...what will be the future ecclesiastical landscape? I think that the megachurch will be a fixture in religion for the foreseeable future. However, it definitely won’t be hailed as the definitive “way of the future” in any sense. Some will continue to function as normal. In the larger scheme of things, some of these will act as “feeders” to other Christian congregations in the area, thus furthering Christ’s kingdom in a more roundabout way. I saw this firsthand in the DC area. Seekers, the curious, and nominal believers can come to enjoy a show, hear a sermon, remain unperturbed in the enormous crowds, and enjoy the energy and facilities of a megachurch. However, if these same people want depth, they will be referred to small groups. But, more often than not, hungry Christians will begin to attend smaller congregations with more robust, less open theologies and more engaged membership care. I honestly don't see this happening. What I see happening (and in fact is already happening) is mega-churches going into a multi-site model, i.e. turning into their own nondenominational denomination, wherein locations act as feeders into other locations.
The near-mega-church we were going to decided to do this - they call it “church planting.” They have several sites. You watch the pastor on the TV screen if you don’t go to the main site. By the time it gets to that I feel like I may as well just watch TV at home.
We went to that church for a long time, but despite our efforts we could never get involved. Finally we left for a smaller church and immediately have gotten connected in.