Megachurches, Megabusinesses

Maybe churches aren't so different from corporations. World Changers Ministries, for instance, operates a music studio, publishing house, computer graphic design suite and owns its own record label. The Potter's House also has a record label as well as a daily talk show, a prison satellite network that broadcasts in 260 prisons and a twice-a-week Webcast. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has a chief operating officer and a special effects 3-D Web site that offers videos-on-demand. It publishes a magazine and holds Cashflow 101 Game Nights. And Lakewood Church, which recently leased the Compaq Center, former home of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has a four-record deal and spends $12 million annually on television airtime.

Welcome to the megabusiness of megachurches, where pastors often act as chief executives and use business tactics to grow their congregations. This entrepreneurial approach has contributed to the explosive growth of megachurches--defined as non-Catholic churches with at least 2,000 members--in the U.S. Indeed, Lakewood, New Birth, The Potter's House and World Changers, four of the biggest, have all experienced membership gains of late. Of course, growth for them has a higher purpose: to spread their faith to as many people as they can. "In our society growth equals success," says Scott Thumma, faculty associate at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. "And religious growth not only equals success but also God's blessing on the ministry."

In 1970, there were just ten such churches, according to John Vaughn, founder of Church Growth Today, which tracks megachurches. In 1990, 250 fit that description. Today, there are 740. The most common trait that these churches share is their size; average number of worshippers is 3,646, up 4% from last year, according to Vaughn. But they also demonstrate business savvy, with many holding conferences (47%) and using radio (44%) and television (38%), according to a 1999 survey conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. The average net income of megachurches was estimated at $4.8 million by that same survey.

Churches are exempt from income taxes. But in some cases they do pay an unrelated business income tax on activities not substantially related to the church's religious, educational or charitable purposes. (Churches do pay payroll, sales and, often, property taxes.)

*Catholic churches are not tracked for this study. This is all 2003 attendance data and represents total weekend attendance for each congregation. Source: Dr. John N. Vaughan, Church Growth Today

Technology also plays a large role in helping these giant churches communicate with members and keep track of them. Many provide a transcript of the weekly sermons and an events calendar on the Web site as well as sell products, such as books and CDs. They also allow members to post prayers and donate online. Almost all (99%) have Web sites. "Cell phones, e-mail, complex phone systems and the Internet all enhance the way megachurches work," says Thumma, faculty associate at the Hartford Institute.

Helping churches grow is a business in itself. There is even a publicly traded company, Kingdom Ventures (otc: KDMV - news - people ), whose sole mission is to help faith-based organizations get bigger. In its latest 10Q, the company did disclose that it's received a subpoena from the Securities And Exchange Commission relating to its stock and transactions. Founded in 1999, the tiny company operates 12 subsidiaries and claims to work with 10,000 churches on everything from fundraising to event planning (it provides speakers and artists for events) to upgrading technology by helping sell new audio and visual equipment and sound systems. "One of the reasons megachurches are as big as they are is because they use the technology of today," says Kingdom Chief Executive Gene Jackson, "We can help smaller churches become big with technology."

If that doesn't help, they may steer folks to a new book they are about to publish: PastorPreneur, which is hitting Christian book stores this month. The book teaches pastors to think like entrepreneurs; for instance, encouraging them to set up strategic partnerships with nonchurch groups and to use event marketing to draw in new members.

For a lesson in marketing, religious leaders would do well to study the success of Bill Hybels and his Great Barrington, Ill.-based Willow Creek Community Church. In 1975, he and members of his student ministry went door to door asking residents what kept them away from church. Hybels then crafted his services to address their concerns, becoming one of the first pastors to use video, drama and contemporary music in church and encouraging a more casual dress code. "Hybels really showed that churches can use marketing principles and still be authentic," says Michael Emerson, a Rice University sociology professor who has studied megachurches. Willow Creek, which has a staff of 500 full and part-time employees, is renowned for its conferences and seminars that teach other churches how to market themselves as well as for its "buzz" events, featuring well-known personalities such as country singer Randy Travis, NASCAR Champion owner and former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and Lisa Beamer, widow of Sept. 11, 2001, hero Todd Beamer--all intended to attract nonchurch goers.

Media has helped spread the message, particularly for Lakewood Church, the largest megachurch in the U.S. In 1981, Joel Osteen, son of then-pastor Joe Osteen, quit college to set up his father's television ministry. The services eventually aired in 140 countries. He also advertised Lakewood on local television and on billboards throughout Houston where the church is located. After his father passed away in 1999, Osteen became pastor and expanded the church's media strategy.

