Mega-Church Mania

[Isaiah 53]

I don't know how many of you feel about this craze infecting our nation, but I for one am disgusted. Before reading this article I had no real problem with today's mega-churches; I attend a very small congregration of about 150 per week.

After reading the comments of the 'Pastor' of the largest of these mega-churches, I am not only concerned but alarmed.

What is your opinion?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110240,00.html

PEACE IN CHRIST!!

[Greeter]

I think the Church I attend falls into the realm of "Mega-Church" and while our pastor is entertaining it is definitely not a "feel good" type of atmosphere. I do understand the concern though, but blessedly not all the mega churches are like that. :)

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I would bet that Osteen's comments were at least a little out of context. The services are milk and honey to be sure, I should know I grew up in the chruch the article talks about, but the Bible studies are meat. They use the services to draw in the people and get them into the Bible studies. I do not agree with this 100%, but they are doing the Lord's work.

[PNG]

I'm not a big fan of the mega-church thing either. I think in most cases it's symptomatic of deep spiritual rot and I like what James White says: "We're in the church shrinking business."

As for Lakewood, I think their bumper stickers pretty much say it all: "We believe in you!" and I forget the other one. Ah well, you get the drift.

[Holy Warrior]

Sounds a bit dodgy to me- you can't just ignore things because it doesn't appeal to the masses.

[Lotar]

I attend a mega-church at the moment, I'm not very happy with it.

[ufonium2]

"We don't have crosses up there. We believe in all that, but I like to take the barriers down that have kept people from coming." What?

You know what else would get more people to come into your church? Slot machines and strippers. That doesn't make it a good idea.

[ShetlandRose]

What else can we expect from the comfortable church of Laodicea? (Rev. 4:14-18)

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." ~ Jesus

ShetlandRose

[Bastoune]

"We don't have crosses up there. We believe in all that, but I like to take the barriers down that have kept people from coming." What?

You know what else would get more people to come into your church? Slot machines and strippers. That doesn't make it a good idea.
LOL!!!

I've seen these folks on TV. Not impressed. True, we cannot wallow in our sin, for it can become a hindrance, but turning church into a big social-centre is disturbing. True, we want to get something out of a service (spiritual growth, understanding, maturity, knowledge, wisdom...) but our primary reason should be to give glory to God... the rest trickles down as an effect of our faith, as we cooperate with God, living in His grace.

Thanks for this article!

[eldermike]

Let's keep this to mega-churches and be careful not to tie it to any denomination. I havn't seen that as yet, just a thought before we are tempted to get more specific than the subject requires.

[Lotar]

Let's keep this to mega-churches and be careful not to tie it to any denomination. I havn't seen that as yet, just a thought before we are tempted to get more specific than the subject requires.
It's those Baptist heretics that always have those mega-churches :P

The article classifies a mega-church as having over 2,000 weekly attendies, so I think all denominations have a church somewhere that fits into that category.

My church has about 15,000-16,000 each sunday, that's just way too big if you ask me.

[Bastoune]

On the plus side, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, there is hope, and if "extracurricular" incentives get some people to hear the Gospel then believe it, so much the better.

[Ron S]

We have a personal relationship with God, and this extends to our close family and friends. It is borne out in prayer, reflection and close fellowship.

Going to church is experiencing the Lord in an entirely different way, no?

[eldermike]

Amen Bastoune!
God will have His witness.

[eldermike]

It's those Baptist heretics that always have those mega-churches :P


:D

[Ron S]

On the plus side, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, there is hope, and if "extracurricular" incentives get some people to hear the Gospel then believe it, so much the better.
As long as it's not a case of buying the cheerios just to get the free toy, I agree.

[pgp_protector]

Question

One of the first "Churches" Was Moses And The Tabernacal Correct ?? How Large Was That Congergation, and did God Have a Problem with Its Size ?

[Job24]

It's those Baptist heretics that always have those mega-churches :P

The article classifies a mega-church as having over 2,000 weekly attendies, so I think all denominations have a church somewhere that fits into that category.

My church has about 15,000-16,000 each sunday, that's just way too big if you ask me.
YOU HAVE 15,000 PEOPLE COME TO YOUR CHURCH :eek:

that is WAY to big. if your church is 500 or more then it is time to plant somewhere else so you can capture new souls. that amount is crazy. but hey if a church gets that big even though they split off then that is what God wanted.

[raptor13]

Question

One of the first "Churches" Was Moses And The Tabernacal Correct ?? How Large Was That Congergation, and did God Have a Problem with Its Size ?

