THE INDIVIDUAL AS KING

About 20 years ago it was popular to talk about the "demise of denominations." One author even published a book announcing their death. Of course, he was right to a degree. Like an aging old woman gathering plastic bags for her "final exit," some denominational leaders starting making plans for downsizing toward death, enabling a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, denominations are still around after 20 years have passed, though they have far less punch than they once had.

True, denominations have gradually lost their grip on their pastors and people in the last few decades. Newer generations have come along with far less "brand loyalty." Seldom do you hear them say, "Denomination? Well, I'm a life long ________." (Except for a few Friends and Nazarenes.) It is increasingly difficult for a denomination to dictate local church organizational patterns, members' personal behavior or even their theological beliefs, in some cases.

In fact, denominations once had an "almost-exclusive franchise" in leading their people. There were camp meetings, training events, denominational programs, and "denominational distinctives" which people dutifully accepted. Perhaps as much as 90% of the influence on local members came from their own denomination. Denominations controlled as much as 90% of what their people heard, what they read, which speakers they followed, which programs they sponsored, and which doctrine they believed was most vital.

This day has passed. It is a matter of access. Individual members today can access all kinds of influences beyond their own denomination. While a loyal denominational member might pick up some books at an independent camp meeting, or may have subscribed to an "independent" magazine, most of the influence on this member was from his local denominational church. Not so, now. This member has access through TV and radio to Robert Schuller, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, and Pat Robertson, and can listen to Jan and Paul Crouch or Jim Dobson every day. Denominational leaders seem far-off next to these nearby-in some cases daily-reliable figures influencing members today.

And, of course, most of these people and others have written books which have become the staples of many churches' Sunday school classes which once were dominated by denominational curriculum. And the rise of the local Christian bookstore has given the individual Christian access to a virtual plethora of books and music influencing how he or she thi