MegaChurch or Catholic Church?

taylormarshall.com ^ | August 26, 2013 | Dr. Taylor Marshall

[NYer]

Megachurch. Two young ladies. Both had left the Catholic Church. Both were now attending “megachurches.” We had a good chat together. I wanted to understand their reasons for why they left the Catholic Church for a megachurch.

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Megachurch
43,500 weekly attendance

I was at the bank and somehow I got into a spiritual conversation with two Hispanic executives that worked there.

Why the Megachurch?

When I asked why they exchanged the Catholic Church for the megachurch, they gave me a number of reasons:

1. “My new church has an iPhone app. I can go on my iPhone and get Bible studies, sermons (video and audio). When I travel I can still watch the sermon, either live or later. I feel apart of the community.”
2. “The preaching is dynamic and speaks to my life. I find practical encouragement.”
3. “I felt judged at the Catholic Church.”
4. “People were not friendly or welcoming at the Catholic Church. The first time I went to my new church, I was welcomed by so many people.”
5. “My new church has classes and courses that are interesting and helpful.”
6. “The music is better.”
7. “In the Catholic Church, they use a lot of words that I did not understand.”
8. “People pray for each other and know each other (in the megachurch).”

Although these two ladies didn’t articulate it explicitly to me, I could tell that they were very proud of their new churches. I could also discern in them a surprise that I am so “spiritual” and yet I am very excited about being Catholic. They assumed the “with it” people were leaving Catholicism for the bigger and better and deal.

I asked them what they miss about being Catholic. They replied with two answers:

1. “There are not any crosses in my new church. I know it makes some people feel uncomfortable, but I wish we had crosses.”
2. “What will I do when I die?” They were both unclear about whether they could get anything like Last Rites at the megachurch.

What About the Eucharist?

I asked both about the Eucharist: “Don’t you miss the Eucharist?”

This question didn’t phase them one bit. “Oh we still have communion. They pass out little crackers and cups of juice. I like this better because I thought drinking from one big cup is icky. Spreads germs.”

“But in the Catholic Church,” I replied, “we believe that the Eucharist is the real Body and Blood of Jesus?”

I may as well have said, “Don’t you know that there are Martians in my back pocket.” She was unaware that the Catholic Church taught this. No idea.

The Problem

This, my brothers and sisters, is the crux of the problem. These girls were raised as Catholics, but did not know about the Eucharist. They did not know that the Eucharist is God. They did not understand the Holy Eucharist is the center of the Catholic tradition.

So when they compare our ho-hum Catholic music and pedestrian sermons to snazzy well produced musical productions and highly polished bulleted sermons from handsome professional speakers…where are they going to go?

If they had believed that the Holy Eucharist is truly the Lord Jesus Christ, then they would have stayed. This is the task of the New Evangelization if there is going to be one. Can we communicate the mystery of Eucharist. If we fail in that, everyone is leaving the building.

Godspeed,
Taylor

PS: I don’t mean to suggest that having the Holy Eucharist is an excuse for bad music, bad vestments, bad architecture, and bad sermons. The Eucharist is like a precious diamond. It deserves a platinum setting…not a plastic setting. We can’t say, “Well, we have the Eucharist – so you’re forced to stay and have a miserable experience every Sunday.” We can’t keep the sacraments hostage to mediocracy.

PPS: With 1 billion strong, the Catholic Church is the real megachurch!

Pope Francis at Rio de Janeiro
3 million people

[NYer]

Ping!

[BipolarBob]

Mega Church or Catholic Church?? Ugh, what a choice. Joel Osteen preaches a feel good sermon that’s not judgmental (smooth sermon for itching ears) which is good if you’re feeling a bit down but he lacks the Jesus died for us theology which is THE central part of Christianity. I choose neither.

[fwdude]

They sound like a couple of natural blondes.

[bkaycee]

Did they mention Salvation was by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone?

That is why I left.

[VanDeKoik]

Mega Churches make me gag. They look plastic, sound plastic, and aren’t much more than a weekly concert and pep talk, it seems.

[Buckeye McFrog]

7.“In the Catholic Church, they use a lot of words that I did not understand.”

IMO that is a REALLY BIG ONE. I immediately began noticing the puzzled, quizzical looks when we adopted the New Roman Missal and began saying things like "consubstantial". The Vatican is full of people who are REALLY out of touch on this. You must speak to the people in the language that they understand. Christ did not arrive in Israel speaking Mandarin Chinese (although he could have).

Some of the other items mentioned (don't have an iPhone app) are scurrilous IMO.

[notaliberal]

We Catholics worship GOD not the preacher!

[SevenofNine]

Hey NYER I know Joel Osteen he is one of those do not judge preacher very new agey I THINK SO

Maybe young ladies didn’t really good teaching out of Cathoic church so they feel spiritually hungry

They do lots of singing in those type of churches

They do reach out to people

[DannyTN]

“3. I felt judged at the Catholic Church.”

Flip story. As a Southern Baptist, I was talking to one of my Catholic friends in Louisiana and told her this story. "My Mom knows this lady who converted from Baptist to Catholic because she didn't feel as guilty as a Catholic when she slept with someone other than her husband."

My Catholic friend retorted, "Well, if she didn't make a good Baptist, she's not going to make a good Catholic."

What could I say?...."Touche"

[Alex Murphy]

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Megachurch
43,500 weekly attendance

Related thread:
Joel Olsteen Joins With Catholics To Convert Confused Protestants

[avenir]

Mega Church or Catholic Church?

I’ll just agree with apostle Paul that, after his departure, savage wolves DID come in and did NOT spare the flock. And since that time they have hounded simple believers with priestcraft and gimmickry and ancient ERROR.

No blood bought child of God has any need for gnostic teachers to “instruct” him in the ways of God. Indeed, he can easily spot the fakes by way of the Holy Spirit and, per the LORD JESUS, one or more other blood-bought children!

[Boogieman]

“We Catholics worship GOD not the preacher!”

Implying the converse is true of the megachurch attendees?

[circlecity]

The only megachurch service I ever attended was essentially a rock concert followed by a motivational speech. I know I can’t judge all megachurches by that one but it definitely turned me off to the whole concept.

[fwdude]

Mega Churches make me gag. They look plastic, sound plastic, and aren’t much more than a weekly concert and pep talk, it seems.

They also tolerate a lot of sin and heresy in their ranks. They have to. Their "customer base" demands it, and they have a multi-million dollar budget to make.

[Buckeye McFrog]

In other words we all DESERVE to be judged when we sin.

[Phillyred]

Exactly. Sounds like a lot of the reasons seemingly smart people voted for Obama. The marketing is just so good. I don’t think Jesus was into marketing. More of a substance kinda guy. But, unfortunately a ton of “catholics” no nothing about their own faith. I mean, if your faith is that important to you, don’t you think you would take it upon yourself to actually learn about it before you take off and leave it. It has been around 2000 years for a reason.

[Buckeye McFrog]

“We Catholics worship GOD not the preacher!”

I recently had to set straight a Hindu friend who was utterly, completely confused on this point.

[fwdude]

They do lots of singing in those type of churches

They do reach out to people

So do cults. The Manson Family was very musical, and very "accepting."

[PetroniusMaximus]

“Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest...”