At what point in church history did Christians stop sacrificing for one another? The divisions are so deep within the Christian fellowship that one must wonder if we are justified in calling ourselves Christians. After all, “Christian” means “little Christ”, a representation of Christ. How Christ-like is it if a Church will split over an issue such as music style during the service, gossip between two members, or other trivial matters. If we are truly little Christ then why do we simply reach out to one demographic. A “church where you can wear jeans” as advertised on TV. Why do churches advertise that they are an “old fashion” or “contemporary” or “college” or some other segregated group? It appears we are a church that has turned the Great Commission into a marketing ploy.

Jean Baudrillard taught that Capitalism actually creates an alternative reality that is not real, a “simulation” if you will. This alternative reality has, in essence, become the simulacra (representation of reality). It accomplishes this by making a person believe that he has to accomplish something in order to become more human. A modern example within the simulacra is some people believe that in order to be successful they must forgo certain morals. Whereas reality dictates to watch out for our fellow man the simulacra forces every man to isolate himself first. It creates the belief of Faber quisque fortunae suae (Every man is the maker of his own fortune). This belief causes a man to forgo his neighbor in pursuit of what he believes in real, what he believes he really needs. The simulacra makes humans long and strive for what is not needed, even sacrificing the real needs for the simulated needs. Man needs fellowship, yet the simulacra causes man to forgo this fellowship in order to obtain whatever the simulacra has put in its place.

The church has given into its own simulacra. Within this simulacra there are certain beliefs that are not necessarily real (established by God) but instead are simulations of reality yet accepted to be reality. One such simulation is the belief that numbers measure the success of a church. From this belief, this striving for numbers comes all other simulations. Numbers, which can be used in place of pride, are the cornerstone of the Christian simulacra. One of the main reasons that numbers is strived for is that the current simulation teaches that the bigger the numbers the more successful a church. Likewise, with bigger numbers comes more money, more name recognition, and more fame. Most people have probably never heard of Mark Jackson because he is a church planter of small churches in a small state, however almost all have heard of Benny Hinn, Billy Graham, or Chuck Swindol. While having numbers is not evil (no one could assert that Billy Graham or Chuck Swindol are evil simply because they draw from large numbers or have large congregations) it can become evil when used as the defining mark of success or the thing for which an evangelist or pastor strives for. From the belief that numbers creates success comes the marketing ploy that Christianity has adopted. This has created “seeker-friendly” churches that adapt their service to certain styles and preferences. The church is no longer a place of worship but instead a corporate conglomerate which advertises to the masses or a certain demographic in order to obtain members. Unfortunately this is all viewed as biblical, as real Christianity. Few take the time to ponder upon if this form of marketing, this simulation they are stuck in but believe to be reality, is false. This reality seeks to confuse the person into not understanding the difference between the reality and the simulation. It confuses the point to where the people view the simulation as their own reality.

From the simulacra of numbers comes the simulacrum of style. The simulation teaches that the biblical church will have a certain style to it. Most often the main distinction falls between contemporary and traditional. In other words there are modern churches that use modern praise and worship and a modern style of preaching whilst others that use a traditional type with hymns and “hell fire and brimstone” preaching. This separation of the two for preference is acceptable, to the point that no one takes a second thought at such a separation. Style is not merely fixed towards traditional and contemporary. The simulacrum has created multiple styles, to the point of even a style of fellowship and service. While one church might service and fellowship with those who are “outcast” another might seek CEO’s. While there is nothing wrong with reaching out to a group of outcast or CEO’s, when one group becomes the primary focus of the church then that church has lost its focus. Yet under the simulation, the alternate of the Biblical reality, this is not the case. It is viewed as good practice and Biblical when a church embraces a style and then refuses to move from this style for anyone. The idea of sacrifice and service has lost its concept under such a “reality”. Instead of all styles finding an easy compromise in which all receive a taste of their preferences in each service or church, the simulacra has caused them to separate so that their wants and needs are met. A church that has a style is often a church devoid of service to those different from themselves. Unfortunately, many churches take this further and try to apply a “church structure”. One merely needs to wander into the Church development section of the local Christian bookstore to realize what is being said. Churches seem to hold the idea that a book will help them develop their church towards numbers (again we see all aspects of the simulacra inherently go back to this point). The Purpose Driven Church gives a model of reaching out to the middle age and younger generation by developing a church based towards them. It becomes a church that no longer seeks to reach out to the world but instead a church meant to reach out to a certain demographic. This is the fatal flaw of Protestants in that they find it so easy to split and go with a “non-conformed” church. Under such a simulacrum however, scripture is twisted and distorted to the point people believe it is scriptural to only reach out to one demographic, or one style of a church.

