Modern Christianity, Mega-Church, Community Crusades

It is easy to get crowds together for what are called ‘higher life’ and ‘consecration’ meetings. Anyone knows that, who has watched human nature and read descriptions of American camp-meetings and studied the curious phenomena of the ‘religious affections.’ Sensational and exciting addresses by strange preachers or by women, loud singing, hot rooms, crowded tents [arenas?], the constant sight of strong semi-religious feeling in the faces all around you for several days, late hours, long protracted meetings, public profession of experience - all this kind of thing is very interesting at the time and seems to do good. But is the good real, deeply-rooted, solid, lasting? That is the point. And I should like to ask a few questions about it.

Do those who attend these meetings become more holy, meek, unselfish, kind, good-tempered, self-denying and Christ-like at home? Do they become more content with their position in life, and more free from restless craving after something different from that which God has given them? Do fathers, mothers, husbands and other relatives and friends find them more pleasant and easy to live with? Can they enjoy a quiet Sunday and quiet means of grace without noise, heat and excitement? Above all, do they grow in charity, and especially in charity towards those who do not agree with them in every jot and tittle of their religion?

These are serious and searching questions and deserve serious consideration. I hope I am as anxious to promote real practical holiness in the land as anyone. I admire and willingly acknowledge the zeal and earnestness of many with whom I cannot co-operate who are trying to promote it. But I cannot withhold a growing suspicion that the great ‘mass-meetings’ of the present day, for the ostensible object of promoting the spiritual life, do not tend to promote private home religion, private Bible reading, private prayer, private usefulness and private walking with God. If they are of any real value, they ought to make people better husbands and wives and fathers and mothers and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters and masters and mistresses and servants. But I should like to have clear proofs that they do. I only know it far easier to be a Christian among singing, praying, sympathizing Christians in a public room, than to be a consistent Christian in a quiet, retired, out-of-the-way, uncongenial home. The first position is one in which there is a deal of nature to help us: the second is one which cannot be well-filled without grace. –J.C. Ryle, Stradbroke, October 1879

You would think he lived a hundred years later with this statement and watched the rise of stadium events, mega-churches and TV and radio preachers. I cannot help but wonder if the past 120+ years haven’t proven him right. Can we honestly say that we are witnessing a more holy, and godly culture and world today than we did then? Have all these mega-churches, with their myriads and myriads of programs for every niche of Christendom created more godly people who are influencing their society around them or not?

Bishop Ryle is right. The need of the day is not more programming or better stadium and arena events for Christians, but a return to the basics of simply and consistently following Christ in their local church with a pastor they know and who knows them. There is nothing wrong with zealousness in following Jesus, but when the zeal doesn’t produce transformed and holy lives, then it is not merely wrong it is sinful.