Like most churches, Lakewood's broadcasts had been relegated to the very early Sunday morning shows. Lakewood instead decided to target the top 25 markets in the nation and negotiate for timeslots on the four top networks between 8 A.M. and 10 A.M., rather than working with just one network. It also agreed to increase its budget for airtime to $12 million from $6 million. Its program now can be seen in 92% of the nation's households.

As for the services themselves, Lakewood makes sure to put on a grand show. It has a 12-piece stage band, a lighting designer to set the mood and three large projection screens. The technology will be even more spectacular when it moves into its new home in the former Houston Rockets' stadium "We really want it to feel like a concert," says Duncan Dodds, Lakewood's executive director. Something is working: Church attendance has grown from 6,000 in 1999 when Osteen became pastor to 25,060 today.

Pastor Rick Warren, who founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., in 1980, has deftly used technology as well as marketing to spread his message. His Pastors.com, which reaches 100,000 pastors worldwide each week, has e-mail forums, archives of all of his sermons from the past 22 years and a place to post prayer requests. He also sends a free weekly newsletter, Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox, to pastors. When it came time to launch his book, The Purpose Driven Life, last year, Warren used Pastors.com to invite churches to participate in a "40 Days of Purpose" event (to correspond with the book's 40 chapters). The 40-day-long event attracted 1,562 churches and was kicked off with a simulcast broadcast to all those churches. Some 267 radio stations ran a "40 days campaign" during the same time period. And a CD of "Songs for a Purpose Driven Life" featuring well-known Christian artists was also released. From the start, the books and CDs were distributed in mass-market retailers such as Wal-Mart (nyse: WMT - news - people ), Costco Wholesale (nasdaq: COST - news - people ), Barnes & Noble (nyse: BKS - news - people ) and Borders Group (nyse: BGP - news - people ). It quickly became a New York Times bestseller and has already sold 5.8 million copies, outselling Billy Graham and making it one of the most successful book promotions in Christian publishing history.

No doubt, churches have learned some valuable lessons from corporations. Now maybe they can teach businesses a thing or two. Companies would certainly appreciate having the armies of nonpaid, loyal volunteers. "The business world would love to have that kind of fellowship," says Vaughn.

Among the things "written in the book of the law" was a detailed sacrificial system for atoning for failing to obey. Perseverance is key here - not failing to be exactingly perfect in doing it.

Perfection is impossible. Therein lies the reason why God, if He were to save any, had to gave His perfect and only Son as the final sacrifice. All those animal sacrifices in the OT point to JESUS. In fact, they never were salvific in nature but rather typical, pointing to that one, final, lasting Sacrifice at Calvary. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:2,3). The OT Jews were saved just as Christians are, by justifying faith in Jesus Christ, whom they looked to in the future

(hmm, sounds like Jesus' words in Matt 5:17-19)...
Can you explain why we are told to obey the commandments in the "New Testament"?

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matt. 5:18).

Jump down to verses 21 and especially 22, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his borther without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." This is harsher than "Thou shalt not kill" and shows, along with the related verses on adultery (vv. 27, 28), each of us our utter inability to keep the Law. The Jews had made the Law an external affair, but Jesus is addressing the heart. What He is telling us is that even a sinful thought is sufficient to condemn (v 28). This is why justifying faith in Him, Who kept the Law perfectly in thought, word, and deed, is the only hope of salvation; none of us can keep the law perfectly and have already broken it ten thousand times over.

The place for the Law today: The law is a severe schoolmaster that drives the believer continually to the cross, reminding him that it's all Jesus, and nothing he did. It also serves as a guideline for how he is to live his gratitude to God for saving him. The latter, however, is part of sanctification and can in no wise save.

And if so, which ones? The Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets." The two tables of the law: The first four commandments teach us how to love the Lord our God, and the last six how to love our neighbour.

Three items you bring up. First, the fact that many people don't understand what it is that I'm doing or don't have the liturgical education or doctrine knowledge to understand it. The church shouldn't cater to those who don't understand or don't have liturgical training or doctrinal knowledge. Sure, we should be aware of these facts and try to understand the reality, but to cater to the most theologically ignorant or uninformed is suicide.

This, with respect, is nothing more than a variation of Gnosticism.

Before i begin, please allow me to explain that i have placed what you were commenting upon in green, and your own comments in brown in order to avoid confusion.

Take a deep breath and repeat after me..."Similar does not mean same, similar does not mean same". A little backgrownd: The word we translate as church is ejkklhsiva, [ekklesia], meanning literally "the called out ones". On this basis alone, there are similarities to Gnosticism. Many of the Gnostics actually were and are Christians, albeit with some controversial doctrines.

