Pragmatism in a lot of churches is king. These “Pastors” are doing whatever it takes to get results; i.e. get money because they are greedy. So, if you are in a megachurch with beautiful architecture, a cafe, a wing for the children, a nice bookstore, gifted singers and musicians and plenty of money in the coffers, these optics are supposed clear indicators God is blessing that church. While there is nothing wrong with these aesthetics in of themselves, it does not mean the Spirit of God is residing there.
As we often say, looks can be deceiving. What is being sacrificed in a lot of these large churches is sound doctrine. If you’re preaching another gospel or what I call an alien gospel, you’re not blessed, but rather cursed as per the scripture.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
As we have said before, so now I say again, If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:6-10
I hope the reader realizes how penetrating these words are from the apostle Paul. The word accursed in the Greek is anathematizo where we get the word anathema which means to devote one to destruction.
To be blunt, what I am seeing and hearing often on YouTube is stupidity. At best it is foolishness, at worst it is demonic - I vote for the latter. Sadly, we have too many Christians that are babies when they should be mature doctrinally. Every new charlatan that comes to town with some aberrant heretical revelation gets the opportunity to defile a pulpit and butcher God’s holy Word and play spiritual “whack-a-mole” with the parishioners. The under shepherd of that house does not have the courage or the discernment skills himself to protect the flock entrusted to him by God. As a result, the flock is fleeced, and the itinerant hireling (i.e. false teacher) walks away with the money bag to defile another pulpit in a different city.
Now, on the surface those that misuse the Word of God to manipulate the minds of the unsuspecting appear to be successful - they are the ones with the fancy clothes and jewelry, the palatial homes, the private jets and bread in their pockets! In actuality they are poor.
Here is how I know.
Jesus says:
And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have need of nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor blind, and naked.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Revelation 3:14-19
Many churches fall into the category of the Laodicean. They are claiming they are successful, but they are not. They are disobedient. This starts with the Pastor. What he teaches often determines the behavior and worldview of his members. Since so many Pastors are deficient Bible expositors, they are misleading their congregations with these “Santa-Ana-Windy-Doctrines” (Ephesians 4:14). To cover up for their anemic teaching, they whoop and holler, babble in non-biblical tongues, and have you turn to your neighbor a 1000X’s in service. The music is banging loud. Nowadays apostate “black churches” are bumping, “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. Your endorphins have kicked in - your emotion has superseded your logic and you’re ripe for slaughter by the pulpit pimp. You can guarantee there will be manipulative language with a Bible twist for the money grab - a tithes and offerings "sermon" of guilt they always teach out of context; lying to you that when you give to God (when it is actually them) He is going to give you a supernatural financial and/or material breakthrough.
The church goer has been conditioned to behave every week like Pavlov’s dogs without knowing it. These types of churches are abusive.
Success or Obedience?
You see, it’s easier to want to be culturally relevant as a church. But, the most important need for the church is the teaching and equipping the saints and preaching of the gospel to the lost. Souls are at stake. Other things while important are secondary like taking care of the needs of the poor and community outreach.
Here’s how a church will be successful and obedient:
For the Teacher/Pastor
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers
1 Timothy 4:16
Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 Peter 5:2-4
When a Pastor practices the aforementioned, he will be successful indeed because he is obedient indeed. There will never be true success without obedience to the truth.