I have been to Saddleback, Rick arren's megachurch, and was very unimpressed with the worldliness and lack of sound instruction. I would NEVER want to return to it. Yet, it is viewed as the prototype of the megachurches.
Each individual believer should be accountable to the Lord only. This is called the priesthood of the believer, set forth in Hebrews.
Would you like to read what I consider, after one's conversion to Christianity, to be the single most important qualification for a leader / pastor? Of course you would! (smile) It is proven character.
The pastors (evangelical, charismatic churches) whose lives have had the most impact on me as one of the members of the church all have proven character. If a person had been through the fire, has been tested and found faithful in the little things, God says He will give him/her more things to be responsible for. What leaders allow in moderation, the flock will go for in excess. I lovingly appreciate and cherish the godliness of my pastors. I have a heart for holiness and wouldn't be able to stay in a church that didn't seek the Lord with all its heart, soul, mind and strength. I want ALL of Him. I'm a spiritual hog. Whatever God has to give, I want it.
But without my pastors who discipled me, and the elders and deacons and the wives of elders and deacons who discipled me, I wouldn't be able to do much of a job of following Jesus. I totally believe in the priesthood of the believer, that the only Intermediary who stands between God and me is Jesus, but I also know God delegated authority on this earth to pastors, apostles, prophets, teachers, and evangelists to shepherd the flock and bring in the sheep.
The problem is we are all sinners and some of us fall into the temptations of this life. This doesn't mean we should do away with pastors. I love the account of the centurion who understood the power that comes when we are under authority.
Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Truly I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go your way; and as you believed, so be it done unto you. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
I became very uneasy with Mr. Warren's embracing the global warming idea and his belief in it. That alone has made me think twice about him and his church. All I can say about any megachurch is to simply go into one with both your eyes open and be very cautious about anything spoken by any pastor or minister who speaks in these churches. As President Reagan used to say "Trust But Verify"