Paul Luckraft interviews the author of ‘Mere Churchianity’.

In October 2018, we reviewed John Hampton’s book Mere Churchianity, a critique of what ‘church’ has become over the centuries and an explanation of the growing phenomenon of genuine born-again believers who have moved to the fringes of traditional expressions of church (or abandoned them altogether) in order to be more effective as followers of Jesus.

At the time the book struck me as one of the best of its kind: an astute analysis of the issue, expertly written with a touch of humour. I very much wanted to meet the author to find out more about him and how the book came to be written.

However, arranging a meeting with John wasn’t going to be straightforward as he currently teaches Maths at an international school in Germany. Eventually, we found some time during one of his brief visits to this country and a fascinating conversation took place, during which we discovered that we had many things in common.

On Fire for God

John comes across as a modest, even self-deprecating, person; he doesn’t advertise himself through the book as he prefers to remain behind the scenes. He described himself as having a strong sense of needing to be a ‘nobody’ in order to get the message across: he didn’t want to detract from the book itself or the Lord getting all the glory for it. Yet his personal story is actually integral to the book’s theme and an encouragement for others (doesn’t God usually look for ‘nobodies’?).

John was brought up in a tough area of Manchester and has a background in aeronautics, which remains a personal interest. He had no pretensions to be an author and pursued a career in teaching, largely abroad, including in Africa and Japan. It was this career path that contributed towards his spiritual journey.

Mere Churchianity struck me as one of the best books of its kind: an astute analysis of the issue, expertly written with a touch of humour.

In Japan John and his wife, Liz, met a small group of Christians who, despite not belonging to any church, demonstrated an on-fire love for God and Jesus that the couple had never encountered before. They enjoyed fellowship with these fellow believers for five or six years before returning to the UK, primarily as a result of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake.

Upon their return, John’s family re-joined a large charismatic fellowship on the south coast of England where they had been members 15 years before. But it didn’t take long for both he and Liz to realise that, compared to their experience in Japan, something was missing. This raised many questions in his mind: why were even the best churches in the West still so lacking in what the New Testament demonstrated? Why were even the most ‘renewed’ churches still so mechanistic and not ‘living the life’?

Lightbulb Moment

Troubled by this, John decided to make notes on his thoughts and record his experiences, in an effort to try and make sense of things. It was during this period that he describes having a ‘lightbulb moment’, when he suddenly saw what was fundamentally wrong: church had become ‘a thing in itself’.

This was in 1997, and did not come about by reading what others had written – rather, through prayer and observation. However, as John started to share this with others, they pointed him in the direction of other books which he began to read (including Stan Firth’s ‘Custom and Command’). To John’s relief, these confirmed what God had shown him. He had not gone mad! The Body of Christ was indeed being stunted by the Church repeatedly having become a self-supporting enterprise.

A Forced March

As John continued to write and organise his ideas, he realised that there was enough material to write a book, even though he had no authorship experience. So, how would this work out?

By 1999 the first draft was ready and a chapter plus outline was sent to some publishers. The reply was that it was a good effort and a possible book, but try elsewhere! Encouraging, but no progress. Perhaps God was saying ‘not yet’ rather than ‘no’?

Why are even the best churches in the West still so lacking in what the New Testament demonstrates?

A year later, John and his family relocated to Germany and the book was put on hold. Then God stepped in again, this time through a chat with some friends. The impetus was back. This (2007) seemed to be the right time to take it up again, but with the demands of a full-time teaching job and family life, plus efforts by the enemy to stall the project, this was not to be an easy process. John describes it as a ‘forced march’ over nine years. But this time it would happen.

The book finally came out via Amazon CreateSpace in 2016, as Flatlining, then in 2017 under the new (improved!) title of Mere Churchianity. John still does not think of himself as an author - but he has produced a thoroughly worthwhile book through inspiration, dedication and, perhaps most importantly, his own personal experience.

Read our review of Mere Churchianity by clicking here.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Mere Churchianity’ by John Hampton (2017, £9.99).

There is a growing phenomenon in amongst the Christian community in Britain and beyond: increasing numbers of genuine, born-again believers are abandoning formal churches. Many are finding that it is possible to fulfil what the Bible teaches about Christian gatherings without belonging to a denominational or institutional church.

Underneath this phenomenon are complex reasons and emotions. Some of these ‘out of church’ Christians feel forced to leave - others have been told to go. Emotions range from disillusionment and despair to a sense of liberation and excitement.

Behind the complexity, however, seems to be a genuine move of God to re-educate Christians as to what Church is really all about, from his perspective. Fundamental to this is the astonishing recognition that much of what we call ‘church’ today simply isn’t in line with what the New Testament demonstrates.

Several books exist exploring this trend (see base of page for a selection) but John Hampton’s must rate as one of the best - if not the definitive contribution on the subject to date.

Church as ‘a Thing in Itself’

Here is a comprehensive book tackling virtually every aspect of what has gone wrong over the course of Church history. Hampton’s seeks to define what we mean by ‘the Church’ and then explain why there is increasing disillusionment amongst those who have regularly attended traditional church formats over the years. He claims (p9): “This will, in turn, lead us to the following crucial consideration: In what could be the greatest irony of all, is it possible that Church itself is not biblical?”

