Rocking out for Jesus

Remember when you were a kid and you’d wake up on Sunday morning to go to church?

You’d get all dressed up in your T-shirt and jeans and hop in your car.

Then you’d drive to your big church with 2,000 other parishioners to praise your God with a live rock band.

Doesn’t sound familiar? It doesn’t to us either.

That’s the weekly routine for 6,595 churchgoers in Carmel, Ind., who attend Northview Church. Northview was recently named the fifth-fastest growing church in America.

The church itself has windowless sanctuaries with 2,000 seats for parishioners in a three-tiered auditorium.

The church’s website states they worship using “upbeat, contemporary Christian music.”

Now, we on the Editorial Board don’t judge anyone based on his or her religious views.

However, something to these “mega-churches” only seem to give people a bite-sized sample of religion.

While these large churches may be a practical way to introduce a new generation into the church, we feel they shouldn’t be used as someone’s sole source of
spirituality.

“Mega-churches” provide people with the feeling that they’re devoutly religious when, really, they’re missing the mark.

Now, some people who go to these mega-churches may be pious.

But the lack of personality in these churches is in a stark contrast to traditional faith.

It comes off as all style and no substance.

Religion should be something that you use to try and search within yourself for improvement.

It should be used to better yourself at a deeper level.

Mega-churches seem to do the exact opposite.

It’s almost impossible to explore your own personal faith in a glorified rock concert for Jesus.

Churches shouldn’t need IT directors, video producers, lights coordinators or production arts managers.

That is, unless you’re worshipping at a Cher
concert.

All this production value makes Northview Church seem reminiscent of
televangelists.

Many preachers at mega-churches are televangelists.

Most of us can agree that televangelists aren’t really pastors.

They’re just salesmen, selling you a faith if the price is right.

Now, we don’t have information on Northview’s financial budget.

But we can assume that hosting a live rock concert several times a week comes with a decently large price tag.

The Editorial Board would like to urge readers to remember that, if you are religious and go to church, hold your religion as something personal that makes you happy and fulfilled.

Do not use it as a party to perk up your dull Sunday mornings.

— opinion@idsnews.com
Follow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @IDS_Opinion.