Fashion and fads are a part of life. One moment something is in the next it is out. Thinking back to my HP IPaq I got in 2004, I thought it was the answer to all my technology needs, guess I was wrong.
Fads are a part of life, and the church is no different. I wanted to have a little fun today and think back to some of the fads I saw in church growing up. Now before I give my list I want to say not all fads are good nor are all fads bad. Some fads serve a specific purpose for a specific time, some fads though probably never should have been.
Fads I have experienced in church:
- The introduction of a drum set inside a church
- OHP (Over Head Projectors)
- Powerpoint
- Clucking like a chicken the Toronto way
- Brownsville wannabes
- Hillsong wannabes
- Sweater Vests
- Huge Christmas & Easter productions (with choirs and animals!)
- Purpose Driven
- North Point wannabes
- Cell Groups
- G12 cell groups
- Family services
- Flags and banners
- Billy Graham Crusades
- Bulletins
- Multi-service
- Multi-site
- Video campus
- Casual dress
- Web campus
- Seeker sensitivity
- Revival services
- Song Leaders
- Brooklyn Tab wannabes
There are way more but I can’t think of them right now. While it’s funny to look back on fads (and some of these are just emerging fads today), some of these fads were the catalyst many needed to experienced the life and hope there is through Jesus Christ.
One thing to remember about fads is they are not the answer just a solution to current problem. Churches live and die by their fads when instead they should live and die by their savior! Maybe that is why so many are dying today?
