Sometimes, people do not believe me when I describe the belligerence of church leaders. I have been around them for my entire ministry "career", so nothing shocks me anymore. But, this week, I encountered something that made me realize just how little the unplugged and commercial church can coexist. I was meeting with a group of people to discuss an exciting outreach venture, when someone described non-institutional groups of Christian meeting together as "some other Christianity". I was shocked, appalled, and challenged all at once. To hear the Christianity of Acts called "some other Christianity" felt almost like I was being punked! I thought, "Where's that kooky Ashton!?"

I Wasn't Being Punked!

Then, I was reminded of why the New Testament church went into hiding. Many people have not done the research, but what you will find is that history, especially in Christendom, tends to repeat itself. For two millennia, one institution after another rises to power, claiming that anything that does not resemble its worldview is "another kinds of Christianity." Denominations clearly do it to each other. Most people do not have the benefit of sitting into leadership meetings like I have, but many denominations look at other denominations the same way. Baptist churches, Pentecostals churches, Charismatic churches, Prosperity churches. they all preach their own brand of Christianity, claiming that the other groups are ridden with confusion, misinterpretation, and false doctrine. Who is right? They answer is quite simple - none of them.

The Word makes no denominational distinctions and gives no group the right to rule Christendom. But, propaganda rules and polar opposites ignite passionate causes. Pastor conferences and community meetings are full of "polite" discussion about working together, knowing full when that they have no intention of letting brethren of other denominations take part in their ministries. The grand corruptors are already in place - the need for money and the need for membership growth. Without those two growth areas, the organizations disappear and no one ever remembers they even existed. They need to maintain their clients and cash flow - sound familiar?

Separate and Not Equal

For this reason, the unplugged church and the institution are incompatible. One endangers the other. And Christian leaders know that. It is why they are so publically hostile towards home church and non-institutional movements, going as far as demonizing them and calling them "some other Christianity". This phrase is an allusion to Paul's warning against accepting "some other Gospel". This is insulting and ignorant. But, when the unplugged Church defends it with the same fervor, they are called arrogant, zealous, and satanic.

I tried for years in my own institutional ministry to join the two. I tried to fight for organic, spirit-led community only to be disrupted with the need to give convincing offering speeches and submit to erroneous leadership decisions. Meanwhile, the Spirit speaks to his people and makes them restless. The stage of ministry creates the excuse for artificial smiles and handshakes. Leaders are taught to keep from "being too familiar", as if close relationships were counter-Christian. I have even had leaders refuse to be called by their name as they posture behind their degrees and acknowledgements. "Sheep" are taught to submit to their "God-ordained" leaders even if the decisions are tragically wrong, giving up their authority as kings and priests, and becoming slaves to a system Jesus despised.

Mat 23:1-12 (LITV): ". Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down on Moses' seat. Then all things, whatever they tell you to keep, keep and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger. And they do all their works to be seen by men. And they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their robes. And they love the first couch in the suppers, and the first seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi. "

"But do not you be called Rabbi, for One is your Leader, the Christ, and you are all brothers. And call no one your father on earth, for One is your Father, the One in Heaven. Nor be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Christ. But the greater of you shall be your servant. And whoever will exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted."

Why Not Evolve?

In order for the Body of Christ to be unified as the Church, the institution must evolve. This need not be a long, drawn-out process. But, it will take rethinking and retooling of what the current church model consists of. In essence, we have to fall back to the framework that Jesus gave us and strip away the extra layers. We must become proficient in church history to know what things are there because we put them there, as opposed to Christ Himself. Only then can we unite our efforts. But, as long as there is money or members to be lost, and lifestyles that will be affected because they are dependent on unbiblical models, we will be polarized and incompatible with each other.

Truly, the sad state of the Church is that we are torn between self-interest and doing what we know is Biblical. One pastor asked me, "So, are you saying I have to get a job?" Yes, pastor, that is precisely what I am saying if you cannot get donors to support your lifestyle without deceiving them into believing that God will curse them if they do not. As a former pastor myself, I can tell you that teaching and preaching need not be a fulltime job if we follow the teachings of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work in EVERYBODY. If you build a church where people are not dependant on any one office, but responsible for each other, there is no need for reluctant visitations or the babying of the unfaithful.

Christian Mammon

Until I see the attitude of today's church leaders change, I do not believe that being unplugged will ever be compatible with the pulpit. There is too much to lose - and we believe all too strongly that we deserve to be compensated for what Christ commissioned us to do. It's easy to do that when we preach a Christianity that passes the buck to the guy with the "calling" in exchange for money, acknowledgement, and obedience. It's a kind of "Christian mammon."

Kinda makes you feel dirty when you think of it that way.