As a Catholic, looking in, the problem with with many of these megachurches is that they are basically non-denominational and family run affairs-—like the Hagees, the Osteens, Joyce Meyers, the Schullers. They may have great preachers, great followings, and great buildings. But what they don’t have is an enduring INSTITUTION. Once the great pastor retires or passes, the great megachurch tends to follow suit. Case in point: The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Now going to be converted into a Catholic Cathedral and the seat of the Catholic Orange County Diocese.
Jesus People Church in Minneapolis used to be huge and did great work.
It collapsed into a black hole starting in ‘89 as costs of running it became the primary goal.
I agree. It is personality drive, not connected to anything else.
Look at churches that have been in the same locale for generations and that is where the action is. Regardless of denomination.
As a Catholic, looking in, the problem with with many of these megachurches is that they are basically non-denominational and family run affairs-—like the Hagees, the Osteens, Joyce Meyers, the Schullers. They may have great preachers, great followings, and great buildings. But what they don’t have is an enduring INSTITUTION. Once the great pastor retires or passes, the great megachurch tends to follow suit. Case in point: The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Now going to be converted into a Catholic Cathedral and the seat of the Catholic Orange County Diocese.
I can't say that I disagree.
You nailed it.
In my area, the mega-churches are social clubs, not churches.
The body of Christ is not an institution. It's an organism, not an organization.
When a denomination is based all around the founder or an individual, then yes, what will happen is what you've seen happen.
That's why the church needs to be founded on the Word of God and have godly elders and deacons and a godly pastor. That way it's not all hanging on one person.
There are many non-denominational churches which have successfully passed the baton in regards to leadership are are still as solid as when they began.
It's just that nobody notices those. They all point to the big name televangelists and use them as the example of what can go wrong, broad brushing all churches as if the exceptions are the norm.
They're not.