The "Mega-Church" and the "Mega-Church Wannabe's"

This is my response to one of the comments to my "Church Growth" post. I changed only the last couple of lines a bit from the original post. I just thought some may read it as a regular blog post rather than as a response to a blog post. And if you disagree with me (or if you do agree with me), feel free to leave your comment. I may or may not respond. So here it is...

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Most mega-churches and mega-church "wannabes" have sold out to our culture. (Notice i said "most.") What goes on in the "worship" service? It is, for the most part, a concert atmosphere. Get 'em in. Make 'em feel good. Get 'em to bring their friends. There is NO scripture read. Prayers are utilitarian. There are virtually no sacraments. Church tradition is ignored (at best!). The message (sermon?) is frequently a Tony Robbins knock-off.

Why has this approach been adopted? Because it brings in the numbers. The Church in America - particularly the Evangelical Church - has sold out to the pop culture. What the Spirit says to the Church (churches) in the Revelation of John is ignored because we'd rather give attention to our demographic studies and social preferences. We get "better results" through strategic planning than through preaching about sin and holiness.

Church structures are now routinely designed to avoid looking like a church because we don't want unbelievers thinking they're coming into anything religious. A gymnasium with no Christian symbols is preferred to an adorned sanctuary so people will feel "comfortable" and won't be reminded of the despicability of their sin and need for the blood (eeewwwww) of Christ.

Image has become far more important than substance in the Evangelical Church in America. Yet our brothers and sisters in other societies suffer extreme physical deprivation - not to mention the millions of those suffering outside the Church - so we can have our Starbucks Cathedrals.

The issue is far less about numbers than it is about what constitutes a Christian, what constitutes the Church. Multitudes flocked to hear Jesus... and what did he tell them? Blessed are the POOR... Blessed are the MEEK... Blessed are the PERSECUTED...

I never said the Church should ignore numbers. What i said was that the Church should be paying attention to a different set of numbers. For example: How many people in your church attend a prayer meeting where the time is actually spent in prayer? (Check out the Korean church!) How much of a tithe/offering do individuals provide each week? (Check out the Zimbabwean church!) There are lots of numbers we would do well to look at.

And having said all that I look at myself and am ashamed... for I have prticipated in the very things i have condemned. Lord have mercy.

Is it possible that multitudes today come to hear the gospel at one particular church of this "mega" brand kind? It's possible. But I believe that, in America, it's the exception... at least from what i've seen.