The Phenomena of Some Choosing High Church

Another trend that began to emerge on the heels of the Charismatic/Full Gospel wave, alongside the house church movement, was the shocking departure of many traditional evangelicals moving into the high church ranks. When I speak of “high church” I am referring to denominations such as Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopal, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and the like. Strictly speaking, the term high church is associated with the Anglican tradition that emphasizes the Catholic traditions, especially in relation to the sacraments, its rituals, and obedience to church authority.

High church is characterized by liturgical formality, fine utensils, incense, holiness, sanctity, ceremony, dignity, education, social status, cultural development, sensationalism, and splendor. When questioned about their move to high church congregations, many people explained that the more ritualistic settings fulfilled a longing for elements such as mystery, worship, the sacraments, historic identity, an ecclesiastical home, and holistic spirituality. Some of the same people gave these examples of evangelical shortcomings in their view: exclusivism, rationalism, evangelical services, preaching emphasis, entertainment, focus on preacher, and false spirituality.

While this high church trend continues into the 21st century, I struggle to imagine why any genuine believer who has Christ living in them by the Holy Spirit would actually be content to practice church within the “cathedral” ranks. Everything about it screams religion, bondage, death, and boredom. Granted, many an authentic believer can trace their early roots to some form of high church expression. Granted, I recognize that God can and does use whatever He can to the extent that He can. But in all of my travels, observation, and experience I have never seen high church serve for more than a tutor to bring the truly seeking to Christ. Then the next thing I know, they are lead immediately out by the Spirit into a church setting that is more compatible with the Lord’s nature - to a place that is actually building their faith. I personally have a relative by marriage who was raised Baptist but who later as a college student gravitated to Catholicism. It absolutely turns my mind and heart over toward “tilt” to attempt to understand what would possess a person who has tasted the richness of the Lord Jesus to remain in or move to a supposed Christian atmosphere that is so dull, dry, and un-like Him! I must admit that I have nearly concluded that they are either so suppressed by culture, so romantically delusional, or have never really received the heavenly gift with their heart of hearts. There simply is no other possible reason that makes sense to this soul.

I’d really like to give high church the benefit of the doubt but let’s look at a few things here: their traditions, rituals, practices, and ceremony are irrefutably borrowed from pagan culture throughout the centuries – namely that of Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Asian origins. Their ways have little to no connection or inspiration with what was practiced by the first-century Christians who were traversing a pure, innocent, and narrow path. The leadership models installed in the high church ranks are hierarchical, oppressive, and exploitive to say the least. The histories of these groups throughout the centuries are closely intertwined with a satanic influence. Coming away from the church history books, one feels ashamed and bewildered, not knowing whether to cry, vomit, kill, or pray. Especially when it comes to the track record of the Catholic Church. What they have done to even their own! It’s amazing they still have the nerve to show their faces in public and keep the doors open. The religious spirit is a hundred times more destructive than the most ignorant of sinners – whether in Jesus’ time on earth or in our present postmodern world. Its existence grieves the Holy Spirit of God. It is an anti-Christ force. You will be hard pressed to find the real Jesus Christ in these kinds of places brother and sisters. My statements would be so harsh if they weren’t so true.

Please keep in mind that I am not attacking genuine believers who can be found in the high church denominations. They are my precious sisters and brothers. My desire is to simply expose the shortcomings of the systems and structures that are in place within these ranks. I don’t believe all of the “highness” is instinctively compatible with the Lord that they profess. All of the ritualistic promenading instead leads to a suppressing of the Headship of Jesus Christ in relation to His church and to the realization of every member functioning in the gathering and daily life of the ecclesia. Further, the basilica models found in high church, by there very nature, are not authentically human in their feel. When gathering with intimate relations, we do not feel comfortable sitting around in a school lunch room, a hospital, or a theatre. No, we would certainly prefer a cozy living room or perhaps an ideal outdoor setting along the lake, if the weather was nice. The cold, sterile, institutional character of most high church denominations surely fill the religious, old, fallen man with a sense of “goodness” but it will never do for the rustic, wild-eyed New Man. Lastly and most importantly for me, high church doesn’t seem to deliver that counter-cultural punch that it is so central to the very essence of what The Church is. Sadly, it has nearly morphed to its surroundings, a product of culture instead. Like city hall, the bank, the public school, and the park, the high church is just another landmark of the worldly landscape. And this speaks volumes.

I have to say though that I certainly appreciate the theology of The Church that is held by most high church denominations, especially in the areas of oneness, true spiritual authority, connection with the Trinity, identity with Christ, and collective community. But in my mind, their practice betrays them. Their words in print do not match their deeds. In most cases, such as in authority and in oneness, they are manufacturing in their own strength (in the flesh) an aspect that only God can work by His Spirit according to His ways. This crutch is ever present because of a consistent lack of the spiritually genuine and authentic. Outside of a few charismatic waves of renewal that have swept through some high church settings at different times, the prioritizing of ritual, form, and sacrament has made it nearly impossible to create an atmosphere where Jesus Christ is allowed to reveal and express Himself to His flock. This strict adherence to form has lead to unbelievable abuses and exploitation and yet the insanity continues. If high church were actually serious about realizing their creeds and theologies, they would have to instantly employ the services of a good wrecking ball crew!

In a time when evangelicalism may be collapsing and the denominations are emptying in droves, scores of devoted followers of Christ are gravitating toward house church (or micro-church) and high church in record numbers. I feel compelled to steer these folks away from the high church trend as well as the clergy dominated house churches. I am instead encouraging these scattered living stones to seek to be built together with their fellow pilgrims in gatherings that are outside of an institutional influence – in a grass roots, rustic, organic, and ragamuffin way. I believe that only as we come together in this kind of rawness, laying down our pretension, willing to be stripped of our religion and pop-culture Christianity, will we witness The Church meeting and being as God Himself originally envisioned according to His purpose, in a truly “high” way.


(an unedited excerpt from the Bonus Chapters section of Jon's upcoming book "Contending For The Church: Desiring The Way of Christ In How Christians Gather Today, to be released this Fall.)