The mega-church.
I seriously can't even tell you guys how relieved I am to have a chance to sit and write responses to your questions. I've been mulling over these for days on end, and to sit and finally get these thoughts out feels like a burden lifted. Heh. I'm only slightly neurotic. I actually have post-it notes of comments I want to make or verses I want to include sitting all around my computer desk.
Miika commented:
I think this is part of the reason why I can still "stand" you, even though you're a christian :-) You're not the type I usually come across who is oozing with godly-ness and "I am so much more perfect than you"... Anyhow, that was a compliment :-)
But my question is, if you view christianity the way you do, what do you think of those so-called mega churches? There was an article in a magazine here a little while ago (the german equivalent of National Geographic) and it just completely creeped me out. I'm not sure what exactly I found so creepy, but I think it was that, first off, they think they're so much better than everyone else, and cultivating this "betterness" by mixing only with "their kind" (even as far as home schooling, and letting kids attend only activities sponsored by their local church, which runs their whole life already) and then the thought that with a little "Jesus is great! Amen!" you can fix everything, and just praying and being a "good christian" will mean that your family will succeed and that you're all going to be perfect. It's sort of a "christianity light" in a way.
Thanks, first of all, for the compliment. That seriously made my day. I really believe that genuine Christianity is humbling. Even Paul - who was one of the boldest early Christians and wrote several of the books of the New Testament - wrote: "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life" in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:16). Anyone reading that would probably think that Paul was being overly humble - he had done so many great things in his lifetime for the glory of God, but I believe that's how Paul genuinely felt, and I think anyone who is regularly reading the Word and praying will realize how far from godly he/she actually is. It's hard to read the Bible without realizing just how much you do wrong - from ignoring the tremendous need that exists in the world or not loving other people the way they should be loved, and on and on.
Anyway. Sorry about that little rant. I've got lots to say about this mega-church question of yours, and there are different parts to my response, so I'd better dive in.
First of all, mega-churches seem to be becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and while I'm not really up on what's going on around the globe, I'd imagine the same is true abroad, from what you've written. I have a few theories for this popularity.
First and foremost, we live in a world that is more isolated than ever before, due to technology. I first realized this back when I was living in the dorm and D told me that when he had been a student, the TV room was the most popular place to hang out and really fostered a sense of community. That had changed by the time I was a student and everyone had a TV and cable in their own dorm rooms. The same is true in households - put a TV/computer/cell phone in each person's possession, and he will virtually have to go out of his way to interact with actual human beings.
The mega-church can develop a sense of belonging to someone greater than one's self. Plus, it is a bit more immune to the gossip that can be prevalent in smaller churches, since you can maintain your anonymity in a church of 1000+ members quite easily, so you can go on Sunday and feel that you're a part of something - without actually being a contributing part.
Now, I think that the church we see in the Bible is more than just a place people go on Sundays; the church is the whole body of believers in Christ. Paul writes to the Romans: "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith"(Romans 12:4-6, emphasis added).
The reason I included this verse is because I see a problem in every church, whether small or large. I realized this quite recently, after Hector and I lamented the lack of ministry towards young adults in churches and longed for some sort of mentoring program of which we could be a part. Churches tend to divide into smaller groups - you have a program for retirees, for singles, for couples, for moms, for men, for teens, for kids - and the groups become these small entities unto themselves. In one sense, there is a definite benefit to the small groups, because - indeed - each group has its' own needs; you would hardly minister to a child in the same way you'd minister to a single adult. However, we lose the sense that we are all the body of Christ. Instead, I really feel that each group should be seeking what they can do to bless and benefit the other groups, thereby drawing the body together. For instance, the mens' ministry should be reaching out to the moms and the retirees, seeing if they can help with household projects that single women or older persons might not be able to complete on their own. The couples' small group could be reaching out to the younger adults, offering mentoring. The teens could be doing dramas for the kids. And I could continue indefinitely.
I address this in response to your question because the mega-church has the mega-opportunity to be doing this - not only for those that are in the church, but for those that are in the community, and I think that, for many reasons, the ball has been dropped in this regard.
However, I think you've hit on some other true issues with mega-churches - and, actually, with many churches of today's time, particularly with this: they think they're so much better than everyone else, and cultivating this "betterness" by mixing only with "their kind" (even as far as home schooling, and letting kids attend only activities sponsored by their local church, which runs their whole life already).
