow. Letting them know they matter rather than letting them wander in and out unnoticed is what I want to see. However, some will still be drawn to that contemporary, relevant 90′s model of church as was represented in the North Point video. That’s why I don’t want to speak against that model. It does work and is great at drawing in crowds of people to hear God’s Word. I just think it comes down to connecting with people on a deeper, more-intimate level and have chosen to expend my energies in a different direction. With that said, I still cringe a bit when I watch this video as I sense the humor in it, but don’t look forward to the thoughts it may instill in those currently outside of the church, that will view it.
What are your thoughts? I’d certainly appreciate learning your impressions and feedback once you’ve watched the video.
Related posts:
- Should the attractional and missional church stand divided?
- Can an attractional church be missional?
- Video killed the radio star, but what about the preacher?
- How to rate the success of a missional church?
- 3 Questions About The Church: Jason Salamun
Tags: contemporvant, north point, sunday's coming
Like your question about “thoughts it may instill in those currently outside of the church, that will view it.” But wonder where the attractional model takes the church as it relates to reaching those without Christ. Believe it may ultimately leave the church in America much like the church Europe, weak and having little impact on society as a whole. Should those not attracted to the attractional model because they believe it is harmful for the cause of Christ not make known their opinions and sometimes well thought out opinions? Those who are proponents of the attractional model have thought out their model to propagate it to others. Should not those who oppose the model seek to propagate their model?
Jay, I agree with most of what you stated. The only issue I’d point out is really one that is probably already understood anyway, but just the sake of clarity, the church is about God and his people. It should not be about man’s desires. I am not a big proponent of church models, as I feel that if we are to be love to our community and engage people in community, it really shouldn’t need a model to describe it. It’s love in action.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
daveingland, also i am agree with your point of view and many thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I really feel strongly about it and love learning much more on this topic.