As I'm riding downtown Atlanta, GA (near Centennial Olympic park), I noticed a large church called The Tabernacle with a long line wrapped around the building. The Tabernacle was once a church but now a nightclub/concert venue. When people go out in the night life they expect to be entertained, to meet new people and to simply have a good time. The night life is often used as an escape from the pains of real life. One can be "healed" temporarily through the dark atmosphere, loud music and easy access to drugs and alcoholic beverages.
Does The Tabernacle mirror many current tabernacles? Some people come to church to be entertained, to meet new people and to simple have a good time. The church is often used as an escape from the pains of real life. One can be "healed" temporarily through the heavy emotional atmosphere the church often presents. The dramatic teachings of some preachers enable attendees to become excited yet once they return home, they return to the pains of real life.
While some churches represent pure entertainment absent from the Holy Spirit, other churches create an atmosphere for deliverance. Once a person is healed, he/she fails to remain healed due to the lack of faith. Thus, I do believe many churches today have become the club.
So where should the church go from here? The church should never lose focus on the foundation of which it was built. Developing community which relies on discipleship and most importantly- prayer.
