Here are five churches I’ve attended during this time of transition, along with some reflections of each one:

Church of the Highlands
This church thrives on building excitement among its members for their church and their faith. Out of all the churches I’ve attended, I think this church is the one that I most often hear given a bad rap by other people from other churches. I think this is mostly out of envy for the worldly success this church has experienced. I think people serving in much smaller, struggling churches feel like they can’t compete with a church like CoTH who has so many resources, fame, and momentum. My question is…why are we trying to compete again? A danger I see with CoTH is that it is easy to feel pride at what you’ve accomplished, and pride often comes before a fall. Yet those from smaller, struggling churches who would “Amen” me are full of envy or spite towards CoTH. In other words, they have the same pride issues within themselves. While we often measure churches by numerical standards, this is not necessarily a reflection of true discipleship. As I stated at the beginning, it’s true that this is a “feel good” church. It seems the number one aim is for people to leave CoTH feeling uplifted and excited about faith. This can give a plastic view of faith–when you only see smiling, attractive people on the worship team who always seem happy, or the pastor is perceived as a superstar, etc. Is that true to life? Yet I believe there is more to this church than simply this. It was founded by a group of people who were willing to relocate to a new state and find new jobs in efforts of starting a new church to reach the city. Isn’t there something genuine about that kind of faith? That isn’t plastic Christianity at all. Those who would criticize this church for all of its success…how many disciples of Christ in your church would be willing to embark on such a leap of faith? My experience at CoTH reveals to me that while there are many people attending there who might be considered your typical superficial Christian, this church isn’t any different from your church. Every church is full of them. And every biblical church has a true core of committed followers of Christ–I believe CoTH has an exceptional one (and one that may be larger in percentage to the total attenders than you probably think). SUMMARY: A lot of fluff to sort through, but something wonderfully real is found when you sort through the fluff (which can’t be found in most churches around here). Is this church growing because people want only fluff, or because they’ve discovered something real? No matter your opinion, don’t answer that too quickly.

The Church At Brook Hills
From one mega-church to another, eh? Yet, this is not your typical mega-church. While it is indeed located in one of the most affluent, white areas of Birmingham (which of course, is absolutely typical for a mega-church–look at Willow Creek, etc.), the leadership there is making significant changes in this church. A core group of people are in the process of relocating to the Eastlake/Gate City area–the total opposite of the 280 area where Brook Hills resides. They will eventually plant a church there, but the idea is to permanently move to the area first (not unlike the story of CoTH, except although this doesn’t require as many miles, I think it requires just as much faith). The church is evaluating how it spends its money. Like most churches, it’s been spent on themselves–buildings, staff, programs, etc. They are changing that. They are asking themselves, “How little can we live on, so that we can give the rest away to those in need like the Lord would want us to?” Have you ever been to a mega-church where they no longer hang professionally designed banners/advertisements in the lobby area? Instead they have switched to drawing things on cardboard? This church is focused on obeying/worshiping Christ and being discipled by Him, so that the gospel message can be carried to the forgotten areas of Birmingham and to the marginalized in the rest of the world. Of course, while some people have jumped on board immediately, it will take time to convince the thousands who attend. But it is indeed happening. The focus of this church is on Jesus Christ, not ourselves. It is focused on being faithful to the Gospel and Scripture. While this church may have already attained success in worldly terms, it is focused on attaining the building of true disciples for the kingdom unlike any other church I’ve attended before. SUMMARY: Because a church is huge doesn’t mean it caters to people. Sometimes it means it is truly investing in people on a spiritual level. There is something invaluably rich to be found here.

Community Presbyterian Church (PCA)
The name of this church is who she is. And not superficial community either. We’re talking about the real thing. Isn’t that what church should be about? When you eliminate all of the other stuff that crowds up the life of a church, does your church have true community? I can listen to a great sermon on the internet, or a great worship band on one of my CDs. Is that really what I need from my church? What I need is people who genuinely love one another–not so that people will be attracted to their church, but because they really love people. Many churches want this value in their church simply to grow their church. They use community as a means to an end. Not so here. It only took one time to attend to learn this quickly. There is a great spirit within the church. In addition, Community doesn’t feel it is necessary to be flashy or to impress others–they place their trust in the Gospel message, in a way I long to see in Arminian circles. Of course, as many people know, I’m a pretty strong Arminian, and will always poke fun at those silly Calvinists who can always pull out the excuse “God made me do it.” While it is fun to caricaturize those who we disagree with on theological issues, the important thing is the Gospel. In my recent renewal in passion for the Gospel, it has been my experience that although we look at the faith from a completely different perspective (a life of free will vs. predestination), I have more in common with a Calvinist who prizes the Gospel than the Arminian who merely affirms it. The Gospel is our only (and therefore precious) hope–period. I would encourage someone to choose this church–but then again, you might not really have a choice in the matter… SUMMARY: Theological differences, while important, should not cause a lack of fellowship among believers. This church has no lack of fellowship. It proclaims and values the Gospel far above the other things that so many other churches value. It keeps the main thing the main thing.