"I, the church, need not make myself accesable to you. You want in, do the hard work of learning my ways and then and only then may you earn atmitence."
BALDERDASH.

Respectfully, that is almost exactly the nature of the matter. The church is in fact the assembly of those who have been called out in order to:

Offer corporate worship to God in Spirit, and in truth.
Equip it's members to carry out the mandates of the "Great Commission".

It is in fact God Who adds to the Church, and not the individual by his/her "choice".

The church should be free to the most humble of entries. Did Christ educate the woman at the well in doctrine BEFORE he revealed himself to her? To say that the Church must set up the (effective) barrier of "liturgical training or doctrinal knowledge" between the unchurched and the congregation is 180 degrees oppisite of the mission of the church. When, in Acts 2, the crowd asks Peter "Men and brethern, what must we do to be saved?" Peter did NOT answer "Go and acquire liturgical training or doctrinal knowledge and get back to me."

First off, Liturgical training was not needed by virtue of the fact that Jesus and His disciples were all Jews, and already knew the Liturgy of both the synagogue and the Temple. Second, Peter's instructions were in fact doctrine:

38) The Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye will recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 2:38-39, KJV, emphasis by Calvinist_Dark_Lord

We can see from that passage that there was and is a requirement for church membership, a body of knowlege that must be accepted if you prefer, SIMILAR TO GNOSTICISM.

Second, your idea that we need to meet the people where they are at, etc. This is nothing more than watering down the Christian faith. It is hard to argue authoritatively with this statement: "The only thing that will keep the people coming is what brought them there in the first place." Jesus preached down to people all the time. We call them parables!

With respect to Loftyheight's comment here, i beleive that he or she has actually understated the premise. The Scriptures are much more explicit:

9) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10) As is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE:
11) THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD.

Romans 3:9-10, KJV, emphasis by Calvinist_Dark_Lord

Secondarily, Jesus had an explicit reason for preaching and teaching in parables that is not popular today, and hence not often discussed:

10) And the disciples came, and saikd unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12) For whosoever hath, to him shapp be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of E-sa'-ias, which saith, BY HEARING YE SHALL HEAR, AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND SEEING YE SHALL SEE, AND SHALL NOT PERCEIVE:
15) FOR THIS PEOPLE'S HEART IS WAXED GROSS, AND THIER EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED; LEST AT ANY TIME THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM.

Matthew 13:10-15, KJV

You are mistaken both on the premise that we should not "put it on the lowest shelf" (as you just admited our Lord himself did) but also in the assumption that it should remain there. A. The Bible is replete with examples of conversion based on what you mistakenly call "watered down" gospel. It is not watered down at all IF it preaches Jesus Christ and him crucified as the only way to God. the rest of the "doctrinal knowledge" is NOT what saves us. Prety much every prominent Christian you've ever heard of at some point in his or her life acquiesed to the "watered down" truth that Jesus was there only escape from hell and only door to God. There is, in fact, no other way to believe. No one was ever saved by litergy. B. The truth of the above further implies that quite a few people DO move beyond that initial simplicity to the deep truths of God. Paul himself said that we progress from the "milk" to the "meat" of the word. Many come to know Jesus in unconventional services and go on to study and even teach the deep theological principles of the word. You seem to want them to know these deep things before there conversion. Pardon me for saying so but that's just silly.

As we have seen above, the Gospel was not simplified it was in fact INCOMPREHENSIBLE to all except who the Lord intended to hear. To suggest that this appeals to the "lowest common denominator" is to rip Jesus teaching and scripture out of context.

Does this mean that the gospel should be obscured? Certainly not! The gospel should be presented plainly and fully, that is the responsibility of the believer. This requires a knowlege of what the Gospel entails, and precludes the watered down teaching that passes for "equipping the saints" in churches these days.

As I stated in my previous post, new methods of evangilism come along from time to time and have throught the history of the church to meet the people at the point of their spiritual need. IF the church had never moved past literguical methodology it would not be nearly the size it is today. Millions have responded to protastant alter calls which would by no means have responded to the methods of litergical churches.

Popularity of response is not a test of truth. Were that the case we should all be LDS (Mormons), or Islamics, as these two religions are reputedly the fastest growing in the world. The Altar call and anxious bench are the innovations of Charles Finney, who was a Pelagian Heretic, and did not exist in the American Church before that time. If you wish to see the fruits of Finney's work, i strongly recommend that you tour the "burned over district" of Western New York State.

