OPINION: Take MegaChurches Seriously
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Fri, April 29, 2005
- Viewed 121
"You might have predicted their rise from shifting demographics alone. Mainline denominations are drying up. In rural communities and cities, congregations of fewer than 100 are shutting their doors at a rate of 60 a week. Megachurches, meanwhile, have increased in number by 30 percent in the last four years. Out in the suburbs, Christianity is experiencing the same consumer shifts that occur when Sam's Club or Costco comes to town. Megachurches can have congregations that are black or white, evangelical or not; half belong to no traditional denomination. Scholars call them "postdenominational churches" or parts of the "new apostolic reformation." Their own laity call them "purpose-driven" or "seeker-sensitive" churches. Detractors call them McChurches or Wal-Mart churches. But whatever they are called, they deserve to be taken seriously, if only because they help explain why George W. Bush is still sitting in the Oval Office and how suburban malaise can be transformed into a multitude of organized, values-driven voters. Not by happenstance did Mel Gibson's
The Passion of the Christ play the megachurch circuit before making its theatrical debut. These are the churches that held get-out-the-vote rallies and stressed the importance of politics in the service of religion."
FOR DISCUSSION: Is this a fair representation? (I've already said that I don't feel it is). Is there a correlation between small churches closing and megachurches growing? Does the ?megachurch? have anything to do with who is president? Is the ?megachurch? the reason Mel Gibson?s ?The Passion of the Christ? was a success? Is there a direct relationship showing that ?megachurches? are more politically active than smaller to medium sized churches? If so, and ?megachurches? need to be taken seriously (as Mother Jones suggests), what are the ramifications? I?d be interested in your thoughts!
This comes from an article in the secular magazine Mother Jones. Read this and then let’s discuss? (Note: since this is a secular article, it is very biased in my opinion. There is a great source of accurate demographic information on megachurches available at http://hirr.hartsem.edu.)
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
bernie dehler on Thu, May 05, 2005
Josh said:
“Like I said in my post he was responding to, the mega-churches in my area are planting churches. They are quite successful at training leaders, and the churches that they have planted are thriving. Planting churches doesn’t reduce their attendance. They have a capacity to serve, and God blesses them with a flock to fully utilize their resources. “
I totally don’t understand what you’re saying. You make it sound like the large church is planting other churches, and yet it still needs to expand. Why not just plant more churches? How many churches does the large church plant (1 per year, one per 5 years)? Why not just plant more churches? That’s how you grow through multiplication, rather than addition.
You also say it’s like tithing: God gives you back more than you give. That’s faulty and dangerous thinking… the “give to get” theology.
...Bernie
http://freegoodnews.blogspot.com
josh r on Fri, May 06, 2005
Bernie,
I am not saying that a church needs to expand. It just does. The pastor doesn’t control the size of his congregation. People come as God calls them. Some of these churches have out of control growth because a large portion of their congregation are on fire for God. It shows in their life, and people are drawn to find out what is different about them. When a community is behaving like genuine Christians, It is amazing how people are drawn.
My point is that planting churches doesn’t always make your church smaller. Seems like it should, but that is because of worldly math, not the will of God.
Church planting is hard work, It takes time to train leaders. I believe the vast majority of church plants fail. You have to do it right, and to do it right sometimes it takes time. One per year is probably about how long it takes to do it and do it right.
You say “You also say it’s like tithing: God gives you back more than you give. That’s faulty and dangerous thinking… the “give to get” theology.” I agree. That is not why I tithe. I don’t give in order to get but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t choose to bless me. I have observed that he has. Giving doesn’t make me poorer, and planting doesn’t shrink churches. Doesn’t make sense, but it is true.
bernie dehler on Mon, May 09, 2005
Josh says:
“The pastor doesn’t control the size of his congregation.”
I still disagree, big time… Big churches get bigger by the design of the Pastor. To build a bigger church, you need plans (building plans and otherwise). The choice was made to grow or split. You don’t get a “Crystal Cathedral” without detailed planning.
Yes of course it’s harder to plant than grow. That’s the point: it’s worth it. It’s like a cell splitting, growing by multiplication.
