It is a Saturday night - I am sitting in a coffeehouse going over my notes for preaching at Santa Cruz Bible Church. It's fun to be heading back there for a Sunday. They are the church who planted us (Vintage Faith Church) in 2004.
But as I am sitting here... I just overheard the term "organized religion" used by someone. I am also writing a chapter on organized religion in terms of Christianity. So if you can take a minute - seriously looking for a sentence or two - and let me know how would you define "organized religion"? Christianity is often accused of being organized religion in a negative way (like this t-shirt I found on Google images does). Don't let the way this shirt defines organized religion shape your response, if you have a different way of thinking about it. I'd like to hear your gut reaction to that term as it is used in reference to the church and Christianity.
I would love to read some quick thoughts of some specifics on what people think of with the church when it is accused of being "organized religion". If it is "cultivated ignorance" like this t-shirt says, what does that mean? Ignorance of what? (I would ask the t-shirt designer to help me understand what he/she thinks with how they would respond to the question).
 Dan Kimball is the author of numerous books, including They Like Jesus But Not the Church. He is also the pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. This article originally appeared on his blog - www.dankimball.com. He is part of the creative team launching the Origins Project. |
In the book I am writing, I actually show why I believe the church needs to be organized in a healthy way - as hospitals are organized, the One Campaign was organized - and we should be organized to help people. But for the amount of times the church and Christians are accused of being "organized religion" can you post here what you believe people mean when they say that about the church?
A quick sentence or two would be great and helpful to me! What comes to your mind the first about the term "organized religion" in reference to church/Christianity?
Here are some of the responses at Dan's blog:
Opposite of "disorganized religion." Seriously, I haven't been convinced that "organized religion" isn't a necessary (meaning it cannot be any other way) consequence of Christianity.
Organized religion: structure ≠ freedom
It is my observation that many people have the perception that structure automatically removes freedom. They fear that joining a religion of any organized fahsion will remove their freedom to believe and do what they deem to be correct, and instead will replace that freedom with a system of what to learn, believe and do.
Dan, I would encourage you to check out some studies from groups like Leadership Network or look at some literature in the Journalism & Mass Communication area. There has been a lot of research done about public perception/opinion, and you may find some good nuggets about why many people tend to believe that an increase in structure automatically equates to a loss of freedom
Dan, I wonder what the response would be if you changed "organized religion" to "organic religion"? (Aside from wry comments about worshipping food grown without pesticides, I mean.)
"Organic" religion would imply function and growth like an organism, which begins embryonically within another organism, develops, is birthed and raised until reaching maturity. The new organism then functions more independently, but still within a community of other organisms.
"Organized" shares the same root word but implies a much less natural process, one that involves constraint and clearly demarcated lines of authority. Organized religion in that sense does not give birth to anything; its purpose is to assimilate existing organisms into an efficient, controlled, and predictable structure. The bureaucracy exists for itself and although its actions may benefit others, its primary purpose is to preserve and control itself.
Organic - or organism-like - religion functions for the purpose of "other-creation", "other-discipling," and "other-empowering", but never for self-preservation.
Organized religion is just that. Religion that is codified, administrated, and...well...organized!
People don't like organized religion because the "rules" are determined by others, which the haters feel undermines their individual sovereignty.
O.R.: The "church" (or other entity) existing for the point of furthering the organization itself (buildings, money, power, heirarchy, etc.) rather than creating a movement for the good of the world.
I think the term "organized religion" is kind of like "corporate America." They both evoke images of immovable, power-hungry, money making institutions that plow right over the everyman on its way to achieving its goals. Both terms smack of corruption, greed, etc. The problem is that it is a terrible stereotype. Not every corrporation in this country is like that. In fact, most probably aren't. Where would we be without corrporations to hire millions of Americans, to provide the goods and services we've come to rely upon? And where would we be without instutions of religion that can work together to accomplish good in the world through disaster relief, hunger relief, AIDS relief, etc. "Organized Religion" as a term has become cliche. It's really lost its punch. People throw it around not really knowing what they mean by that, or if it's even an accurate expression.
organised religion replaces the need for the holy spirit. It turns an organism into a machine replete with systems, structures, strategies, mission, vision, values, culture, procedures, goals, objectives, core beliefs, systematic theology, policies, checks and balances, staff manuals, due diligence, legal, financial and denominational oversight.... would you like me to continue? I know... I ran it.