Absolutly SOME people will respond to a traditional liturgical system, but God has created a wide diversity of people and not all respond to the same stimulus in the same way. There may be a carismatic or a black church member who would consider my baptist church dry and unspiritual - why should I insist that he conform to my form of worship? Methinks you exibit an inordinate amount of vanity in your chosen form. A little humility is recomended. VERY little of your vaunted litergical service derives it's athority from New Testament precedent.

Actually, a bit of both church and Jewish history is in order. It is not popularly taught that the early Christian Worship service was based on a highly stylised and liturgical JEWISH worship service. These forms did not evolve out of thin air! As per New Testament Precident, the early Christians were either Jews, or Gentiles exposed to and familiar with Jewish ritual. The Apostles were Jews, and in the case of Paul, highly educated Jews, Paul holding what would have been the equivalent of today's "Doctorate of Divinity".

Just some matters for your consideration.

We're strict on the Sabbath day (no buying or selling, no television), but that does not count as a work before God. Sunday is the Sabbath

Of course you know that there is no Scriptural authority for that? Poor translation? I suppose you know that the Catholic church was pretty harsh with Luther over this - saying that it was proof that Luther did not TRULY adhere to Sola Scriptura, since it was WELL KNOWN that "Sunday Sabbath" came from decrees of the "Church" in the 3rd and 4th Century. Read Eusebius - or read the Laodicean or Nicean decrees yourself.

Paul was very harsh in Galatians with his treatment of the Judaizers

Do you think "Judaizer" a Scriptural term? I know it is printed in man-made headings in portions of certain Bibles - but that is a term coined by the heretic Marcion in the 2nd Century, so don't put yourself in his camp.

Anything in the OT that is not explicitly sanctioned in the NT is finished

The commands against beastiality? Against Necromancy? You know of course, that again, there is no Scriptural authority for the "not repeated" cut-off point - this is a "theological position" that must be systematically introduced to explain difficulties with why modern Christians don't look and act like the 1st Century believers in Y'shua living in Judea. Did Jesus ever say such a thing? Saying, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law" is certainly a LONG way from saying that, "Anything in the OT that is not explicitly sanctioned in the NT is finished."

Do this: Do a search for the word "commandments" in the New Testament. You may be surprised. Now do a search for "Eternal Life" and again, there are some surprises. Jews did not, nor do they even now believe that keeping the "Law" "saves". It is simply God's standard. God's standards of righteous living do not change - if so, what makes you think He won't change them again... without telling you... AGAIN.

You do not see NT believers sacrificing animals and avoiding certain foods.

Do you eat blood? Acts 15 repeats the Levitical command not to. Why? That is not some "ancient" command - but a "New Testament" one. Why?

As for sacrifices - Have you read Acts 21:26:

"Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them."

. If you read Acts 21, (NT believers ZEALOUS for "the Law"), you will find that these men had made a Nazarite vow and Paul was paying their way (something one did between First Fruits and Pentecost - no cutting of hair etc.). Numbers 6:10 describes what Paul and these men were doing:

"And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering."

Now, I am unable to completely explain this, but I know that this is not an isolated case of "sacrifices" after the Cross where we know that atonement was made once and for all. Maybe this is just a "memorial" type thing, but one thing is for sure... some Christians may be shocked to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millenial reign of King Jesus... to participate in SACRIFICES:

"And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west... and the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be "The Lord is one," And His name one...And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles [from Leviticus 23]...In that day 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 14:4a, 9, 16, 20-21

I don't have the answers, but I read Scripture literally. There is more too... Read Ezekiel 40-48 (all the Leviticus 23 feasts - and Sabbath - and the Temple described has NEVER been built - the dimensions won't even fit on the Temple Mount), Read Isaiah 60-66. Isaiah 66:17 is clearly a time yet future and yet He talks about the abomination of "Eating swine’s flesh". How about Isaiah 66:22-24, which says,

"'For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the Lord, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me' says the Lord."

Oops. Reads like Revelation 19-22 - but the "New Moon" and "Sabbath" thing sure blows the common misinterpretation of Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 10:26. I don't have the answers for some of these questions, but my mind is not closed off simply because an arbitrary philosophy of "what is not repeated in the New Testament is over" thing.

Think about it.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because Law-lessness [anomia] will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:11-13

"For the mystery of Law-lessness [anomia]is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the Law-less [anomos] one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." 2 Thess 2:7-8)

If you have access to Greek tools, do a search for the Greek word anomia. Nomos is the word for "Law" in the Septuagint and the Greek "New Testament". a-nomia is rendered different ways into English - but it is simply to be against or a trasgressor of the Law.

"God's Law" is good. It always will be.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.