Many problems stem from the mother church being too controlling, I think. It’s hard on the ego to launch another church—you don’t get the same glory and ego strokes as you do from building a big church. How could you, since so much credit goes to the new church leaders/staff…? Yet, it’s better for the kingdom… and healthier…
I think we need to be on the lokout for false humility, esp. for Pastors who name programs after themselves…
I love what Dr. Dobson, Focus on the Family, wrote (from: http://www.family.org/welcome/aboutfof/a0000077.cfm )
“This ministry belongs to God, not to James Dobson. It is neither a monument to his ego nor a legacy to his memory. Focus on the Family does not bear his name ... the buildings do not belong to him ... we have not founded a James Dobson University. Dr. Dobson is merely a fellow servant in the work of the Kingdom. “
...Bernie
http://freegoodnews.blogspot.com
Josh R on Mon, May 09, 2005
Bernie,
I have enjoyed our conversation. I don’t think we are too far apart really.
If a Church grows becuase of unbiblical marketing or refusal to plant churches, I agree that this is bad. If the church is preaching a false gospel, or is in it for the money it is bad. If a pastor is in it for his own fame or glory, it is bad.
On the other hand Good teachers attract crowds. Christ taught to a Megachurch (And fed them) Peter preached to the crowd and there where 3000 conversions. I believe Paul preached to large crowds on occasion as well. I am not willing to concede that all large congregations are the work of man.
I have attended a church that had standing room only for it’s 5 services. I watched them plant church after church and keep on growing. After a few years of that, I don’t think they are wrong for building a facility . The fire marshal shouldn’t prevent people from learning about God’s word.
Some churches grow suddenly, and some grow reluctantly. When they grow, if they give God the Glory, it is a good thing.
bernie on Mon, May 09, 2005
Josh,
You keep saying “I watched them plant church after church and keep on growing.”
I know your point is that they plant churches and still grow, but we have to answer the question “how often do they plant them?” Like I said, if they plant one every 2 years, how about every year if they are so successful? Yes it’s work, but why avoid it just because “it’s more difficult?”
Most people don’t know there is a choice, but there is: grow or split; which equates to add or multiply. You can only get a megachurch by careful planning; you don’t get there accidently.
Think about it more personally. Pretend you are the senior Pastor. Which would you prefer: to head-up a church of 10,000, or to be responsible for a church of 1,000 and have planted nine other churches of 1,000 (both equal 10,000 members). Which do you choose and why? Which do you think would have a bigger impact on society and why? (The Crystal Cathedral claims to have 10,000 members.)
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247/
Josh R on Tue, May 10, 2005
Bernie,
We are not far apart on that issue either. I also think it is much better to plant than to expand. I don’t think any church should avoid planting.
I attend a church plant from a large church, and I think planting churches is one of the most effective ministries that one could be involved with. I believe it is not good for people to feel comfortable as spectators. New churches provide new ministry opportunities and get more people involved and passionate.
The church that planted us, also planted another church 6 months later. At the same time they began the process of building a larger facility. They continue to grow, as do each of their plants. Church multiplication is happening.
I think that planting churches should be a full time endevor for these large churches.
A church plant has a different personality than it’s parent. People learn in different manners, and respond to certain teaching styles better than others. People have different experiences and relate to some teachers better than others. Churches have different geographic locations and draw some based on the location. Some people are drawn to small churches, and others to large churches. Planting churches usually draws people that wouldn’t be drawn to the parent church.
People go to the church that they choose. They invite their friends to go to the church that they attend. They go there for a reason, and giving them other options doesn’t make them go away. They choose their church, not the Pastor.
If a church was succesful in planting churches that drew large portions of it’s own congregation, The plants wouldn’t be nearly as effective as if they attracted a different demographic. After all, objective is multiplication, not diviion.
bernie dehler on Tue, May 10, 2005
Josh says:
“If a church was succesful in planting churches that drew large portions of it’s own congregation, The plants wouldn’t be nearly as effective as if they attracted a different demographic. After all, objective is multiplication, not diviion.”
I think you have to divide to multiply. Think of a cell. It splits into two. That’s division by 2 for the parent. But then they both grow again and split. While the main divides, the whole multiplies (exponentially, even) and grows. That’s the model.
Thus, rather than splitting, if the church decides to instead build a bigger building, they are leaving the multiplication theory and going back to addition…
...Bernie
http://freegoodnews.blogspot.com
Josh R on Tue, May 10, 2005
The meathod for deviding is not to pass out tickets with A and B and then say okay group A stay in this church and Group B go to the plant from now on.
The method I have seen used is to ask the members to pray about it and go where God calls them. The result is not division by 2. it is more like a 90% - 10% split. When you have a church of 2000 or so, that creates a very healthy seed daughter church. With pleanty of room for growth.
Page 3 of 3 pages < 1 2 3
Post a Comment