You've definitely hit on one of my spiritual pet peeves. I will part ways with you on the "they think they're so much better than everyone else" bit, because I think the motivation to do everything together is different than mere exclusivity. There is a great deal to be said for the fellowship that can come from spending time with other Christians. It's very encouraging. The Bible talks about how Christians are hated by the world (1 John 3:13), with "the world" meaning people who are not Christians. To a degree, I think that some Christians bring this upon themselves by the way they act, but to a greater degree, I think Christians are hated because people like living their lives the way they want or choose to live, and they don't like being reminded that maybe that way isn't right. The Bible also says that Christians are "as aliens and strangers in the world" (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11). Plus, the Bible also says that non-believers won't understand Christians: "The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (1 John 3:1).
Now. Lest you think that I am in complete defense of this isolation among Christians, I vehemently am not. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Just as there is a need for fellowship with other Christians for encouragement and accountabilty, we are clearly called by the Bible to spend time with non-believers. If we look at Jesus' life, as it is retold in the four gospels, He spent minimal time with those that were already religious. The bulk of his time was spent with untouchables: the diseased, the prostitute, the demon-possessed. Shouldn't Christians be following His model? The Bible is clear that Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. Jesus even said, in John 17: "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified" (14-19, emphasis added).
I think that's so important, that Jesus prayed that God wouldn't take believers out of the world, but that He'd protect them. Many Christians try to protect themselves, and particularly their children, through isolating themselves with other Christians. I've always vehemently opposed Christians schools for this reason: I think children need to learn how to deal with age-appropriate temptations. If we isolate children from the temptations of the world, they will be ill equipped to deal with the tremendous temptations of adult life.
That was a long answer, but it boils down to this - I understand why many Christians choose to live their lives like this, but I believe that it is due to complacency and an unwillingness to live the uncomfortable, pressured life that Christ calls believers to live.
You also wrote: "then the thought that with a little "Jesus is great! Amen!" you can fix everything, and just praying and being a "good christian" will mean that your family will succeed and that you're all going to be perfect."
Yeah. I have issues with that line of thinking, too. Jesus does promise that His yoke is easy, His burden is light (Matthew 11:30), but I believe that means more that we do not need to stress over what He asks of us because He will provide. The issue of "success" is interesting, too, because I highly doubt God's view of a successful life is the same as ours. God does promise to provide for us, but that promise is hardly to give us a 4,000 square foot house with a three-car garage and a maid.
For instance, a young man approached Christ and asked, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Christ responded with several of the commandments. The man responded that he had always kept those, and to that, Jesus replied: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19:16-21). Interestingly, "when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (verse 22).
Obviously, God isn't saying that our possessions are indicative of our success. Instead, throughout the Bible, we learn about "fruits" of our ministries. We each are given different talents, or gifts. I like to think that perhaps one of mine is writing. God calls Christians to use those gifts for His glory, and that He will bless those efforts. (If you want, I can find the verses to support, but I've already been writing this for almost an hour already.) That is God's view of success - and He does indeed promise success and protection.
"Christianity light," in my opinion, is a contradiction in terms, because the life of a Christian is difficult, although it certainly does offer a great deal of freedom - from worry, from guilt. Yet the Bible is clear that Christians will face persecution for their beliefs - and that is hardly "light."
In conclusion, the "mega-church" is no more at fault than any other church, or the Church at large, really, because each is run by inherently flawed man. God's Design is perfect, but we are not. Every church will always have its issues, because we humans always have our issues. "The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached" (Philippians 1:18).
Whew. I'm beat now. Any questions or thoughts in response?
Miika commented:
I think this is part of the reason why I can still "stand" you, even though you're a christian :-) You're not the type I usually come across who is oozing with godly-ness and "I am so much more perfect than you"... Anyhow, that was a compliment :-)
But my question is, if you view christianity the way you do, what do you think of those so-called mega churches? There was an article in a magazine here a little while ago (the german equivalent of National Geographic) and it just completely creeped me out. I'm not sure what exactly I found so creepy, but I think it was that, first off, they think they're so much better than everyone else, and cultivating this "betterness" by mixing only with "their kind" (even as far as home schooling, and letting kids attend only activities sponsored by their local church, which runs their whole life already) and then the thought that with a little "Jesus is great! Amen!" you can fix everything, and just praying and being a "good christian" will mean that your family will succeed and that you're all going to be perfect. It's sort of a "christianity light" in a way.
