Posted on 11/22/2005 7:11:21 AM PST by nckerr
'Megachurches' draw big U.S. crowds
By Joyce Kelly and Michael Conlon
CHICAGO (Reuters) - On a recent Sunday at Willow Creek Community Church, a Christian rock band joined by dancing children powered up in the cavernous main hall, their images ablaze on several gigantic screens.
Thousands of worshipers from the main floor to the balcony and mezzanine levels were on their feet rocking to a powerful sound system. Outside cars filled a parking lot fit for a shopping mall. Inside some people drifted into small Bible study groups or a bookstore and Internet cafe for lattes, cappuccinos and seats by a fireplace.
This church near Chicago and others like it number their congregations in the thousands on any given Sunday in stadium-size sanctuaries; but in the end a major appeal of America's megachurches may be the chance to get small.
Institutions like California's Saddleback Church, Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois and Houston's Lakewood Church, each drawing 20,000 or more on a weekend, offer not just a vast, shared attraction but a path that tries to link individuals on a faith-sustaining one-to-one level beyond the crowd, observers and worshipers said.
Rick Warren, founder of California's Saddleback Church and author of the best-selling book "The Purpose-Driven Life," told a seminar held earlier this year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that about 20 churches in America have more than 10,000 in weekend attendance.
"These churches can do a ton of things that smaller churches can't," said Nancy Ammerman, professor of the sociology of religion at the Boston University School of Theology.
"They have the resources to produce a professional-quality production every weekend, with music (often specially composed for the occasion and backed by a professional ensemble) and video and lighting and computer graphics and a preacher who knows how to work a crowd," she said.
But they also support "dozens or even hundreds of specialized opportunities for people to get involved in doing things with a small group of others. If you want someone to talk to who really understands what it is like to parent an autistic child, you may find a whole support group in a megachurch," she added.
MORE CHOICE
"Or if you really love stock car racing, but hate being surrounded by drunken rowdies, you can go with a busload of your church friends. I wouldn't say that there are fewer rules in most of these churches. Most of them really expect people to get involved in ways that can have a profound impact on their lives. It's just that there are so many paths into involvement that a smaller church just can't match," Ammerman said.
That's part of what Richard and Nancy Sauser of Schaumburg, Ill., said they found at Willow Creek where they have been members for more than 10 years. They attend regularly with their daughters, ages 5 and 7. The 30-year-old church draws 20,000 weekend worshipers.
"Anything they put their minds to, they can pretty much do," he said, marveling at the power inherent in size. But he added, "Willow Creek has the resources to effectively execute on multiple facets of church life," through more than 100 different ministries.
Sauser said he does not attend Willow Creek for its size but for the teaching and the ministry.
When the thousands at Willow Creek break into smaller groups for Bible study, the men's ministry, the special needs ministry and the adult ministry, a lot of life change occurs. "In the small groups, that is where it really gets good," Sauser said.
When the crowds head for Willow Creek's parking lot, attendants in orange vests direct processions of cars into smoothly paved parking lots ahead of the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Inside, the throng moves through the hallways and up and down escalators and stairs, welcomed by smiling greeters.
Some drop off children at Sunday school.
On the first floor Danielle Jackola of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a mother of two who recently moved to the area from California, has come in search of a church. After listening to dynamic lead pastor Gene Appel speak on family and passing the baton of faith from one generation to the next, she liked the message -- and the entertainment.
"I had never been to something like that. I think that is one of the ways of getting your numbers up ... to get the message across but to keep it fun and upbeat. And more contemporary to get more young families involved," she said a few days later -- after deciding to join the church.
SEARCH FOR MEANING
Scott Thuma, a sociologist of religion at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, said his research indicates there are at least 1,200 U.S. Protestant churches which claim more than 2,000 weekly attendees.
Megachurches are addressing the needs of Americans who are disinterested in "traditional church" yet want to deepen a sense of meaning in their lives. Classes and volunteer ministry opportunities lead to a deeper commitment, he said.
"They have opened worship to the seeker and the unsaved rather than reserving Sunday worship for the saved and sanctified," Thuma added.
The three largest churches are Saddleback, Willow Creek and Houston's Lakewood. But Warren said the world has far larger churches, pointing to mammoth Christian congregations in Nigeria, South Korea and elsewhere.
Warren said U.S. Protestants have returned to the 19th century roots of the evangelical movement, emphasizing social issues such as caring for the sick, the poor and the powerless, and not just concentrating on personal salvation.
"The small group structure is the structure of renewal in every facet of Christianity, including Catholicism," Warren told the Pew forum. He said his church has 9,200 lay ministers leading more than 200 different ministries all over southern California with 2,600 small groups in 83 cities.
See # 98.
Even better.
