Mega-Churches: Competition Trumps Community, Part 2
I grew up playing basketball. As a young kid around the age of 12 or 13 my older brother would take me with him on Saturday mornings to gyms around the city to play basketball in what are known as pickup games. Often we went to gyms that had multiple courts. In the multi-court gyms I knew as a kid which courts to stay away from. Some courts had bigger, stronger, more skilled players. Invariably there were courts that had kids my age that played at or around my skill level that I have fun playing ball with. Every once in a while it was a slow Saturday so I was allowed to play with the big boys. In those games I couldn’t compete at their level and I was relegated to passing the ball often and making a lot of mistakes. I became a pretty good ball player as I got older but I never tried out for Division 1 College team or Pro Team because I wasn’t at that level. I knew my lane. I was good enough to play pickup games to play on weekends. I would be kidding myself to try to do more.
Just as the early church could not beat Rome and Greece in entertaining society at that time, the modern day church cannot compete with the entertainment industry at entertaining society at this time. The sad part is the church of today tries to compete by becoming an entertainment machine rather than a hub for fellowship and training. If we think about it, what is the purpose for modern entertainment? Modern entertainment is not built purely to educate or train or bring people together for that matter. The sole purpose for modern entertainment is to make money. TV shows are merely to keep your attention long enough to watch the commercials. Movies are geared to draw you to one location to buy a ticket, concessions and watch commercials and trailers prior to the movie. Sports are geared to get you to buy a seat and concessions. Sports events are even nice enough to create breaks so that you can buy concessions without missing any action. Instead of worshiping, some churches have turned praise and worship into entertaining mini concerts that feel more like performances than real praise and worship. Some pastors have thrown out teaching Christians and growing babes in Christ to give motivational speeches to fill concert-sized venues for tithes and offerings (in other words money).
Acts Chapter 2 says that signs and wonders happened daily. I have been in the church for over 30 years and I have seen the old shoe trick. You know that shoe trick right? If you don’t know then here it is. During the healing lines, the minister would say that they could sense someone is having back problems. That person would come to the front. The minister would assess that that person has one leg that is shorter than the other. He would then sit them down, hold their calf and slightly tug their shoe with the other hand to give the illusion that their leg was growing. This Vaudeville-like act is not the signs and wonders written about in scriptures. Signs and wonders do occur in some churches while in some churches it is either not approached or more reminiscent of a Vaudeville magic show.
Often I have witnessed entertaining environments that made me feel good and even motivated but isn’t that the same thing I should feel leaving a movie or watching a good basketball game? Some churches gave me that same experience. Having a personal relationship with God meant that I did not need a building, preacher and praise team to experience God. With all this said I had to wonder what happened. The answer was very simple. The church had somehow lost her way.
Some churches have now tried to become competitors with the entertainment industry instead of compasses for society. The entertainment dollar is important for survival in entertainment so all entertainment entities are competing for it. Some churches have become entertainment entities so they have become competitors with each other and the other forms of entertainment. When in a competition one must size up the opponent and determine his strengths and weaknesses. Better sound systems and better lighting were needed. The buildings need to become bigger and more comfortable. The speakers needed to step away from harder, more controversial views that Christ espoused and lean more toward messages that motivated people culturally or socially. New marketing schemes had to be developed that are dubbed church growth models. The game had to change for some churches that they could compete.
If some churches look in the mirror they could see that they were not living up to Architects intent? Are they challenging themselves to become better? Have some churches entered a competition they are not designed to compete in or win? In entertainment, the one who makes the most money wins. The funny thing is the goal post keeps moving. As one entertainment entity makes more money, another surpasses it. As one entertainment conglomerate gets bigger, another gets even bigger. As one finds its edge, the other finds its edge. Sound familiar? Churches are being built on every block. Once one building is built, some church begins building a bigger church. Some large churches plant other churches which is a way of franchising. The edge for some churches is to talk about health and purpose, better than another church. The edge for other churches is to specialize on faith and motivation. It feels like entertainment.
Did God intend for Bentleys, TV cameras and celebrity to be pervasive in the landscape of the modern church?
Read what the original church was doing in Acts when it started.
Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Does that sound like your church?