These two simulacrums lead inevitably to the final simulacra of purpose. Too often Christians believe that the main purpose of the church is evangelism and growth. Under such a simulacrum the Great Commission is limited to “Go and preach the Gospel to all nations” whilst forgetting the rest of the passage. While evangelism is not bad or evil, it can be misused to the point that the church loses its primary purpose. By putting such a heavy emphasis on evangelism, the first part of the Great Commission, the second part, discipleship, is forgotten and starved. Churches turn into something that is entertaining for the lost but holds no growth for the disciples. In essence, the church feeds the wolves but starves the sheep. The established paradigm teaches that such actions are okay. As one pastor who I heard put it, “A child must learn to feed himself at some point.” The simulation of the biblical reality provides massive conversions and vast numbers of people “coming to Christ” (though ignores perseverance of the saints, that a lifestyle, not a confession, is what proves a person is in Christ) but still producing a weak church. The reason for such conversions is that the Church is catering towards the wants of the lost and not the needs of the lost. A person is hearing that they too can be blessed, they too can be healed, and they too can embrace eternal security but are being starved of any discipleship that might enhance such claims. Why would a church commit such an atrocity? Why would a church commit to a style that does not benefit the body but only the prospects? It all goes back to the belief that numbers validate the church.

The obvious solution is to defeat the simulacra Christians have been placed in and get back to a Biblical reality. Christians must first realize that numbers do not validate nor make a church. An army of five hundred, if well trained and properly armed, can defeat an army of five million if that five million is staved and has no weapons. Likewise, a church of fifty can make more of an impact if properly fed than a church of fifty-thousand. Christians must not forget their roots in that approximately only one hundred people had converted to Christianity prior to Pentecost. God used these one hundred converts to change the entire world. Having a large church is not evil or wrong. In fact, the lager a church the greater potential they have to reach the world. However numbers should simply be seen as such, a number. Numbers do not weigh or measure the strength of a church or a preacher. Mormons, Muslims, and other false religions can claim millions of followers, yet this does not mean that the religion is any truer than another is. Thus a church can claim to have thousands of members, but this does not mean the church is following Christ. A number merely represents how many people have chosen to attend a church and does not define the success of a church. Success can only be defined for each church locally and should never depend on growth. When a pastor defines his success at a church, numbers should not even make an appearance within the description except as a side note or followed by the spiritual condition of those numbers. This will help to eliminate the “seeker friendly” churches. A church should not invite the seekers but instead seek the lost. Christ did not tell the Church to open its arms to the seekers but instead to go out and find that which is lost. This includes those seeking and those not seeking.

By defeating the simulacra of numbers and realizing that it is not reality but an illusion of reality, one can move onto style and see there is no need for it. There should not be a style per se, but instead all styles should conform and sacrifice. Instead of having a contemporary service and a hymnal service (which divides the body), it is possible to bring both forms together within a service. Those that claim the name of Christ should have no problem. Church is not made for the individual but for the body of Christ. If a person cannot get over such a compromise then that individual does not belong in church, period. Church is established for sacrifice, for service, for the fellowship of believers. If a person cannot sacrifice, cannot worship, cannot learn, cannot fellowship because his or her style is not being met, then this person has spiritual issues that must be dealt with. Christians must free themselves from a simulacrum that creates a style and a preference. By doing this Christians will stop advertising and seeking out one demographic and seek after all demographics. Gone will be the days of the elderly in one church or one service, while the youth are in another service or another church. The simulacrum has made this seem like reality, as something that cannot and should not be changed. The Bible teaches that the elderly, the youth, the homeless, the CEO, the Jew and the Gentile, are to all worship in one accord.

By ridding Christianity of the false precepts, Christians can get back to what the idea of a church is. The purpose of a church is two-fold and both purposes are equal. The first is evangelism and the second is discipleship. Acts 2:42 describes the church’s function in discipleship in four main areas. Teaching Biblical doctrine, providing a place of fellowship for believers, observing the Lord’s Supper, and praying all fall inside the role of discipleship. A church that does not focus on its members (being all Christians) and their growth is a church that has lost all direction. Instead of relying upon concerts and reaching out to people’s wants, the Church should instead be meeting people’s needs. Now is there anything wrong with a movie, a concert, a pizza party, or just holding an event? Absolutely not for this provides the fellowship aspect of ministry. It allows Christians to gather and just have a good time. Fellowship, having a good time, is essential to discipleship. However it must not be the primary focus. With fellowship there must come an equal amount of Biblical teaching. A Christian’s knowledge of the Bible should not be limited to the Roman Road and basic theological concepts. Instead the longer one is a Christian and at a church, the more theology and Bible a Christian should understand. This is discipleship. Keeping the body accountable, fed, knowledgeable, and tight knit the more effective a church is.

Christianity must rid itself of the false reality, the simulacra it has created for itself. The only way for it to become effective is to get back to the Biblical truths, the reality of the Bible, and shed the modern nonsense.