In an effort to draw sellout crowds, is the modern Church in danger of selling out? This is the question author and pastor Gary E. Gilley addresses in This Little Church Went to Market. This book is a call for the Church to return to it’s Biblical roots.
This book which was released in 2002 is the 1st book in a series. It addresses the Church Growth Movement and Seeker-Sensitive, purpose-driven church movement which has become popular. At that time, as even is today, the church that has bought into these movements has lost their way from the Biblical model and principles found in Scripture and needs to return to a healthy church which is built upon the essential Christian doctrines of the Faith. This author outlines the current church movements, their history, beliefs, and the infiltration of Psychology into America’s churches. A worldly market-driven philosophy is a key element in promoting this movement. Postmodernism has become an inevitable consequence as well. Polls have become the determiners of success and What works becomes a driving force, and Image becomes everything in drawing unbelievers into the church.
On (pg. 23) the author writes; “Growing churches are creating an atmosphere, an environment of fun. So fun has replaced holiness as the church’s goal. Having a good time has become the criterion of an excellent, growing church, since fun and entertainment is what consumers want. Yet Scripture references encouraging churches to become havens of fun are, as one may suspect, sadly lacking.”
The Author quotes John MacArthur’s observations “Many Christians have the misconception that to win the world to Christ we must first win the world’s favor. If we can get the world to like us, they will embrace our Savior. That is the philosophy behind the user-friendly church movement.”
This book gives the reader a better idea of how these movements came into being and also how our society and it’s placement of entertainment has been having upon the church and what kind of impact it is having upon our corporate worship.
Publisher Xulon Press
ISBN 1-591600-49-9