Maybe people would be more interested in Christianity if it was a DISORGANIZED RELIGION......LOL
There is a lot of truth to the sarcasm though, I mean why would you want to follow something or some belief that was completely chaotic and screwed-up with no structure?
I'd take "organized religion" over "unorganized religion" anytime....
I think people who accuse Christianity of being organized religion are either burned out Christians who blame the church for their burn out. Or people who want to accuse Christianity of being bad and that is a term that is now popular to use, but they don't really know what it means.
"..within any religion, whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam or whatever." -Christy
Hinduism, Wicca, and the list goes on and on.
Where can we find a solid ground to even have a hope of understanding what the truth is?
I think it is Christ. He died and rose from the dead, and He ascended into heaven. And His affectionate disciples have written incredible testimonies, inspired by God, about Jesus of Nazareth, the risen Lord of life and truth, and the only way to heaven and eternal life.
As I understand it, "organized church" as a rhetorical turn of phrase is a way to dismiss the established, building-based (or campus based) churches with lots of overhead costs that are often (but not exclusively) theologically and politically conservative.
More importantly, I think that the implied distinction between "organized church" and unorganized church (?) misses the point. The practical problem centers on the question: HOW IS CHURCH ORGANIZED?
Well, I can tell you what I mean when I say "organized religion": The creeds, doctrines, traditions, hierarchies and institutions that people created within any religion, whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam or whatever.
Organized religion isn't necessarily a bad thing - although sometimes it is. It has its positives, negatives and limitations, just like any other institution. When I use the term "organized religion", I don't mean that churches are well-organized - a lot of them aren't - just that Christianity is a religion, created by people who influenced, and were influenced by, their sociological realities and context.
I'm utterly fascinated by the sociology and psychology of religion, and in my world, calling Christianity "organized religion" isn't a accusation - just a statement of fact. (Although I do sympathize with the T-shirt - but to tell you why would require an obnoxiously long comment.)
Good luck on your book chapter - even if I think we would disagree on practically everything in it.:-)
ceo/head pastor head, not jesus, top down, management, buildings-budgets-butts in seats most important (physical unbalanced with spiritual), my way(man) or the highway, closed to the mystery of what God has done for us, head people working outside their giftedness, 12 step or program for everything, not relationship focused, willing to discuss-not closed minded to questions or thinking, just a few of my favorite things...
Organized religion as it is often perceived is the church's attempt to control her environment. Organized religion as it truly should be is the organization of Christ's followers to carry out the true task of religion as defined in James 1:27.
Organized religion is the work of God's left hand kingdom, God's good and necessary (yet limited and temporal) gift to the world.
The problem comes when organized religion assumes it is dealing in God's right hand kingdom.
Greetings from Ireland!
Organized religion - definitely a Mac OS operating system with a phat 27 inch monitor. It's most sought after application is enabling life change which gives people a HD view of the words of Jesus as they are put into action.
OR
Organized religion - the excuse a lot of followers of Christ give as to why they are not being obedient to His words, yet in reality it is no excuse at all.
Organized religion? I personally think that most people who use this term are referring to the way Christians insist on 'proper' modes of behavior, meaning that they do not consider people "Christian" unless they behave in a certain manner and follow certain rules of social behavior. It's a lot of what Dan Kimbal refers to in his book "They like Jesus but not the Church." I know many Christians who have chosen to stop going to Church because they really struggle with the way that Christians treat other people, Christian or non-Christian. I don't think many of these people against organized religion really care much about how the church is organized as much as they care about what their interactions with Christians tell them. If they feel judged and unloved by Christians, or observe someone else being treated unfairly or inappropriately, they will likely hold a negative opinion of "organized religion," but I think it is based more on their interactions with Christians than with the governing structure of the church itself...