It's meant to insult a church that enjoys a healthy attendance or a congregation that has seen a recent influx in its membership rolls. For those of us involved in churches with stagnant membership rolls or declining numbers, it's easy to look across town at a thriving congregation and question its recent popularity. From there, it's just a quick hop into jealousy, an emotion that drives us to hurl accusations at our brothers and sisters in the faith. In so doing, we try to shake off the guilt we feel when our own congregation isn't growing.

The main accusation is that the church in question utilizes a nefarious method to attract others into its congregation. The excuses range from the misuse of theology to pandering to the wants of a particular demographic. It's the church du ...