I just got back from Springfield MO. I had a blast. The people I stayed with were fantastic, and the atmosphere was pleasant. I hope to go back sometime. It was only about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis.One of my friends said, "Springfield is known for three things": 1) Pro-bass shop (a typical outsider attempt at describing their projected destination, which i
s Bass Pro Shop, to a gas station clerk at Kum & Go [yes, that's a real gas station name]) 2) Chinese restaurants, and 3) Churches. Before I went to Springfield, the only thing of these three that I hadn't heard about was the Chinese restaurants. I knew that Bass Pro Shop 
in Springfield was the third largest tourist attraction in Missouri - it being the home base and all. I also knew that Springfield is the "Bible belt" portion of Missouri, and it so happens, the most politically conservative region in Missouri. In fact, Republican candidates will announce their intention to run for the Republican Party in Springfield instead of St. Louis or Kansas City or anywhere else.
s Bass Pro Shop, to a gas station clerk at Kum & Go [yes, that's a real gas station name]) 2) Chinese restaurants, and 3) Churches. Before I went to Springfield, the only thing of these three that I hadn't heard about was the Chinese restaurants. I knew that Bass Pro Shop 
in Springfield was the third largest tourist attraction in Missouri - it being the home base and all. I also knew that Springfield is the "Bible belt" portion of Missouri, and it so happens, the most politically conservative region in Missouri. In fact, Republican candidates will announce their intention to run for the Republican Party in Springfield instead of St. Louis or Kansas City or anywhere else. Even though I knew these things, my eyes widened as my friend drove me around mid-downtown and downtown Springfield; I watched church after church after church after church on both sides of the road zoom past my window. There was Baptist, Firs
t Baptist, Second Baptist, Baptist Church of America, Church of Christ, Methodist, First Methodist, New Methodist, Free Methodist, United Methodist, Dayspring, Christ Episcopal Church, PCA-Evangelical, PCA, PC-USA, Church of the Latterday Saints, Church of Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, Church of Christian Science, Church of God, Church of Jesus, Church of the Bible, Church of the Spirit, Doves, Figtrees, Living Waters, Life, Heavens, Vision, Harmony, etc....There was 1 mega-church for every 10 houses! When I say mega, I mean mega. These buildings were by far the largest in the whole city. Every single one covered at least a square block, with a 
parking lot able to accomodate several thousands of cars. They had shuttles and busses parked in their lots. They had playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields, etc. Some had little mini-malls in their buildings, with a starbucks, a play center, a library, a book store, chat rooms, class rooms, computer labs, etc. It's not that I haven't seen mega structures like this in St. Charles - I certainly have (e.g. Grace Church, Calvary, Church on the Rock, Harvester, etc.). But the mere size and quantity of these churches was overwhelming.
t Baptist, Second Baptist, Baptist Church of America, Church of Christ, Methodist, First Methodist, New Methodist, Free Methodist, United Methodist, Dayspring, Christ Episcopal Church, PCA-Evangelical, PCA, PC-USA, Church of the Latterday Saints, Church of Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, Church of Christian Science, Church of God, Church of Jesus, Church of the Bible, Church of the Spirit, Doves, Figtrees, Living Waters, Life, Heavens, Vision, Harmony, etc....There was 1 mega-church for every 10 houses! When I say mega, I mean mega. These buildings were by far the largest in the whole city. Every single one covered at least a square block, with a 
parking lot able to accomodate several thousands of cars. They had shuttles and busses parked in their lots. They had playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fields, etc. Some had little mini-malls in their buildings, with a starbucks, a play center, a library, a book store, chat rooms, class rooms, computer labs, etc. It's not that I haven't seen mega structures like this in St. Charles - I certainly have (e.g. Grace Church, Calvary, Church on the Rock, Harvester, etc.). But the mere size and quantity of these churches was overwhelming.I think for sure these churches have it all good. They have so much money that they do not have to worry about what they need anymore; they get to progress to a luxurious life - one where they can support their wants. This is the simple dream of American life.
I get a bad feeling in my stomach when people choose to chase this dream for a life of lux
ury in exchange for their time and effort, which might be used otherwise. I get a bad feeling when I do it myself. I get the same bad feeling when I see churches doing it.It's how institutions become "American." If you've ever wondered what it means to be a
n American, look at the churches and other institutions, then look at secular culture - they both have luxurious consumerism in common.I'm not saying that consumerism is all bad; I'm not even saying that luxurious consumerism is all bad. I suppose the bad feeling in my stomach arises when I see it in 
play where I wish it wasn't the most. In this case, it is mega-churches that make me nauseous because they seem to convey a message of love over competition, eternity over self-worth, and sacrifice over consummation through their words, but when I take in the whole picture - one that reveals the actual amount of money a mega-church spends on increasing its self-worth and feeding its luxurious appetite - it seems they convey a message that is particularly American, a message that is particularly opposed to their words. I can't help but wonder: if actions are manifestations of beliefs, then what do Christians in not only Springfield MO but the rest of the US believe?
play where I wish it wasn't the most. In this case, it is mega-churches that make me nauseous because they seem to convey a message of love over competition, eternity over self-worth, and sacrifice over consummation through their words, but when I take in the whole picture - one that reveals the actual amount of money a mega-church spends on increasing its self-worth and feeding its luxurious appetite - it seems they convey a message that is particularly American, a message that is particularly opposed to their words. I can't help but wonder: if actions are manifestations of beliefs, then what do Christians in not only Springfield MO but the rest of the US believe? Words are never enough.
1 comment:
Great work.
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