# Show-time for Jesus? Unchurched church-goers
*2017-11-13*

> Bill Young reflects on the difference between the communal, sacramental nature of the Catholic Church and the 'feel-good' atmosphere of non-denominational services.

## A Different Kind of Service

I had an interesting weekend. My wife recently met a woman on a flight to North Carolina who attends a non-denominational church. This woman invited my wife to a service, and my wife, thinking it would be like the Presbyterian preschool environment our son attended years ago, dressed up in a nice black dress. However, when she arrived, she found it was nothing like a traditional church. It was more like an auditorium with a stage and a big band. I call this 'show-time for Jesus.'

It was funny because my wife had been upset with me the night before for playing Christian music in the car, yet she found the same type of music at this service. She also noticed their approach to tithing, which is very upfront about the 10% requirement. Coming from an 'old school' mindset of putting a dollar in the basket, that was quite a contrast for her.

## Feel-Good Religion vs. The Cross

From what I understand, many of these non-denominational services are 'feel-good' religions. Their primary goal is to make the attendee feel good. But did Jesus say, 'Follow me and I'm going to make you feel good'? I don't think so. Anyone who reads the Bible knows He asks us to carry our cross. That is the way to heaven.

My wife often tells me I talk too much about hell, but in some of these non-denominational circles, hell isn't mentioned at all. They suggest we are all going to heaven just by believing, without the need to do anything else. While I'm in favor of everyone going to heaven, we have to ask if that is the reality of the faith.

## The Necessity of Valid Consecration

One thing that disturbs me is that these services often offer communion every week. As far as I know, the only people who can truly consecrate the Eucharist into the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are priests—specifically Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox priests. I would love to hear from a theologian like Dr. Scott Hahn on the official ruling here, but I believe that without a valid priest, it is merely a remembrance of Christ, not the real presence.

## Being Members of the Church

This leads into our topic from the book 'One Bread, One Body' regarding 'unchurched church-goers.' In Romans 16:16, Paul greets the churches of Christ with a holy kiss. The Lord calls us not only to go to church, but to be members of the Church. This means being baptized—immersed in the Body of Christ—and continuing steadfastly in the Christian community, as seen in Acts 2:42.

Paul's relationships with the people in the early church were not superficial; they were deep. People like Prisca and Aquila risked their lives for him. In our modern Western society, we have tried to live less committed lifestyles, but this experiment has proven to be a failure. We must return to the communal life described in the New Testament.

*True faith is not about a 'feel-good' experience, but about a committed, communal life in the Church and the willingness to carry one's cross.*