The church growth movement has fascinated me since my days as a student at Columbia International University formally known as Columbia Bible College and Seminary. It is the kind of concept that leaves you charmed by its frills, thrills, and entertainment. It has captured the attention of churchmen around the world. "Marketing the church" has replaced the biblical concept of "making disciples." The Mega-church has replaced the biblical concept of a shepherd and the flock. Some church growth movement entrepreneurs believe that the day of the churched culture is over. It is important to realize that the church growth movement finds its most faithful followers referring to “contemporary worship” or talking about the “emerging church.” These recent inventions spring forth from the church growth movement. My inquiry into the mechanics of the church growth movement began years ago and I continue to trace its development. This book is the result of my observation, research, and inquiry into the church growth movement. This is my critique of the movement and I hope to publish another work to present a biblical model for church growth, D. V.
My purpose in the first part of this book is to explain how modernity is inseparably related to the church growth movement. Although this work includes a brief explanation of modernity, the primary focus is on the church growth movement which is found in the last half of the book.
I hope Christians everywhere will take a serious look at the Christian landscape and ask the question: Has truth lost its savor in the church, particularly the evangelical church? Has the modern evangelical church moved from truth to compromise, confusion and contradiction? I argue that it has so what will we leave the next generation? Will it be the wood, hay, and straw of the church growth movement or will it be the gold, silver, and precious stones of God's eternal truth?
