Microcults?

 

Joshua from the YouTube channel "Ready to Harvest" explains the microchurch movement, which I suppose is distinct from the home church ditto! Or is it?

The microchurches seem to be a kind of "affinity groups", without trained pastors or a centralized organization. Indeed, they hardly have any internal structure either - at least not on paper. Nor is there any church building. The emphasis is on "missional living", Bible study and slow recruitment through bringing in friends and family.

I can see at least two problems with this approach. First, the microchurches are really a missionary strategy (theologically, they seem to be evangelical). The point of each microchurch is to train each member in forming new microchurches. Every member must count on being "sent out" at some point. So they are not exactly one big cozy family! Joshua also explicitly says that many microchurches are geared towards penetrating and evangelizing "subcultures". Surfers or bikers, say.

Second, leaders virtually always emerge in every human setting. If there are no formal structures, how can the leaders be held formally accountable for anything? A common problem in all these subcultural milieux is precisely "the tyranny of structurelessness" behind which the mask of Führerschaft lurks. Funny evangelical Christians make the same mistake as radical feminists, anarchists or hippies!

Third, the microchurches sound frankly cultic. A small high-commitment group based on cliquish ties which attempts to fly under the radar, while trying to bring in new members by befriending them on the beach...yeah, like we never heard *that* before.

I think I rather join an Anglican church and stay in the back pews, thank you!