Two Types of Churches to Avoid: McDonald’s & Burger King (2of3)
By: Roger Himes Esq.
Tags: Religion, McDonalds, Choices, Gospel

McDonald’s McChurchianity and Burger King Churchianity Both Have Different Non-Gospel Types of Ministries They Preach to People

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The last post was an introduction. (Click here to see it). Today we’ll talk about McDonald’s McChurchianity, and next time the subject will be Burger King Churchianity.

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McDonald's represents what Paul would refer to as ‘a law preaching church.’ McDonald's is founded on very strict standards of business that are like “The Ten Commandments of McDonald’s business practice. At the top of the list are four laws, rules or very high standards that every employee must follow and abide by if they want to stay employed:

(1) quality,

(2) service,

(3) value,

(4) cleanliness.

All of their locations exist by these four dynamics.

I’m by no means saying these four things are bad. They are good. But it’s like every employee has these four things plastered across their forehead for all to see, and they are the criteria that must guide and direct their life on the job.

Now Let’s Transfer This Over to Christianity

This is the way so many Christians live their lives each and every day. It’s called ‘living by the law.’ They are external standards Christians live and abide by in trying to control their lives and also to please God.

Maxims, laws and rules change from church to church, and there may be many different beliefs in how we should live, as we can see in the various denominations. But any McDonald's McChurchianity type of church will have a bunch of maxims, standards, laws, rules, or precepts to live by.

(1) They strive to be a ‘quality’ Christian,

(2) They strive to give good ‘service’ in some way,

(3) They want to add ‘value,’ and receive recognition,

(4) They want to be ‘clean,’ in word, thought, and deed.

There is nothing WRONG with this. It’s very noble to live like this. But if this is your motivating factor in life, it will drive you crazy. It’s like climbing a ladder, but there is always another rung to climb. It’s like the ante keeps going up the longer you’re a believer. Laws and rules become endless.

Religious Preaching is All Focused on Us

It’s like so many pastors preach: “Go try A-B-C this week and see if it works.” Then they add: “If it doesn’t work, come back next week and I’ll give you X-Y-Z to try.”

This is a life of ‘Do’s and Don’ts.’ A sermon might be:

“DO attend church, read your Bible, pray, have quiet time, serve in some way, attend small group, and give lots of money.”

“DON’T lie, cuss, cheat, steal, commit adultery, yell at your spouse, kick the cat, or be a brat.”

Like McDonalds, these things are not bad!

But if they keep us trapped in a regimented

lifestyle of living by rote, they steal from us.

Doing GOOD can rob us from knowing GOD.

Paul has a couple of things he says about these types of churches and ministries. “They want to be teachers of the LAW, even though they do not understand either what they are saying, or the matters about which they make confident assertions” (I Tim 1:7). He says that preachers who preach law are really IGNORANT! He says they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they may sound very confident in what they say.

The law is not the way to live in God! Paul goes on to say the only way to live in God is NOT to live by law, but to be DEAD to it (Gal 2:19).

“These type preachers eagerly seek you to attend their church

but it’s not for your good.

They want to shut you out and make you feel excluded

so you will seek them” (Gal 4:17 paraphrased by the author).

Non-gospel preachers have a racket going!

They get people addicted to religious preaching

that they continually preach, so the people keep coming back

because they need another religious FIX as to what to do next

………….and there is always a ‘NEXT.’

Is any of this good for you? Paul says, “NO!”

It makes you feel excluded because you’re not as good as you know you should be, and you don’t feel as good as everyone else. So you keep going back to their church to get help for your problems.

But it’s their preaching that CAUSES your problems, by keeping you focused on playing a game that you can’t possibly win. We are told that everyone who played this game in the Old Testament failed(Acts 15:10). Even the most prominent people mentioned. So Paul says it’s not for your good.

Living by the law is called ‘PERFORMANCE’ in some circles. We perform as good as we can so God won’t strike us with lightning (sic), will like us, and will answer our prayers.

What Is the Gospel’s Rebuttal to This?