Megachurches clash with critics next door

Yahoo! (via USA Today) ^ | Mon Sep 23, 7:09 AM ET | Haya El Nasser USA TODAY

[Illbay]

"Christian" is as "Christian" does.

[Texas Eagle]

I'm encouraged to hear that it's legal for churches to exist in Oregon.

[LenS]

You want privacy? You want everything around you to stay the same? You want quiet? You want no new neighbors?

Then you need to buy up the property around you. That's the only way.

[Illbay]

These quasi-business ventures bring in people and generate traffic throughout the week, not just on Sundays.

Matthew 21:12-13

[AM2000]

Also, it's interesting that these business ventures take place under the guise of a Church, thus exempting the whole thing from property taxes... I wonder who's pocketing the profit...

[egarvue]

Exactly! That's EXACTLY what I think of these so-called "megachurches". Nothing more than moneychangers in the temple. And we all know how Jesus felt about them.

[inkling]

We have a megachurch located behind us. As a Christian, it pains me to say this, but they are atrocious neighbors. Blasting rock music into our back yard (all our walls shake), and littering our front yard. Neighborhood kids can't play in their front yards on Thursday nights, Saturday nights and all day on Sundays, because the traffic and driving are so bad. We've almost been run down several times. Worse still is when the church receptionist hangs up on us when we complain.

We'll move when we have the finances to do it, but it's sad that a church is such a spectacularly bad witness. Is it really that difficult to "Love They Neighbor?"

[holyscroller]

Wow. What a hateful "Hit piece" against large Christian churches. There's an old saying, that sheep go where they're fed. Nobody is going to these churches at the point of a gun. People want to go there because they're obviously "being fed" (the Word of God) there. Maybe the complaining neighbors should drop in some time. Then they might be thanking God for their great location.

Ok, flame away.

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Jim get's with the program,
or ends under the BLAW KNOX!

[dawn53]

Our church was growing fast and having to have multiple services, so when the Wal-Mart across the street closed after they built the new Super Wal-Mart, the church bought the Wal-Mart.

Can't say we're adding to urban sprawl, just replacing part of it.

We jokingly now refer to the church as Soul-Mart.

[inkling]

No need to flame you. Just a reminder that the world is supposed to know us by our love, not by our arrogance.

PS: Of course in my earlier post, I meant "Love THY neighbor" not THEY.

[Valpal1]

LOL.

[Rockyrich]

''The reasons why churches are getting bigger are the same reasons why your Costco, your Wal-Mart, your Home Depot and Lowes are expanding and are successful,'' says Charlie Bradsha

Like many of these dim-bulbs, there are large, non-traditional churches BECAUSE they preach God's Word and provide BEEF with their sermons. Nothing is done for "economies of scale." These morons don't ask themselves what draws 1000s of people to these churches?? They preach truth and help people. These congregations are made up of people from the surrounding community that have a right to build/participate in a church of their choise, regardless of size - they pay for the roads, etc. with their tax dollars.

[P-Marlowe]

''Churches are not just for Sunday morning anymore,'' he says. ''They're 24-7.''

Hallelujah!

BTW Applegate grew with the congregation. They didn't build a giant church out in the stix and drage people kicking and screaming from the suburbs. It was the local people who started coming that caused the increase. Eventualy the word spread out and now people come from 30-40 miles away. Courson never intended to build a mega church out in the middle of nowhere. God did.

[Arkinsaw]

We've got one of these Supercenter churches near here. They are free to do what they want on their own property but I sure don't understand the concept or appeal or how a flock so large can get the necessary attention for the soul. But they have a nice gymnasium and swimming center.

[Illbay]

These morons don't ask themselves what draws 1000s of people to these churches??

Why, the same thing that ALWAYS draws lots of people to a "great and spacious building!"

[Dog Gone]

Leaving the theological aspects aside, this sounds like the free market in action to me. People are apparently getting what they want.

Landowners' rights to prohibit adjacent landowners from using their own land as they see fit are fairly limited, although the liberals would like to change that.

[Arkinsaw]

BECAUSE they preach God's Word and provide BEEF with their sermons.

I've got no complaint with the large numbers of attendees. But I do sometimes wonder at the extravagant costs. The one near us has humongous stone columns and a giant new multi-ton clock in the steeple. They've got gymnasiums and swimming centers and all that. Seems like some of the luxuriousness could be better spent providing basic needs for lots of people. But then again the government takes care of that.

[MamaB]

What a neat idea!! We have had to go to 2 Sunday services and 3 Sunday Schools to fit everyone in.