Hampton builds his case slowly but thoroughly. His recurring motif is the idea that church has become ‘a thing in itself’. He shows that Church-as-a-thing-in-itself now dominates our experience and understanding of Church, rather than the biblical view of the Body of Christ, used of God for his purposes in the world.

A genuine move of God seems to be underway to re-educate Christians as to what Church is really all about, from his perspective.

This explains the title: ‘Mere Churchianity’,¹ paying homage to CS Lewis’s classic Mere Christianity and borrowing the term ‘Churchianity’ from such as Oswald Chambers.

Hampton modestly acknowledges his debt to the writings of others on this subject; but he is clearly also writing out of his own experience. 18 years of thinking, observing and questioning have produced this comprehensive book. It was also born out of a heart for the ‘de-churched’ (or those likely to become so) - especially those who feel lost, uncertain, even concerned about where to go from here.

Church vs Ekklesia

The book is in three main parts. Part 1 has six chapters which expertly dissect the main problem. Central to the argument is the fact that the word ‘church’ should not occur in our Bibles at all, not being a proper translation of the Greek word, ‘ekklesia’. Rather, it is an implanted word chosen for political reasons at the insistence of King James, who authorised a translation to promote the hierarchical structure in place at the time, of which King James (not King Jesus!) was the head.²

Over the centuries we have built a ‘Church’ totally different from what Jesus said he would build, and which Paul and the other Apostles originally established. Our man-made structures and institutions invite idolatry and stand in stark contrast to what the New Testament portrays, which is why many are now looking for something more authentic.

Grievous Bodily Harm

Part 2 explores practical issues that emerge from this wrong understanding of Church. There is an excellent section on leadership, including how the concept of ‘paid professional clergy’ has introduced the idea of control and submission so that the ‘customer in the pew’ never experiences the fullness of life that Jesus has for all his people. This stunts the growth of ordinary believers who are less fulfilled and less capable of serving the rest of the Body as a result. Phrases like “the priesthood of some believers” and “the silence of the lambs” are witty headings that make the points well.

Over the centuries we have built a ‘Church’ totally different from what Jesus said he would build, and which Paul and the other Apostles originally established.

Equally illuminating is the discussion on buildings and money. Church has become an enterprise which needs money just to keep going. The essence of a new covenant relationship between all believers in Jesus has been sacrificed in order to promote a hierarchical structure in which some dominate others and are paid to do so.

Hampton also turns the spotlight on the sort of meetings we hold and how they perpetuate a wrong idea of Church. Performance-based song lists for worship and Greek-style monologues for sermons have quenched the Spirit’s leading. Passive listeners are given little or no opportunity to question or debate, grow or disciple others.

The conclusion is that ‘grievous bodily harm’ is being committed by those who maintain a system that is so different from the initial communities that spread the Gospel like wildfire across the then-known world. Some believers may feel safe or comfortable in such a system, but clearly many are experiencing a deadness of routine or a level of dissonance which they can’t square with what they read in the Book of Acts. Their cries for help are profound: “I’m a Christian, get me out of here!”

Solutions and Advice

Part 3 offers some solutions and good advice. If Church-as-a-thing-in-itself is now so entrenched that “any attempts at reform on our part are almost certainly doomed to failure” (p281), what are the options? Hampton explores three possibilities:

• Those who stay in order to ‘rock the boat’ (or make waves!);
  
• Those who accept the situation in which they find themselves and remain, knowing that no fundamental change is likely but still hoping to grow personally as best they can;
  
• Those who throw themselves overboard and go into voluntary exile, looking for new fellowship elsewhere with like-minded others.
  

Hampton suggests that though this third option (what he calls an “out-of-body experience”!) may seem a lonely one, in reality there are others waiting for you! However, he admits that it is still not an easy path and is not without its dangers.

The author’s realism here is to be applauded. One feels secure with his conclusions, especially as he has walked this path himself. He knows what to avoid and that the key is to listen to God and not run ahead. Putting Jesus ahead of ‘church’ is the safest approach.

Hampton’s realism is to be applauded. One feels secure with his conclusions, especially as he has walked this path himself.

Essential Reading?

Overall, this book provides an astute analysis of an important issue that is only likely to grow more prevalent. Hampton’s writing is full of brilliant and often humorous phrases, with pearls of wisdom throughout. It is a delight to read and very convincing in its message. Although bold and brave in its assertions, it never descends to the level of a rant. Above all, it is accurate in its assessments.

Its theme may be a shock for some. But if you have ‘out of church’ Christian friends and this puzzles you, then this book provides an explanation. And if you are already ‘overboard’, or thinking of jumping ship, then it will give you the necessary tools and information to reassure you and guide you into the future.

Highly commendable, even essential reading.

‘Mere Churchianity: Church and the Threat it Poses to the Body of Christ’ (336pp, paperback), formerly ‘Flatlining Church’, is available on Amazon for £9.99. Also available on Kindle.

Notes

1 Not to be confused with another book of this title by Michael Spencer.

2 Our Editor-in-Chief, Dr Clifford Hill, has written elsewhere on this theme.