Moody United Methodist Church
The history of this church tends to reflect its name as well–moody. Yet, this church is starting a new phase in its existence. Long gone are those who controlled the mood of the church for many years. What is left is an insignificant, weak remnant of people, not unlike Jesus’ disciples who were then infused with the power of the Holy Spirit and made a significant impact for the Gospel. The pastor knows this full well, and has been called by God to see this happen. Many people might dismiss this church. After all, can you think of many small-town UMC church that have made a significant impact for the Gospel? And with its history, one might think it’s over and done with. I believe that’s the plot of God’s favorite story. God is clearly putting leadership in place at this church to do an awesome work of transformation. Out of all the churches I’ve commented on, this one is the one I’ve attended most so far. I’ve been considering whether I’m to serve alongside leadership in the mission of seeing God’s transformation in the life of this small-town church. Too often, people look for a church that will cater to them–“how can my church serve me?” If that is you and you have been served by your church, don’t you think it’s time to be sent out to serve? As churches, I think one of our most important jobs to do is to send people out. That doesn’t necessarily mean to Africa. Why not build leaders who can then go out and lead in other local churches? The churches who can often do this best are those faithful churches like Brook Hills (who already have their leadership in place). How awesome it would be one day if churches really decided to genuinely care for the other churches in their area, investing their best-made disciples into those churches. Freeing them to serve God where there is availability. That should be the norm, not the exception. Moody UMC is one of those places where the Holy Spirit is beginning a genuine work. Calling all workers! In a couple of years, if people aren’t marveling at how far this church has grown, I will eat my words. SUMMARY: God is starting a Spirit-led work where you’d least expect it. God is so predictable sometimes.

Grantswood Baptist Church
Since I just got done talking about a small church poised for greatness, why not talk about another? When my former church, Genesis Church, was in its “genesis,” it was right down the street from this small church. Then Church of The Highlands moved in right across the interstate, causing many to fear we were doomed to grow a church in its shadow. Grantswood is still there. They too just welcomed in a new pastor, one of my good youth pastor friends, Cary Baker. Hearing the story of how God has called Cary to this church, and seeing it in person confirms to me that this church is embarking on a new adventure as well. Many people would find it hard to believe that a church that was consistently averaging 35 people on Sunday mornings now averages 85 in just a few short months. It seems that fears of CoTH being a black hole for other churches isn’t the threat some think it is! In fact, I see this church thriving in the years to come–regardless of how close it is to CoTH or any other church that encounters worldly success. It’s a great church that tens of thousands drive past on the interstate day after day, most of them not giving thought to the little church next to the highway. This church reminds me of the first church I served at next to the highway. It has great. loving people who are ready to go to the next level. They’ve got a pastor who genuinely trusts in God, unlike many pastors who try to manipulate people and situations. He is naive enough to believe that God knows what He is doing, and to step out in faith to follow Him. He has wisdom beyond his years, and a huge heart for people. SUMMARY: We are wrong when we say you have to be the greatest, latest, largest. Grantswood shares a similar fate as Moody UMC. Everyone expects CoTH to do great things–watch what God can do with a few people on the other side of the interstate who are now being led in faithfulness to Him!

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So why might I have dismissed these five churches? Church of the Highlands typifies today’s enamoration of the American mega-church dream. Brook Hills is an affluent Baptist church (affluent, strike one…Baptist, strike two…). Community PCA is Calvinist–I am an Arminian through and through. Moody UMC is a tiny church with a sordid past. Grantswood is an old-fashioned Baptist church (Baptists are everywhere!). Some people dismiss large churches, because they are large. Some dismiss small churches, because they are small. Some dismiss Calvinists; others dismiss Arminians. You can dismiss a church because of its history, its denomination, its location, its…well there are many reasons to dismiss the churches that are out there. I have that disposition. None of them are perfect. Yet this time of not being attached to a particular church has given me the opportunity to experience different churches for myself, rather than simply believing what other people say about them. And let’s admit it, most people don’t talk favorably about other churches in their area–even if they are fellow Christians! I have the tendency to critique, which can be a blessing but also a curse. In this post, I wanted people to see and have hope that God is working in local churches all around–even in churches totally unlike yours. Want further proof? I could talk about many other churches I’ve visited during this time: the Pentecostal church starting up in Moody, or the Vineyard church in Tuscaloosa, or the Methodist church in Northport, or the youth group at Valley View Baptist in Leeds, or the youth group at Wellspring Worship Center in Leeds–all of which are trying to faithfully live out the Gospel and doing AMAZING things for God. You just don’t know it until you experience it.

Yes, there is lots of bad stuff going on in all of these churches I’ve “reviewed,” I’m sure. Stuff that shouldn’t be tolerated and needs to stop ASAP. If I were committed to any of these churches, I would be doing my part to make those changes–and fast. After all, the world needs Christ–our churches need to get whipped into shape to faithfully reflect the love and truth of Christ. This isn’t a game. High stakes are involved. But even though there are many problems in our churches, we can also praise God that He is doing a work in many of them. It’s time for churches to stop feeling superior to other churches, and start serving and loving fellow churches instead. While it’s necessary to have ties to our denomination, our strongest ties should be with fellow churches in our communities who are spreading the Gospel and raising up disciples. By in large, I think the lay people are ready and willing to do so–it’s people in leadership who are reluctant. Because of personal insecurities, distrust of fellow ministers, impossible work demands, and pride, that is easier said than done. Hopefully, this is something to help along the process.