Elevation Church is no stranger to controversy. The North Carolina megachurch and its founding Pastor, Steven Furtick, frequently provide plenty of reasons to critique and criticize their methods or their message.
And most of that criticism is justifiable. Furtick is a prosperity preacher whose messages display faulty (if any) exegesis and which seek to foster a feel-good version of Christianity that barely resembles biblical, historical, or orthodox Christianity.
But, that said, this week the critics missed the mark.
The Easter invitation dustup
Nicki Shearer, Elevation’s digital content director, rankled Christians on social media when she appeared on a podcast with Pro Church Tools and explained Elevation’s approach to its Easter invitations.
She explained that, in its digital content, Elevation does not use terms like “resurrection,” “Calvary,” or “the blood of Jesus.” This was a strategy, she said, to avoid alienating unchurched people.
Christians across social media bashed Elevation for such a perceived offense to the gospel. Others accused the church of diluting the meaning of Easter in order to be more inclusive. As one pastor claimed, “this is wokeism.”
After all, how can you have invitations to Easter while avoiding some of the key terms that give the resurrection of Christ its content?
What’s really the problem?
In principle, I agree with the critics. That is, Christian churches have a unique opportunity at Easter to clarify that Christ has died for our sins, risen from the grave, and lives to give people eternal life.
But even so, in this case, I think all the ire is misplaced.
Notice that the criticism is not about what the invitations say. Critics are fuming about what is omitted. Sure, Easter is indeed about the resurrection of Christ. Absolutely. But Elevation doesn’t seem to question that. In fact, on its website Elevation’s invitation to its Easter worship services is plainly biblical and uses exactly the language critics complain is omitted on its digital invitations.
So, unless the invitations are inaccurate, deceptive, or stating any unbiblical truths, why worry about what it doesn’t say?
And what should we worry about? I’m getting to that.
On the other hand, is it “woke”?
Other critics claim Elevation has gone “woke,” seeking to be “inclusive” in its invitation. But this just shows our confusion over what it means to be “woke.”
So let’s be clear. “Woke” is a term that applies to the cultural shifts generated by postmodern progressive ideologies. Its genesis is the notion that no truth exists outside of our preferences and perceptions.
To be “woke” is to deny the structures of culture and to seek to destroy those structures. To be “woke” is to deny the fundamental truths that make us human in favor of adopting perceived, fictional realities. In the “woke” world, the perception of victimhood makes someone morally superior.
When churches adopt “woke” ideologies, it shows in their capitulation to postmodern culture.
So, again, to be clear, Elevation has not gone “woke” just because they try to reach people on their own terms, or because they seek to avoid generating an offense before they get a hearing for the gospel.
Ask any missionary or church planter who serves in an area that is inherently negative toward Christians or, especially, denominations. Some Baptist churches in Boston don’t drive around in vans with the word “Baptist” painted on the side.
That’s not “woke.” It’s just strategic. Why sabotage your own efforts even before you get a hearing for the gospel?
What really matters
The content of an invitation to church certainly matters. But there is a difference between including unbiblical content and not including all of the biblical content necessary to convey the depth of the events of Easter.
An invitation is just that—come and find out what Jesus is all about. Even the earliest apostles took that approach—bring people to Jesus, and let Jesus do the talking (Mark 2:13-17, John 2:40-42)
Yes. I think invitations to an Easter service should be distinctively Christian. They should include images, language, or both that clearly depict the reason for Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of Christ, and because He is alive, we can be born again.
But, in this case, I think critics have largely jumped on the bandwagon to criticize Elevation’s invitation due to their disdain for Elevation.
Because what really matters is not what is lacking from the advertisement. What matters is what is lacking from the preaching and teaching once we are inside the door.
It’s not the invitation, it’s what comes next
Critics are focusing on the words in the ad. They argue, if implicitly, that certain words must be used in the Easter ad for a church to be theologically sound. Using those words is the measuring stick for a church’s orthodoxy.
So, it seems, criticisms of Elevation’s Easter advertising rely on an assumption. That is, if the absence of certain words invalidates the church, then the presence of those same words would mean that a church is theologically solid.
Use these words in your invitation, and you’re a biblical church! Omit them, and you’re condemned! See the problem with that?
The critics overlook how often Christianese is misused and misunderstood. Just because a church uses biblical words in public doesn’t mean the church is theologically healthy in private.
So, here’s the question. Is your church preaching a biblical gospel at Easter? And every Sunday? And if you are in a church that preaches anything but a biblical gospel message—say, one crafted simply to make you feel good about yourself–well, you need to find another church (Gal. 1:9-10).
One more thing
And, by the way, before you criticize Elevation’s Easter invitation, how would you answer these questions?
- Have you invited someone?
If you are one of Elevation’s critics, I have a question—when was the last time you invited someone to sit with you at your church’s Easter service? Or any worship service for that matter?
Maybe this Easter you can make it a point to invite someone who has never been to church. Someone who doesn’t know what we mean by “the blood of Christ,” or “resurrection,” or “Calvary.”
- Can you explain it?
And when you do that, follow up. Maybe have lunch with them. Can you discuss the death of Christ on the cross, and His resurrection, and why it matters? If your friend has questions, can you answer them? Or find the answers they need?
The core truths of the gospel message need to be heard by everyone. Can you explain it (1 Peter 3:15)?
Invitations are important. But what matters more is what comes next.
For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
1 Cor. 15:3-5