The New Testament has no place for “special effects” churches. That is, churches that create an impression. God isn’t in that. It was our idea to make ourselves out to be more than we really are, to short-cut the long journey into depth and beauty. When this wrong spirit lays hold of a church, you can spot it a mile away.
From zero to hero doesn’t work.
The New Testament describes real Christianity as “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7). That is, churches where people are honest before God about who he really is and honest with each other about who they really are. Such churches have many weaknesses, but they are experiencing the reality we all long for: “. . . we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
From hero to zero works.