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Thank you for your strong and insightful look at the church of Jesus Christ. The fact of the Matter is that our Pastor’s have turn into Puff Daddy. Our African-Black American Pastors want to be Puff…Daddy! Puff Daddy, Puff Daddy. These Pastors were not called to be Puff Daddy; they were at least ask; to Serve Jesus Christ our Lord. Neighbor, oh neighbor why is your neighbor so Broke,….. and your so Paid! For too many Black Pastors, things did’nt work out at IBM or Lockeed Martin Corporation so now we have to deal with them at the Church house Hustling “The People of God. I Call it The Hustle and Flow. Keep up the good work writing articles that make us think. Amen.
Our focus I think should be on how we are living to pelase God. We worry too much about what others are doing and forget about what’s going on in our own life. I like one reply where it said Jesus had a mega church. If people have issue with “mega” churches what will they do when we get to heaven. He said the church grew daily. As it grow you have to build, common sense to me. I pray for all churches and that everyone enter into heaven and if we make sure we are right with God and pray for our people, church, nations, we will live more joyful lives. Question -who put “Mega” out there anyway, no where in the bible is mega church. I think it is worldly made to divide it, and we as people somtimes eat the bait and fall for it. A church is a church, long as they preaching Jesus and saving lives. We are the church, we make it. God Bless.
If God is not #1 in the church then you have nothing.People are not real and things are being done for show.The ways and thoughts of God are different from what the natural man can understand.Without God in the house ruling and Guideance by his spirit.It’s omly a building filled with wordly minded people walking by their fleshly minds.and this isn’t dod’s plan for his people.He wants and demands to be first or not at all.We must put him first before anyone or anythings in our lives.He loves because he gave his life for us.
It sounds as though many are lost in today’s world. We look for inspiration through TV, secular music, and our partial Christian friends. Who think they know the Word and really don’t have a clue. If we would just “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness all things would be added unto us.” Instead we look for healing, hope, direction, and salvation in the wrong places. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone for the Christian church and if we as a people would just READ the WORD of God, pray and truly trust Him and His Word we wouldn’t have to be so concerned with whether the local church is a mega ministry or small ministry. I’m retired military, before joining the military I had my own philosophy of life and moral values, then I had to familiarize myself with the military way of life and it’s codes, laws and regulations (in short the do’s and don’ts). If I didn’t follow the guidelines of the military I would have been DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED. The same with the Word, when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we can’t accept bits and pieces of the Word to fit our natural lifestyles, we must accept the Word in its entirety. Although God (Jesus) is love, “All things must be done decently and in Order”. Therefore as a people of God we must ensure that the Word of God is being followed as closely as possible to the letter. No one is perfect, however if the God we serve is perfect and the Holyspirit who is the comforter is perfect, why can’t we as a Christian people walk in the spirit of perfection. It’s by choice that we fall short of the glory of God. And it is by choice that we receive the full manifestation of the Word of God and live a lifestyle that rest on the Word of God. (3 John 1:2) “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosperity”.
I was encouraged by this article, church should be about God and of course his Word (St. John 1:1).I heard a preacher say that due to a storm, he left and visited another area, then believed that they needed to build another church. What happened,our God is so small that he didn’t already have churches in that area? Why couldn’t he fellowship or join with another church that was already astablished and grow together. I don’t know, maybe he meant well. I hope that I make it to Heaven and that I have planted and produced fruits so that others may make it as well. I notice that there are too many churches that are divided, too many truth’s and not The Truth! There are levels of growth so every message should’nt be milk level,preach the meat level (where’s the beef?) Adorning,Sin,God Head and the Plan of Salvation are hot division spots! What happened to having the same mind,God in us and showing up on the outside so that men will see our good works and glorify God? It’s like keeping part of the world (serving 2 masters). Light and darkness, they don’t mix. Big or small church, we shouldn’t put each other down we should have the same mind! Who can humble themselves, stop building many different churches,be under leadership of a true many of God and have one body, but many members? Gal 5:22-26,Phil 2,3:13,1Tim2:9-10,4:16
We should take the time to acknowledge how diverse the current body of Christ is as well. We have members of different levels of education, social class, social status, level of resources, etc. They all receive the Word differently, yet the Word must be delivered the same way for the entire body. As TBM commented, we will know “them” by their fruit. The ‘entertainment’ factor is merely another form of delivery. I feel that we have to tell it every day in every way possible!
