stores). Now shoppers could find almost all of their wants under one roof, from lettuce to ladders, from aspirin to Barbie Dolls. The wholesale buying power of such chain stores allowed them to sell all of these things more inexpensively than could the local shops. Thus began the decline of local businesses in many towns. Even those that managed to survive have seldom grown larger. They appeal mostly to either old-timers who like doing business with familiar faces, or people who like the convenience of not having to drive to the outskirts of town to get to the mega-store.
This same trend has developed in the Wild World of Religion. As mentioned earlier, the big, thriving churches of the 1950s would be in the center of the town, and the tiny independent Pentecostal churches would be on the outskirts. Those big church buildings are still in place in most towns, but they are no longer thriving. Their congregations are dwindling, as fewer and fewer of the latest generations of Americans have been attracted to “that old-time religion.” And the independent Pentecostal churches are still on the outskirts of town—but they are no longer in those tiny buildings. Of course, most prefer the label “Charismatic” now, rather than Pentecostal. The Charismatic movement is one of the fastest growing religious “brands,” in both America and the world. (See the Pentecostal and Charismatic: What’s the Difference? chapter for an explanation of the two terms.) Many towns now boast huge Charismatic mega-church complexes on the outskirts of town. The sanctuaries of some of these churches can hold many thousands, and some of them even fill those sanctuaries two or more times on a Sunday with different crowds. In the hallways outside many of these huge sanctuaries, one can find almost a “mall” of facilities. There may be everything from cappuccino shops and bookstores, to conference rooms for AA meetings, single parent clubs, and senior citizen gatherings. Farther down the hallway will be the gym for the “Praisercise” classes, and Youth Ministry rooms that feature videogame machines, pool tables, and a stage for the visiting contemporary Christian music bands that play for special events.
Little wonder that many of the families who have drifted away from the stagnating “old” churches, which seem to have so little to offer other than a church service on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, have ended up checking out the Walmarts of Religion. The music for the mega-church worship service is often very professional, inspirational, and contemporary. The enthusiasm of the audience is infectious, and the dynamic personality of the Pastor very appealing to many. The one thing which visitors may find missing, if they know to look for it, however, is the same thing missing from many Charismatic TV shows—solid biblical teaching. The sermons in many such churches seem to be a steady diet of “health and prosperity” teaching and little else.
Trend Five: One-Doctrine Wonders
Hal Lindsey’s Late Great Planet Earth book became an instant best seller in the early 1970s. In the intervening thirty years it has been read by millions, including Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals … and even, reportedly, by the late Pope John Paul II! Most people are fascinated by speculation regarding when and how the world will end. The supermarket tabloids regularly feature sensationalist headlines about the latest interpretation of the nebulous prophecies of Nostradamus. However, for most readers, the fascination with prophecy about the “End Times” is a passing interest at most, and a hobby at best.
This is not so with those in the religious subculture of the End Times Prophecy Movement. Just as the most dedicated Trekkies make their obsession with Star Trek the central focus of their life, a large number of Christians spend every spare moment reading, hearing, discussing, speculating, and worrying about how current world events and conditions might line up with the prophecies of the Bible. The most radical among them may even make serious life choices based on the conclusions they reach. They may decide to build a fortified, armed hideaway designed to help them survive “the Tribulation.” They may invest all their financial reserves in gold and silver coins, and move to a Caribbean Island to escape what they believe to be the coming collapse of American society. They may cancel plans for a college education, marriage, or having children because they are convinced The End is imminent. More than one has even tried to help speed the Second Coming of Christ along by plotting to destroy the Muslim Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, so that a Jewish temple can be built on the location—a pre-requisite, they believe, to Jesus’ return.
Most of these people likely have some sort of basic theological beliefs about other aspects of life. They may have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, and believe that the Bible is their guide to life. But, at some point in their spiritual quest, they have shifted almost all of their focus away from the Sermon on the Mount and the other basics of the Faith, and toward an all-consuming emphasis on prophecy. They devour all the latest books on the topic, watch endless prophecy programs on the Christian cable TV stations, and travel around the country to prophecy conferences, where alleged “prophecy experts” swap their latest speculations.
These people have embraced a One-doctrine Wonder which gives the primary meaning to their life, a doctrine that insists that we are living in the very Last Days of man’s dominion over the Earth, and that it is vital to prepare immediately for The End.
But they are not alone in their obsession with such a One-doctrine focus to life. There are other individual doctrines around which whole religious subcultures have formed. Another such doctrine is the one that insists that miracles, particularly miracles of healing, were not just limited to the first century AD, but are available today. Those deeply involved in the Healing Ministries Movement devour all the latest books on how you can “claim your healing.” They travel around the country to attend the latest “miracle crusade” by Benny Hinn or Morris Cerullo. They attend workshops on “how to heal.” And they watch the endless parade of healing crusade television specials on TBN and other Christian networks. Such specials show huge stadiums in South America, Africa, and elsewhere, filled with tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of people. The crowds have gathered in hopes of receiving or witnessing a healing in the presence of Reinhard Bonnke, Claudio Friedzon, and others like them.
Still others focus much of their energy, time, and resources in promotion of the Hebrew Roots movement. The central tenet of this subculture is that, in order to fully understand salvation through Jesus Christ, you must explore and embrace the “Hebrew Roots” of Jesus; in other words, study the customs and beliefs of first century Judaism. Those deeply involved in this movement devour all the latest books and tapes of their chosen Hebrew Roots teachers, attend conferences and conventions that feature “Hebraic” music, pageantry, and dancing, and perhaps adopt such customs as wearing prayer shawls trimmed with blue and white tassels.
Another One-doctrine Wonder that has attracted a huge following in the past two decades is what has been termed “Word Faith” theology. This is the primary theological foundation of most of the programs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, promoted by such popular televangelists as Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Rod Parsley, and Joyce Meyer. Its central feature is the belief that Christians have “power” in their own words to claim unlimited health and prosperity for themselves and others. Sometimes flippantly referred to by outsiders as the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine, this notion insists that God has promised unconditionally to give believers whatsoever they desire, if they will only claim it in total faith.
In Word Faith circles, other topics are at times addressed, such as family relationships, basic salvation messages, and prophecy. However, the lion’s share of books, evangelistic tracts, TV programs, DVDs, conferences, and weekly sermons are focused on teaching people how to claim their health and prosperity.
The End Times Prophecy, Healing Ministries, Hebrew Roots, and Word Faith movements are only the tip of the iceberg of religious subcultures in America at the beginning of the 21st Century. But because they are four of the most influential and fastest-growing at this time, this Field Guide includes a more extensive overview of each of them.
Trend Six: One-man Wonders
Paralleling