Thanks, first of all, for the compliment. That seriously made my day. I really believe that genuine Christianity is humbling. Even Paul - who was one of the boldest early Christians and wrote several of the books of the New Testament - wrote: "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life" in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:16). Anyone reading that would probably think that Paul was being overly humble - he had done so many great things in his lifetime for the glory of God, but I believe that's how Paul genuinely felt, and I think anyone who is regularly reading the Word and praying will realize how far from godly he/she actually is. It's hard to read the Bible without realizing just how much you do wrong - from ignoring the tremendous need that exists in the world or not loving other people the way they should be loved, and on and on.
Anyway. Sorry about that little rant. I've got lots to say about this mega-church question of yours, and there are different parts to my response, so I'd better dive in.
First of all, mega-churches seem to be becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and while I'm not really up on what's going on around the globe, I'd imagine the same is true abroad, from what you've written. I have a few theories for this popularity.
First and foremost, we live in a world that is more isolated than ever before, due to technology. I first realized this back when I was living in the dorm and D told me that when he had been a student, the TV room was the most popular place to hang out and really fostered a sense of community. That had changed by the time I was a student and everyone had a TV and cable in their own dorm rooms. The same is true in households - put a TV/computer/cell phone in each person's possession, and he will virtually have to go out of his way to interact with actual human beings.
The mega-church can develop a sense of belonging to someone greater than one's self. Plus, it is a bit more immune to the gossip that can be prevalent in smaller churches, since you can maintain your anonymity in a church of 1000+ members quite easily, so you can go on Sunday and feel that you're a part of something - without actually being a contributing part.
Now, I think that the church we see in the Bible is more than just a place people go on Sundays; the church is the whole body of believers in Christ. Paul writes to the Romans: "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith"(Romans 12:4-6, emphasis added).
The reason I included this verse is because I see a problem in every church, whether small or large. I realized this quite recently, after Hector and I lamented the lack of ministry towards young adults in churches and longed for some sort of mentoring program of which we could be a part. Churches tend to divide into smaller groups - you have a program for retirees, for singles, for couples, for moms, for men, for teens, for kids - and the groups become these small entities unto themselves. In one sense, there is a definite benefit to the small groups, because - indeed - each group has its' own needs; you would hardly minister to a child in the same way you'd minister to a single adult. However, we lose the sense that we are all the body of Christ. Instead, I really feel that each group should be seeking what they can do to bless and benefit the other groups, thereby drawing the body together. For instance, the mens' ministry should be reaching out to the moms and the retirees, seeing if they can help with household projects that single women or older persons might not be able to complete on their own. The couples' small group could be reaching out to the younger adults, offering mentoring. The teens could be doing dramas for the kids. And I could continue indefinitely.
I address this in response to your question because the mega-church has the mega-opportunity to be doing this - not only for those that are in the church, but for those that are in the community, and I think that, for many reasons, the ball has been dropped in this regard.
However, I think you've hit on some other true issues with mega-churches - and, actually, with many churches of today's time, particularly with this: they think they're so much better than everyone else, and cultivating this "betterness" by mixing only with "their kind" (even as far as home schooling, and letting kids attend only activities sponsored by their local church, which runs their whole life already).
You've definitely hit on one of my spiritual pet peeves. I will part ways with you on the "they think they're so much better than everyone else" bit, because I think the motivation to do everything together is different than mere exclusivity. There is a great deal to be said for the fellowship that can come from spending time with other Christians. It's very encouraging. The Bible talks about how Christians are hated by the world (1 John 3:13), with "the world" meaning people who are not Christians. To a degree, I think that some Christians bring this upon themselves by the way they act, but to a greater degree, I think Christians are hated because people like living their lives the way they want or choose to live, and they don't like being reminded that maybe that way isn't right. The Bible also says that Christians are "as aliens and strangers in the world" (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11). Plus, the Bible also says that non-believers won't understand Christians: "The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (1 John 3:1).
