This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more information.
When we create a judgement free church, are we dooming members to failure? The Planet Fitness model will not result in changed lives, reconciled to God.
My eldest began working out a lot a couple of years ago, and as a birthday gift last year, we told him we’d get him a gym membership. He talked to a few friends about their experiences with nearby gyms. One guy told him stories about Planet Fitness that had us rolling on the floor laughing in disbelief.
They serve pizza? Candy? Flashing lights and alarms go off to shame people for working out “too hard.” Does this ‘gym’ even want its members to get healthy?!
I had forgotten all about it until recently, when a well-meaning Christian friend posted something about how we should “create churches that the un-churched love to attend”. For some reason, the descriptions we’d heard about Planet Fitness immediately came to mind.
Judgement Free Church
Planet Fitness markets itself as a “Judgement Free Zone”…a gym for people who hate gyms.
As someone who does indeed hate gyms, that sounds really nice. It can be intimidating to go in to a gym full of fit people who all seem to know what they’re doing.
But I wondered, how many of their customers actually end up achieving the good health they seek.
Apparently I’m not the only one, as I came across this fabulous article looking at that very issue. As I read it, I kept making connections to the church.
The article begins with a list of things to know about Planet Fitness:
- Planet Fitness: The gym for people who don’t really want to get in shape.
- A survey of over 20 different Planet Fitness locations in 12 different states revealed that they provide no nutritional guidance. They do however supply candy and pizza.
- Planet Fitness seems to promise that health and fitness will ultimately be comfortable and not involve any real effort.
- Planet Fitness is a big, purple-colored adult daycare marketed to people afraid to go to an actual gym.
- Many Planet Fitness members do want to make progress of course, but the gym’s own rules and operating guidelines seem to dissuade this.
Is that what a ‘church for the un-churched’ would look like?
- The Judgement Free Church for people who don’t really want to be in church.
- We provide no Biblical absolutes (because that might offend or hurt your feelings). We do, however, supply ‘life lessons’ and uplifting music.
- This church promises that Christianity will ultimately be comfortable and not involve any real change on your part.
- This church is a big, pew-filled adult daycare marketed to people afraid to be told they’re doing anything wrong.
- Many of our members do want to make progress, of course, but the church’s own rules and operating guidelines seem to dissuade this.
As an unbeliever, that might sound nice. But it kind of defeats the purpose of the church, doesn’t it?
Ahhh…therein lies the heart of this issue. What is the purpose of the church?
Comfort and Ease
Let’s dive into this comparison a bit more. The author of that article, wanting to check things out for himself, decided to go visit a Planet Fitness. He said,
Despite the playground-esque vibe, there were lots of people attempting to get in shape, or at least trying to get less out of shape. This, at least, gave me a positive impression. It seemed that these were people who, had they not found this “unthreatening place,” might otherwise not be exercising at all.
Isn’t that always the argument for creating ‘seeker-friendly’ churches? We need to create a place they feel comfortable, or they won’t come.
Somehow, I don’t see that being on Paul’s radar, folks.
All was not as it seemed, however. The author continued,
A deeper look revealed a rather devious reality hidden just underneath the surface…
It looks like the real thing and it kinda-sorta feels like the real thing, but it’s not the real thing at all. Instead, it’s a fascinating place where getting people into shape simply isn’t the primary goal…
A typical gym generally represents a form of linear progression. That is, you go there to improve physically, but no doubt there are people there who started before you, have more experience, eat a healthier diet, and/or have great genetics.
So there are likely going to be folks who are in better shape and some who are in worse shape than you, whether you’re comfortable with that or not. It’s generally understood though that people are at the gym to improve physically….Oddly though, it seems to be Planet Fitness’ policy to purposely blunt and highly discourage this natural progression of less fit to more fit…..
So…the purpose of your gym is to improve health and fitness, but you don’t allow people there who are healthy and fit?
It doesn’t make any more sense in church terms:
We really want you to grow in your faith, but everything we do is catered to people who have no faith.
Motivated to Succeed
The author goes on to describe his own experience with more traditional gyms.
He describes how he started attending a gym when he was a “pudgy, weak, 17 year old”. His intimidation and embarrassment at being less fit than those around him was superceded by his desire to improve. Were there jerks and discouragement along the way, of course! But, he says,
most of the bigger, stronger guys taught and motivated me enough to get bigger, stronger, and in better shape than I could ever have imagined. This would never have happened at Planet Fitness.
Yes, church! This is what we are called to.
Mature Christians who come along side to motivate, to inspire newbies to grow in faith and to live with more peace and victory than some dare to imagine. And just like with physical gain…it is not comfortable and it does not happen without significant change.
The sad thing is, in an effort to draw people to Christ, the judgement free church could be harming the faith of those they want to help.
