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

[Alex Murphy]

Don’t they know that drinking from the one cup first of all is not necessary for the Body and Blood of Christ are both in the consecrated host? And secondly, it is no longer wine, it is the Blood of Jesus Christ and I am protected when I drink from the cup? Some may disagree, but that’s my opinion.

Well, that would explain a lot.

And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it;
for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom.”
-- Matthew 26:27-28

[fwdude]

Apologies to all earnest, but deceived, Catholics here for my going off the track of the article. I’m aware that I’ll never convince you of my position, and visa versa.

Suffice it to say that Olsteen is a heretic, and in time, will be exposed as the huckster that he is.

[Mrs. Don-o]

You said “financial” indulgences. Selling indulgences, blessings, or any similar spiritual value for money is the sin of simony., This is the sin the infamous Johannes Tetzel was committing big time in the era of Luther.

[longfellowsmuse]

Catholic prayer....

Oh my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in need of thy mercy. Amen.

Less time on google...more time on your knees

[smvoice]

Hmmm...Salvation, this may change everything..your whole church could implode on this bit of news, if true. You may be responsible for bringing down the entire RCC empire. Think about it, Salvation, once the darling of RCC progaganda, discovered in nefarious whistleblowing activity that could bring down the entire RCC empire. Nice going...:)

[fwdude]

People who have no life in them always end up directly contradicting Jesus Christ, though, so we understand.

Your damning arrogance is in presuming to know who has Life in them and who doesn't.

Maybe Mary informs you of who the lifeless pagans are, even when you don't know them.

[fwdude]

I don’t use Google.

And what does that make Catholic.org?

[Rashputin]

LOL.

You don't believe what Jesus Christ Himself says and the issue is my level of knowledge?

It's Ok, we'll be praying for you and if you're actually seeking Jesus Christ rather than the usual Self Alone garbage you'll start to understand that Christ is Truth.

Once you accept that you can begin to understand other things instead of revising and reinterpreting what others believe to fit into your preconceptions.

[Salvation]

Maybe some day you will completely spiritual rather than only half-way spiritual.

(Inspired by a quote on your homepage.)

[longfellowsmuse]

a neat place to visit, but not as valuable as an actual church:)

[fwdude]

I’d forgotten I had written anything on my homepage - kind of like reading your diary after a few years. Interesting.

Tell me, how do I “complete” my spirituality?

[Salvation]

It’s been true for a long time, and it hasn’t imploded yet. LOL!

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

[ansel12]

The Pew I see gives 70% of foreign born Hispanics as currently Catholic, not as having been so the day they fled Mexico.

Many Mexicans leave the Catholic denomination after escaping Mexico.

The figure of 94% of Mexican immigrants having been baptized Catholic, is from the NHCLC.

[Alex Murphy]

People who have no life in them always end up directly contradicting Jesus Christ

I take it you haven't read post #121 yet.

[fwdude]

What’s all the fuss about Mother Mary? Wonderful woman, but what does she have to do with my salvation?

That's always my question.

[Rashputin]

Did Jesus Christ say He is the God of the living and not of the dead?

[BipolarBob]

So you’re saying bowing down and praying to graven images is a bad thing? If that were true, it’d be in the Bible not to do it. In fact God would make it a Commandment and write it in stone.

[fwdude]

So you’re saying bowing down and praying to graven images is a bad thing? If that were true, it’d be in the Bible not to do it. In fact God would make it a Commandment and write it in stone.

LOL! Exactly.

[CynicalBear]

>> I know I can’t judge all megachurches by that one<<

Well, let’s see.

<< but it definitely turned me off to the whole concept<<

Oops, guess you did after all.

[Salvation]

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1383.htm