Now. Lest you think that I am in complete defense of this isolation among Christians, I vehemently am not. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Just as there is a need for fellowship with other Christians for encouragement and accountabilty, we are clearly called by the Bible to spend time with non-believers. If we look at Jesus' life, as it is retold in the four gospels, He spent minimal time with those that were already religious. The bulk of his time was spent with untouchables: the diseased, the prostitute, the demon-possessed. Shouldn't Christians be following His model? The Bible is clear that Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. Jesus even said, in John 17: "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified" (14-19, emphasis added).
I think that's so important, that Jesus prayed that God wouldn't take believers out of the world, but that He'd protect them. Many Christians try to protect themselves, and particularly their children, through isolating themselves with other Christians. I've always vehemently opposed Christians schools for this reason: I think children need to learn how to deal with age-appropriate temptations. If we isolate children from the temptations of the world, they will be ill equipped to deal with the tremendous temptations of adult life.
That was a long answer, but it boils down to this - I understand why many Christians choose to live their lives like this, but I believe that it is due to complacency and an unwillingness to live the uncomfortable, pressured life that Christ calls believers to live.
You also wrote: "then the thought that with a little "Jesus is great! Amen!" you can fix everything, and just praying and being a "good christian" will mean that your family will succeed and that you're all going to be perfect."
Yeah. I have issues with that line of thinking, too. Jesus does promise that His yoke is easy, His burden is light (Matthew 11:30), but I believe that means more that we do not need to stress over what He asks of us because He will provide. The issue of "success" is interesting, too, because I highly doubt God's view of a successful life is the same as ours. God does promise to provide for us, but that promise is hardly to give us a 4,000 square foot house with a three-car garage and a maid.
For instance, a young man approached Christ and asked, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Christ responded with several of the commandments. The man responded that he had always kept those, and to that, Jesus replied: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19:16-21). Interestingly, "when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (verse 22).
Obviously, God isn't saying that our possessions are indicative of our success. Instead, throughout the Bible, we learn about "fruits" of our ministries. We each are given different talents, or gifts. I like to think that perhaps one of mine is writing. God calls Christians to use those gifts for His glory, and that He will bless those efforts. (If you want, I can find the verses to support, but I've already been writing this for almost an hour already.) That is God's view of success - and He does indeed promise success and protection.
"Christianity light," in my opinion, is a contradiction in terms, because the life of a Christian is difficult, although it certainly does offer a great deal of freedom - from worry, from guilt. Yet the Bible is clear that Christians will face persecution for their beliefs - and that is hardly "light."
In conclusion, the "mega-church" is no more at fault than any other church, or the Church at large, really, because each is run by inherently flawed man. God's Design is perfect, but we are not. Every church will always have its issues, because we humans always have our issues. "The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached" (Philippians 1:18).
Whew. I'm beat now. Any questions or thoughts in response?
posted by Heather at 11:19 AM
1 Comments:
Thanks! And wow! Quite the answer, and I don't really have much to add.
As far as I can tell, the phenomenon is so far restricted to America (not sure about Canada), there's nothing like it in Europe that I have heard of. The article I mentioned talked specifically about this "new trend" in the US. The new trend in Europe are evangelical churches modelled on the american ones (usually run by american missionaries, who don't bother learning the local language.. my personal pet peeve :-)
And what I meant by "they think they're better than other people" and isolating themselves because of that... I got this impression from some of the quotes in the articles, where people give their reasons for home schooling (for example) their kids, so that they're not exposed to the heathen ideas of evolution, or tempted by drugs etc. And the kids themselves sounded rather arrogant how they spoke of their classmates (after they had to continue in public school in order to be able to attend university). So yeah, that's where I got that impression from :-)
I like your thoughts on how the church really should be all of us, and not little groups for every possible social or economic group. Reminds me a bit of the gazillion messageboards on ivillage :-) What seems strange then is that this mega-church also divides everyone up. I guess people would mix a little more since the moms might go to "Jesus Aerobics" (quote) while their kids are in bible study, and then they might meet again at the sunday service and at various classes and courses offered. But I'd almost think that small church would have more to offer in the way of fellowship. You can really pick and choose who you want to hang out with in such a huge congregation, whereas in a small local church, you meet people of all walks of life. But maybe people don't want that - "birds of a feather..."
Anyhow, thanks again for your thoughts!
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