Fastest Growing Churches, 50 Christians to Watch, and Other Really Bad Ideas

Recently our church was informed that we were going to be featured in a popular magazine for pastors and church leaders. The magazine does annual lists of the largest, fastest growing, most innovative, etc., churches in the US. Somehow our church had made its way onto on of their lists. We politely asked them to remove us from the list and not include us in the publication.

Another popular Christian periodical is about to publish a list of 50 believers who are influencing the church and culture. It’s a huge honor to be named to such a list and I’m sure that each of the people listed are indeed having real impact in our culture. But I must tell you that such lists and recognitions are a really, really bad idea.

The fastest growing church list, the most baptisms list, the Christian best-seller list, the top ten people to watch list–and others like them–only help feed the myth of the celebrity or superstar Christian. Naming a building after a guy who can write a big check or having a so-called Who’s Who in American Christianity list exalts people over the Savior who died for them. It honors the funnel of the gift (the guy who wrote the check) over the true giver (God). It spotlights the gifts and skills of people instead of recognizing the Spirit as the source of the work and gifts they’re celebrating.

It creates pride, people worship, Christian celebrities and what I call the OOOOHH-AAHHHHH Club, which is a certain class of Christian that the rest of us sit around and ooohh and aaahhhh over. It’s sickening and highly unbiblical.

Now, I am not saying that such churches and believers aren’t having true Kingdom impact, as they may well be. Only God knows for sure. But I am saying that when we elevate other believers to celebrity status because they sing, write or preach well, or because they lead a big church, we miss the point entirely. Jesus rebuked his disciples for trying to figure out who among them was the greatest and he taught in John that his Holy Spirit would only glorify him, not others.

So why would we ever put time and energy into honoring those who happen to be graced by God when it’s God who is doing the gracing?

If we are to feature anyone, why not feature that Chinese pastor who is languishing in a prison cell for preaching the Gospel? Why not feature the woman who has served quietly in an orphanage in Haiti for over 40 years and who has saved the lives of countless children? Why not feature the man who started a Bible study on death row for his father’s murderer and his fellow inmates? Why not spotlight the couple who lives among the homeless in a major city and provides them with basic medical care, food and clothing, and teaches them God’s Word. We should spotlight them, not so we can ooohhh and aahhh over them, but so we can intercede for them and help them in their work.

Friends, let’s grow up and repent of worshiping and comparing people, pastors, churches, worship leaders, worship bands, and Christian writers. It sets them up to fail and sets us up for disappointment. Instead, let’s lift our hands to and bow our knees before the one with nail-prints in his hands. He’s the real hero, and he became a slave for us.