The network counts, not the denomination
How can we tell at a glance that the influence of a false religion is at work in a Christian congregation? To get the right idea, we need to consider what aspect of congregational life has changed over the past few decades. It is an aspect that is so obvious that it is in front of everyone's eyes, without ultimately understanding what reality is hidden behind it. In the past, and to some extent still today, as a Christian you belonged to a particular denomination. Each denomination is based on a particular creed and differs from the others in doctrine and life. Once you joined a church, you were either a Lutheran, a Baptist, or a Methodist; you belonged to the Anglicans, Reformed, or Mennonites, for example. By and large, every Christian was aware of the specifics of one's church tradition, and cultivated them extensively. But what is the significance of the different denominations today?
Rev. 2-3: Seven different churches are mentioned in Revelation.
---
The reality in today's evangelical churches is that it almost doesn't matter anymore whether you go to this church or that church, because for the most part they have settled on a way of worship that hardly - if ever - differs from one church to another. Rarely do church members know the core phrases of their denomination, let alone be able to reproduce them by heart. This state of affairs in congregations is similar worldwide. Even the names of churches are chosen in such a way that it is no longer possible to tell to which denomination they belong. But what has replaced a particular church affiliation? It has become extremely important for pastors to belong to one network or another. On the surface, one could argue that there is almost no difference between the function of a denomination and the purpose of a network. There are certain similarities between these two models of church organization. But still, one is also aware that a network is something different from an established church. Because otherwise church leaders would not try to hide their denominational affiliation and shout about their membership in a network from the rooftops. Therefore, one must ask where the idea of a network came from in the first place and what function such a network serves. Among other things, a network fulfills a certain main task: it was established to put the principles of managerial theory (managerialism) into practice. The most significant thing about managerial theory is the fact that it stems entirely from the belief in progress.