REVISITING MY MEGACHURCH "FEELINGS"

Apparently, my in-process feelings toward the mega-church idea has drawn a bit of attention. A blogger (Ken Gurley) on Chron.commons has mentioned my post (I'm the "downright hostile" one in the following quote):

Not everyone is convinced of the worth of megachurches (see 1, 2). Some are downright hostile in their views of these super-sized congregations. (Me doth think some of the hostility might be tinged with a wee bit of jealousy.)

Three brief comments:

1. Gurley's final question, "What should be a church's basis of success?" is an excellent one--one my allegedly hostile post actually considers.
   
2. I question whether Gurley read the entire post, for the bulk of my post consists of me eating crow for my presumption-based opinion.
3. Finally, I live in Southern California. If I wanted to attend a mega, there are several at my disposal. But I have been called by God to partner with Torrance First Baptist (currently as a lay teacher and worship band member) and I shall not be moved unless God gives me a clear push and pull to go elsewhere. My friends can correct me if my self-assessment is in error, but I see not even a wee tinge of jealousy in my posted perspective--(sometimes too) blunt passion, yes, but jealousy, no.
   

Finally, for those who choose not to read my entire original post, here is the summary paragraph (emphasis added).

So, what is the bottom line? I am finding that I do not object to the mega church, per se. What I object to is the human tendency to equate size with success, self-protective clinging with faithfulness, and rote imitation with God-following. I willingly admit that there is nothing unbiblical about the mega church. On the other hand, given our “super size me” culture, leadership teams in mega churches (and, in fact, in all churches) must take special care to create room for all four relational spaces, must intentionally—and repeatedly—focus on God’s mission, and must actively pursue God’s ways for their particular community context.

In even shorter terms, what I object to is smaller churches who model themselves after megas (or businesses, or anything else) with no apparent regard for God's measures of success (love God, love people, make disciples) and megas who sell their unfiltered "product" to smaller churches, thereby exacerbating the problem.

Let us be thoughtful, biblical, and wise in our ecclesiological choices.


NOTE: I would converse with Gurley directly on his post, but it appears one must register with Chron.commons in order to comment. That is unfortunate.

NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): theology mega church

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“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

DO I REALLY HATE MEGA CHURCHES?

Related Post (and update of sorts): REVISITING MY MEGACHURCH "FEELINGS"

Over the past several years, I have developed a rather negative opinion of mega churches. Much of my negativity revolves around what I have perceived as mega church self-importance. Further, the resemblance to our “super size me” culture has stigmatized mega churches in my eyes.

After a late night—and rather intense—conversation with Ann, and after some thought, I have come to the conclusion that my general dislike of mega churches is based on a stereotype that needs to be unpacked and examined.

Sheer size.

Assumption: A congregation with thousands of regular attenders cannot have the sort of communal feel shown in Scripture.

In his book, The Search to Belong, Joseph Myers describes four relational spaces: public, social, personal, and intimate. While it is true that one cannot have intimate or personal relationship with a gathering of thousands (or even hundreds), one can have social or public relationships in such a church. What I object to in ANY church is the assumption that public or social space is sufficient. It is not. Churches of any size must actively and programmatically encourage regular attenders to have healthy relationships in all four spaces.

Maintenance mentality.

Assumption: The size and complexity of the institutional structures of a mega church require too large a proportion of the available resources.

Maintenance mentality can be found in all sizes of church, from smallest house church to largest mega church. This is, therefore, not a mega church problem, but a church problem. A maintenance mentality does not merely refer to proportions in the budget. It more accurately refers to the ends at which that budget is directed. The question is whether programs are focused on maintaining a comfortable refuge from the world or on equipping Christ-followers for mission. The budget (and other) proportions may appear exactly the same in a maintenance church as in a missional church. The most important difference is not found in the budget nor on the calendar, but in the daily lives of the people: are they proclaiming God’s reign 24-7 or are they soaking up religious goods and services?

Imitate me.

Assumption: Mega churches hold themselves up as formats to copy.

Materials produced by some mega churches (on the pretense of helping the little sister) do seem to package the “mega church method” for smaller church consumption. Smaller churches are equally at fault in that they purchase the “method” rather than doing the hard work of seeking God. Of the three critiques (size, maintenance, and imitate me), this critique remains—but it is as much a critique of the imitators and it is of the imitated. Size is only one criterion of success, and then not the most important. The most important criterion is how well the local church fulfills its mission to proclaim God’s reign in its community. It must not be the programs or methods that are imitated, but their obedience to God’s command and reliance on the Spirit.


So, what is the bottom line? I am finding that I do not object to the mega church, per se. What I object to is the human tendency to equate size with success, self-protective clinging with faithfulness, and rote imitation with God-following. I willingly admit that there is nothing unbiblical about the mega church. On the other hand, given our “super size me” culture, leadership teams in mega churches (and, in fact, in all churches) must take special care to create room for all four relational spaces, must intentionally—and repeatedly—focus on God’s mission, and must actively pursue God’s ways for their particular community context.


NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")

Tag(s): ecclesiology

See CC License

“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/