By Oyewole Sarumi

We live in an era where Christianity has become increasingly defined by its external manifestations rather than its internal transformations.

The rise of megachurches, viral sermon clips, and pastor-celebrities has created a spiritual landscape where faith is often reduced to a spectator sport. What was once a radical movement rooted in personal sacrifice, deep discipleship, and genuine transformation has, in many instances, deteriorated into a religious marketplace.

In this space, pastors perform like entertainers, congregants consume spiritual content like products, and the Gospel message gets repackaged as another commodity in the self-help industry.

Jesus foresaw such distortions when He warned: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules” (Matthew 15:8-9). The early Church, as vividly portrayed in Acts, stood as a radical counterculture where believers “had everything in common” (Acts 2:44) and literally “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Yet today, many modern churches bear closer resemblance to corporate enterprises than to authentic communities of faith.

This article seeks to examine this troubling transition from spiritual vitality to religious consumerism. We will explore its historical roots, analyze its contemporary manifestations, and propose biblical solutions for returning to authentic Christianity.

The Corinthian Syndrome: When Churches Become Fan Clubs

The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church reads like a prophetic diagnosis of modern Christianity’s ailments. The Corinthian believers had fractured into competing factions – some declaring allegiance to Paul, others to Apollos, others to Cephas, and a select few claiming exclusive loyalty to Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). This ancient scenario finds disturbing parallels in today’s Christian landscape.

Modern Christianity has developed its own version of factionalism through the rise of celebrity pastor culture. Many congregants today demonstrate more loyalty to dynamic preachers than to Christ Himself. Denominational rivalry has escalated beyond theological differences into competitions for members, influence, and media dominance. Perhaps most troubling is the phenomenon of spectator faith, where believers attend services as passive consumers rather than active participants in the body of Christ.

Paul’s sharp rebuke cuts through the centuries with undiminished relevance: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). The early Church was designed by God to be united in mission and purpose, not fractured by personality cults and human allegiances. The contemporary Church must reckon with this warning anew.

The Commercialization of Christianity: From Altars to Marketplaces

Jesus’s dramatic cleansing of the temple stands as one of the most forceful demonstrations of His ministry. Overturning the money changers’ tables, He declared: “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). While we no longer see literal money changers in our church buildings, the commercialization of faith has taken subtler but equally dangerous forms in our time.

The prosperity gospel represents one of the most pervasive distortions, equating faith with financial gain. This teaching selectively emphasizes Scriptures like 3 John 1:2 (“I pray that you may prosper in all things”) while conveniently ignoring Jesus’s clear warning that “you cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

More blatant still are the various pay-for-blessing schemes proliferating in some circles, where ministries sell “anointing oil,” “prayer cloths,” or “special prophecies” – a modern-day revival of the sin of simony that Peter condemned in Acts 8:18-20.

Perhaps most indicative of this commercialization is the transformation of churches into brands. Many ministries now operate like franchises, complete with merchandise lines, conference circuits, and exclusive membership tiers that mirror corporate loyalty programs rather than biblical community.

A 2023 Pew Research study revealed that 38% of U.S. churchgoers view their giving as a “transaction,” expecting specific blessings in return for their financial contributions. This transactional approach to faith stands in stark contrast to the widow’s sacrificial offering that Jesus commended (Mark 12:41-44), where the value lay in her surrender rather than in any expected return.

The Rise of the Pastoral Elite: Shepherds or Celebrities?

The New Testament presents a clear model for spiritual leadership: “Be shepherds of God’s flock… not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2). Yet today’s landscape features what might be termed “super-pastors” who often resemble corporate executives more than humble servants of God’s people.

The warning signs of this shift are numerous and troubling. We see extravagant lifestyles that include private jets, luxury cars, and multi-million-dollar homes – all while preaching messages about humility and simplicity. The need for bodyguards and entourages stands in stark contrast to Jesus, who freely touched lepers (Mark 1:41) and ate with sinners (Luke 15:2). Perhaps most telling is the phenomenon of early retirement among some prominent pastors, who leave active ministry in their fifties for golf courses and beach homes – a far cry from Paul’s example of tireless service culminating in martyrdom.

This shift has produced dire consequences for the Church. A 2022 Barna Group study revealed that only 17% of pastors prioritize discipleship over growth metrics. When success becomes measured primarily in attendance numbers and revenue streams, the fundamental calling of shepherding souls inevitably takes a backseat.

The Spectator Problem: When Churchgoers Become Fans

Contemporary Christianity faces a crisis of participation. Many modern believers approach church like a concert or sporting event – showing up for the performance, cheering for their preferred “star,” and then leaving fundamentally unchanged. This passive approach to faith represents a radical departure from the biblical model of active discipleship.

The early Church thrived on the principle of universal participation. Paul’s metaphor of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) emphasized that every member had a vital role to play. Ephesians 4:12 makes clear that the role of church leaders is “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Yet today, many churches operate according to what might be called the 20/80 rule: 20% of the people do 80% of the work, while the majority remain passive spectators.

This spectator mentality manifests in several ways. The Great Commission’s command to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) gets replaced with an invitation to “come and be entertained.” The biblical call to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) gives way to a consumer mindset of “what can the church do for me?” Perhaps most tragically, the profound truth that “you are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) gets reduced to “I’m just a volunteer.”

The Way Back: Recovering Authentic Christianity

The solution to these challenges is not abandonment of the Church but its reformation. Church history demonstrates that periods of decline are often followed by powerful revivals when God’s people return to foundational truths. Several key steps can help facilitate this return to authentic Christianity.

First, we must recover the full Gospel message. This means preaching not just about God’s blessings but also about repentance, as Peter did at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Second, we need to reject the celebrity culture that has infiltrated the Church and instead elevate true servant leadership as modeled by Jesus (Mark 10:43-45). Third, we must reprioritize discipleship, moving beyond Sunday attendance to the kind of spiritual maturity described in Hebrews 5:12-14. Finally, we need to embrace biblical accountability, restoring the practice of loving church discipline that Jesus prescribed in Matthew 18:15-17.

Conclusion: A Call for Reformation

The Church was never intended to function as a religious corporation but as a living organism – the very body of Christ in the world. While the current state of Christianity may appear bleak in many respects, history testifies to God’s faithfulness in reviving His people when they return to Him with repentant hearts.

As in Elijah’s day, there remains “a remnant” (Romans 11:5) who have not bowed to the idols of our age. The crucial question facing each believer today is this: Will we be counted among them? The choice before us is clear and consequential: Will we settle for empty religion, or will we pursue authentic, transformative faith?

The apostle Paul’s exhortation rings as true today as when first written: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). May we have the courage to take this challenge seriously, that the Church might once again become all that Christ intended it to be.