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FRANCHISE CHURCHES I had a long talk with a good preacher friend a few years back as I drove home. We both had a lot to say about the mess that churches and preachers are in these days and the silly chiding and bickering that goes on to keep everyone all divided and splintered up. Then he used an expression that I've never heard anyone use in reference to churches. He said that most churches today are FRANCHISE churches. BINGO! Why didn't I think of that? I've been calling it campground Christianity for years, but he nailed it with the franchise label. Man, that's good. He gets an A+ for a word fitly spoken! (Pro. 25:11) True independent Baptist churches are vanishing at rocket speed. Sure, they strut and wear the independent label, but that's all it is: a label. The average "independent" Baptist preacher today is little more than a Christian school or Bible institute robot who has been programmed to be forever loyal to "the brotherhood," aka the staff and the alumni from his "alma mater." He's no more independent than a Catholic priest or a Democrat politician. He's been FRANCHISED, and he'll live up to the expectations of his superiors and peers, or else he'll be blacklisted. He fears man more than God, so he lives in the franchise trap. "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." (Pro. 29:25) Thank God for the good exceptions, but they are getting few and far between.