"the opening worship service is as much to draw the faithful to worship, as it is to minister to those who are unsaved. those who have walked in off the street or those that have been invited, many are impressed with what they see as a performance. its nothing like the "boring hymns" they remember as a child. all that performance that makes the service "fun" often does more ministering than the sermon. "
I don't doubt that these services are thrilling. I have sat through thousands of them myself, as a former megachurch member.
But I can't find in Scripture where we are counseled to make a service attractive. Nor can I find where Paul says to bring non-believers into the meetings of believers. Obviously we all know that in fact he says precisely the opposite.
What I find in Scripture is that Peter preached in the streets at Pentecost, Philip preached on the road, Paul preached everywhere including in prison and often caused riots. He even preached in court.
I think the Biblical methodology is the better one. Do church as it says how to do it in the Bible...start with Acts 2 and you will see the basic elements. They are simple (fellowship, teaching, breaking break, prayer, sharing of possessions, etc.). If we do that right, that is more than enough.
Then we all are to evangelize. All the time. Then there are those who have the spiritual gift of evangelism and we are to support those. We are to go on mission trips, etc.
That seems to me to be the way that the early church functioned and I think we do well to follow it. For decades, I was attracted by the megachurch for all of the reasons stated on this thread. But what I found is that cities with megachurches have as much pornography, prostitution, abortion, social decay and drug abuse as those that don't. Surely a church of 30,000 should make a better mark on a city? That led me to wondering what Scripture said about "doing church" which led me to where I am today.
Wow...so you have a problem with Hagee in San Antonio or Kennedy or Stanley or Billy or Franklin Graham as well?
I confess that Osteen is not my bag.
"These churches can do a ton of things that smaller churches can't,"
Revelation 3:1-6
1: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4: Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
If these megachurches were all that, I would expect to see the government in that area to reflect that in that the politicians would be more godly in their decisions for fear of offending their constituents.
"Not necessarily. You don't know my pastor. I don't guess you've been to every large church in American either. Your statements are very generalized. In many large churches, the reason they are so large is because Christ is being preached uncompromisingly which is the case where I am. We pull no punches here and the truth is not watered down."
Awesome. Glad to hear it.
But in speaking of Saddleback and churches that are expressly "Saddleback churches" and even more so, Lakewood, I think my generalizations are quite accurate.
I would have to say that Pelosi at Lakewood was a bit shocking....in fact, I would like to see a link on that. I mean that is truly, truly truly beyond the pale (if true...which I'm not so sure).
What's wrong with using 19 different translations? I regularly use 3 translations in my normal studies. Each one has their strengths and weaknesses.
"Paul preached the gospel in the synagogues but he also preached the gospel on the streets."
Paul preached in the synagogues and did so first, in fact. But I don't think his pastoral letters are written to any synagogues which had effectively converted to Christian churches. Let me know which ones though are in that category if you can think of them.
I think I am WAY ahead of the curve on this one.
as a born again christian since age 7 (Im now 42) I have begun to seriously question the need for massive organized religion. Too easy to corrupt the leadership and IMO the boundaries between big business and religion is (now) too easily confused.
There is NO biblical requirement to belong to a brick and morter church.
Maury Davis, the preacher at Cornerstone is an ex-convict from Texas who did 13 years for a drug killing as an 18 year old in Dallas i think.
He has taken that congregation from a trailer to a large sanctuary of members because of his message and conveyance abilities and because folks like his no nonsense resoluteness.
I drive 25 miles across town on occasion for his sermons and I'm no Pentecostal. He tells it like it is and is not shy about today's cultural issues
You seem angry Patrick.
I go to one of those Mega Church's and I assure you that the one I attend is not as you say. Watch out when you use a large brush to paint a picture of what something looks like. It's usually wrong.
I like the sound of Cornerstone.
Does Davis preach verse by verse?
Given the choice of grit or glitz...I go with grit every time.
not sure if you mean that in a bad way or a good way.
Let me get this straight. Let's say a man loses his wife to cancer. He's not a Christian. He's lost, he knows he's lost, and he can't see any purpose in life. He's borderline suicidal.
He has some vague idea that the church down the street might give him some answers. He comes to the front door.
Do you:
1) Open the doors, hug him , tell him you love him, and ask him to come into the House of the Lord and calm his trouble mind in His presence - or
2) Tell him he must first be saved before he can come in. We'll be evangelising on 21st ave next Wednesday.
I guess there are advantages to attending a megachurch. You can be lost in the crowd – and if you decide to skip a week no one will notice.
bad way. It's all about how "I feel" in churches now. Performances. Jesus-Is-My-Boyfriend songs. Making oneself FEEL GOOD. THis is not worship.
"There is NO biblical requirement to belong to a brick and morter church. "
Well...maybe not a physical building, but Hebrews does talk about not neglecting the meeting of the body. Plus I don't think Paul would have spent all that energy telling us how to govern the church if membership were sort of optional.
Your point about "massive" is well taken. But I do think the Bible requires (for lack of a better term), membership in a church.
There's got to be a great story behind this...
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