The most insidious thing here is the long-term effect of Planet Fitness on the psyche and morale of its members, especially those who achieve some short-term success just by moving their bodies and perhaps restricting their calories.
Without permanent methods that get to the roots of the problem, these gains will generally and for the most part disappear. A sort of “learned helplessness” will occur for these poor members who have shown up and “worked out,” yet end up right back in the same physical predicament.
New church members may notice positive changes in their lives in the short term. They may find some temporary peace. But if the church isn’t calling them to more… to a changed, Biblically-rooted life …they will invariably fall back into old habits and patterns.
Only then, they will feel that the church failed them. That God failed them.
Another article I found makes the point that if the only reason people come to a church is to do “social work” they will become disgruntled and leave when/if the church ever dares to offer a rebuke of sin.
Friends, if someone is looking to ‘do good in the world’ or ‘help others’– there are organizations that do just that, and only that. The church should not be one of them.
The above article goes on to say that “Church isn’t about ego boosting or a place to have your personal life philosophy respected. It’s a place where Godliness is counseled and holiness is preached.”
If Scripture is our guide, we can clearly see that neither Jesus nor Paul called followers to an easy, comfortable path. They challenged hearers to live a counter-cultural life, to be different, to stand out…even to be persecuted. But to live victoriously!!
Let’s raise the bar! We are not the Planet Fitness of faith. It will not be a pizza and Tootsie Roll kind of path. But we’ll walk it together and it will be worth it!!
==> Let me ask you this: If you were preparing for a fitness competition to win a million dollars, where would you rather train?
A gym where you maybe didn’t feel entirely comfortable at first because the people there were doing something unfamiliar, many of whom were far more advanced than you. But they taught you how to grow, pushed you to achieve your goal, didn’t let you off the hook when you wanted to give up, and encouraged you along the way….
…. or Planet Fitness?
Click here for lots more resources on growing faith, lessons from Scripture, and more!
Terrific post, Susan! You are SO right that the church should not cater to unbelievers by stripping the Gospel of the truth in the need for redemption because of sin. The church is first and foremost for believers, to strengthen and edify them. But God brings those He has called to the church, and they will only come to Him and be truly changed if those churches are still preaching and living the truth. Thank you so much for tackling this topic, and I love your comparison between Planet Fitness and “seeker churches.” Really makes the point hit-home!
Thanks for your encouragement, Jerusha. What saddens me the most is that those who seek to draw people to Christ by watering down the teachings of Scripture, do so with such good intentions. Clearly, we need to preach the truth in love, and meet people where they are at…but it breaks my heart that churches have gotten in the business of leaving people where they’re at instead of calling them to change and reconciliation.
Why did I think this was going to be about church? Anyway I was a member at Planet Fitness and I did see signs about a Pizza Day but never saw it. The candy well all it is is little hard candies or tootsies at the counter so its not really giving out candy but thats just my opinion. I liked it there it was clean with nice machines and noone bothered you, I dunno it seemed like a gym lol.
I don’t know why you should care what other people think. You can’t control their thinking. Instead concentrate on why you’re there and what you hope to achieve. When I did go to gyms ( I now workout at home and outdoors) I was there to obtain a healthier lifestyle. I wanted to shed the excess weight that had creeped on over the years. I eventually lost 70lbs. But I knew I couldn’t stop once I lost it, I worked out to maintain my health, this is my goal each time I workout.
First, kudos on the weight loss and keeping it off! Second, you’re right, we need to get over ourselves and work (in all areas of our life) to do what is best regardless of what anyone says!
This is such a fantastic comparison!! Brilliant!
I’ve never been to a Planet Fitness, but I did win a trip to the Biggest Loser finale with them – and they did give us a gift basket with Planet Fitness swag, running shoes, and a whole bunch of food and followed up with Planet Fitness sugar cookies. Haha! So, I have a bit of a soft spot for them, along with being super cheap.
I do totally get your meaning, though! It’s like everyone today being afraid to say anything because of political correctness. It’s a fine line between including everyone and getting lazy about old-fashioned values and respect that have some merit. It’s a hard issue to discuss, but you’ve done it beautifully in reference to church. Great post!!
Thanks, Kristin. The original article, about Planet Fitness, mentioned The Biggest Loser. They said they thought it was ironic because the hard training they do on the show wouldn’t be tolerated in a Planet Fitness. hahaha 🙂 And you’re right about what a fine line it is. It is God’s kindness that draws us to repentance. We need to show that, but the key is we can’t stop there and skip the repentance part.
My pastor once said you can always tell how much of the Holy Spirit is being taught in a church based on the size. The bigger the church,the less of God will be found there.
Over the years,I have found that to be very true.
Ha! I’ve never heard that. While I wouldn’t make that judgement across the board, I will emphatically agree that it’s been my experience as well. Interestingly, my family just had the conversation in the car last week about why a person looking for a church would choose a large or a small church to visit/attend. Good food for thought.