Also, not everyone is going to be at the same space in their walk with Christ everyday. We cannot judge people who appear to not receive the Word as it was intended. All we can do is continue to model for them what it means to be Christ- like.
Of course, how our church leaders model a Christ-like life style is paramount. I agree that a Bentley has nothing to do with Christ. Modern Christianity is full of various doctrines, but being Christ-like comes directly from the Word. These church leaders are just men, just like us! Our model is and will always be Christ. The spirit of compassion, thankfulness and joy is the spirit we must emulate. If we can fellowship in this manner using whatever tools we have at whatever level – as a musician, parishioner, or church leader – we are serving the Lord.
I think you make an excellent point when you write “Some churches have now tried to become competitors with the entertainment industry instead of compasses for society.”
But in the 21st centaury it’s critical for churches to embrace technology and even entertainment in order to reach a new generation that’s being breed on these things.
By incorporating technology and entertainment into their ministries churches galvanize soul winning and humanitarian efforts that reach people who may never be won by 1st Baptist storefront church.
One could even argue that Jesus led a mega church (think about the multitudes that come to hear him minister) and ministered in unconventional ways when he walked the earth.
But ultimately, neither entertainment to technology should be the focus of these churches, hearts on fire for the Lord should be.
We will know them by their fruit. So we must ask: Are people coming to know Jesus in these churches? Are they maturing as believers? Are their needs being met? If the answer is yes, then that’s a good thing.
I MOST DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE ARTICLE… I MEAN SOME OF THESE CHURCHES ARE SINCERE BUT WHEN THEY START TO GROW AND START TO TRY AND MEET GOALS AND DEADLINES THEN IT BECOMES MORE OF A BUSINESS WITH A BOTTOM LINE OF OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS AND GIVING MORE THAN 10% AND BUILDING FUNDS…. I DEFINITELY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT BECAUSE MY WIFE BELIEVES IN THIS STUFF AND AT THE SAME TIME THESE GUYS WILL TELL YOU TO CUT THIS AND CUT THAT TO SAVE MONEY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SACRIFICE YOUR SAVINGS… I’M NOT SAYING A SACRIFICE IS GOOD EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE BUT NOT ALL THE TIME…AND FURTHERMORE…EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THE TITLE OF (DOCTOR)THIS AND DOCTOR THAT… I MEAN ANYBODY CAN GET DOCTORATE ONLINE OR THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE FOR A NOMINAL FEE NOWADAYS…. ALSO THESE GUYS TELL YOU TO PUT ON A SMILE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY…EASY TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN…TRY COMING BACK TO REALITY AND WORKING A NINE TO FIVE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND NOT SITTING IN AN OFFICE MON-FRI SENDING EMAILS DOING “GODS WORK”… GOD INTENDED FOR THEM TO DO “PEOPLE WORK TOO” SO THAT THEY WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH WHATS REALLY GOING ON… I PRAY TO SEE THE DAY WHEN YOU HAVE A MINISTRY THAT MEETS OFTEN AND NOT EVERY SUNDAY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TO SEE GOD’S BEAUTY BY TAKING A VACATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND FOREIGN PLACES TO SEE HIS MARVELOUS WORKS RATHER THAN HEARING ABOUT HOW THE UPPER ECHELON’S IN THE CHURCH USED YOUR MONEY TO GO AND “SPREAD THE WORD”…. I KNOW I SAID A LOT BUT MY GOODNESS WHEN ARE BLACK PEOPLE GOING TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT EVERYONE CAN’T BECOME A MILLIONAIRE UNLESS YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF TO THE CON GAME BEING PLAYED ON YOU BY SOME OF THESE WOLVES…. PEACE
I agree with the article. A lot of churches have lost their direction and forgotten what their purpose is on Earth. But remember, when God comes to rapture up his church, the buildings will remain it’s the people (body of Christ) that’s going. So what does that tell you the focus needs to be on?