You know you’ve arrived when other people start attacking your philosophies and strategies in their books. Skye Jethani, the managing editor of the Leadership Journal, did just that in his recent book, The Divine Commodity. In the book, Skye goes on the attack about some things Tim and I wrote in our book, Simply Strategic Growth. Skye has never communicated with me either face-to-face or in writing, so we’ve never had the opportunity to discuss our obvious differences.

Unlike Skye, I’m still of the opinion that healthy churches are growing churches. I also believe that if we embrace some intentionality in our ministries including our worship services, we’re more likely to connect with today’s culture. At the end of the day, I believe churches should be both attractional and missional. Skye believes otherwise. Here’s what he wrote:

These pastors, representative of so many contemporary Christians, believe that God changes lives through the commodification and consumption of experiences. If our worship gatherings are energetic, stimulating, and exciting enough then people will attend, receive what’s being communicated, and be spiritually transformed. The justification for this approach is simple: people won’t come to a church that’s boring. And what qualifies as boring is defined by our consumer/experience economy. But the moment we believe transformation occurs via external experiences, the emphasis of ministry must adjust accordingly. Manufacturing experiences and meticulously controlling staged environments become the means for advancing Christ’s mission. And the role of the pastor, once imagined as a shepherd tending a flock, now conjures images of a circus ringmaster shouting, “Come one, come all, to the greatest show on earth!” In Consumer Christianity, the shepherd becomes a showman. (p.75)

I’m intrigued by this position. Let’s assume for a moment that we agree with what Skye offers. How should we respond? Should we intentionally offer worship gatherings that are dull and boring so no one wants to participate? Should we just show up for worship without preparation? Do we start offering teaching and music and other elements of worship that reflect less than our best effort so that people aren’t attracted to the experience? Does this suggest that if someone is a gifted communicator or vocalist that we shouldn’t allow them to share their gifts in worship because people may want to invite their friends to come experience the gathering? If our worship starts to attract people, should we make it less engaging so people will stop inviting their friends and family and our worship gatherings will stay smaller? Does God want fewer people in worship?

I also think it’s a bit of a stretch to judge the methods of other churches based solely on their worship gatherings. I don’t know of a single church that relies solely on worship gatherings for spiritual transformation. Typically spiritual transformation is encouraged through several next steps including relational connections, Bible studies, serving opportunities, missions, spiritual disciplines, personal evangelism, etc. I’m intrigued with this notion that worship gatherings are the end-all-be-all to spiritual transformation. If, indeed, there are such churches, I might agree with Skye’s thesis.

My guess is there may be some misunderstanding of my interpretation of Skye’s thinking. And, of course, that happens when you begin to pull elements of someone’s writing out of context and arrive at conclusions without engaging a dialogue.

Skye, maybe we should do that.

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fyi… The publisher sent me a free copy of Skye’s book to review several months ago. You can send me free stuff, but I’m always going to shoot straight with my readers.