The problem is not the size, but with the emphasis of "feel-goodiness" and the decreased emphasis on sin, even to the point of not having crosses because it is a "barrier" for some people. They don't even want to remind people of the Cross and the fact that Jesus DIED there for our sins.

[Isaiah 53]

I am glad to see I am not alone in my thinking....:clap:


PEACE IN CHRIST!!

[Oblio]

I think as soon as name tags are needed to remember everyones name, it is time to start a new mission.

[JOYfulbeliever]

Wow. I can't even imagine that many people in a church! Mine does great to have 150 on a Sunday morning service.

I don't have a problem with large churches in general, as long as they are doing what they are called to do and haven't become an "entertainment venue". However, I don't think they are for me personally. I would feel so lost in a crowd of 2000 or more people. I like knowing everyone in my church, and everyone in my church knowing me.

/me thinks to herself...

However, if I were in a mega-church where not everyone knew me, I wouldn't get a lecture from everyone in the congregation every other Sunday for this or that, right? :D :angel: JUST KIDDING

[Matrona]

My church has about 15,000-16,000 each sunday, that's just way too big if you ask me.
:eek:

My church is an Antiochian Orthodox mission parish. We have 15-16 each Sunday.

That's right. I'm not kidding.

[Isaiah 53]

:eek:

My church is an Antiochian Orthodox mission parish. We have 15-16 each Sunday.

That's right. I'm not kidding.
15-16 thousand or 15-16 people?

PEACE IN CHRIST!!

[Oblio]

We have 15-20 each Sunday too. This past Sunday we had well over 100 :clap:

[Matrona]

15-16 thousand or 15-16 people?

PEACE IN CHRIST!!
15-16 people. :)

We're tiny but we're hanging in there.

[ChoirDir]

Our church was just upgraded from Mission to Church. We've been averaging around 50 but this past Sunday was SRO

[Lotar]

:eek:

My church is an Antiochian Orthodox mission parish. We have 15-16 each Sunday.

That's right. I'm not kidding.
So my church is only 1,000 times bigger than your's :D

I really don't like being at a church that big, so many people go there because they just want to be a part of something without having to really get involved. If our head pastor is going to be gone on any sunday, attendance drops drastically. We have to beg people to get involved. How do you have 16,000 people attend, and not have 10 volunteers to direct traffic or 3 sunday school teachers per grade?

I teach 1st grade for the 11:45 service, and I don't get most of my class until 12:00. I have parents who drop their kids off at 12:30, and then they are the first to come pick them up!!!

My family is one of the few really involved families. So I am one of the few people who actually have a couple of pastors who know me by name. Still, none of may family has ever met the head pastor (Greg Laurie), though my mom knows his wife. How do you attend a church for almost 7 years and be actively involved, and yet not ever even meet the head pastor?

I only stay around my church because of my parents, but I think they are realizing that I am getting ready to leave (all of a sudden my mom is giving me pamplets about what Calvary Chapel believes and my dad is always talking to me about how much he agrees with them). After this rotation of sunday school is over, I'm going church shopping.

[Isaiah 53]

After this rotation of sunday school is over, I'm going church shopping.
You should give the Southern Baptists a try...;)

PEACE IN CHRIST!!!

[Lotar]

Naw, I think I'm going to the good ol' LCMS.

[Oblio]

Our church was just upgraded from Mission to Church. We've been averaging around 50 but this past Sunday was SRO

We are always SRO, we forgot to buy pews :)

http://home.mindspring.com/~rcwilcox/StInnocent/images/Church/011104/PICT0003.jpg

[Lotar]

We are always SRO, we forgot to buy pews :)



Where'd all the icons go? :eek:

;)

My friend's parents' church just finished building in Redlands Ca, it's supposed to look like the ark. They flew people in from Rome (I think) to do the painting, which seems wierd because their Coptic so maybe it was Constantinople but Rome is what sticks in my head. It's supposed to be awesome looking.

[pgp_protector]

One of the Good things about the larger chruches is they can do More for the surrounding community.

I.E. Our church gave out over $1,000,000 Last year to mission works alone.

And we have our food programs for feeding the hungry, our job programs, and all other types of outreach programs that would be hard for a smaller church to support. Yes some "mega" churches try to "please" the crowd, but I know the Pastor at our church as steped on my toes more than once.

Is it a perfict chruch, No, but then any church built by man has its problems, but is it bad becuse it is large... No I dont think so, the amount of resources it has for reaching the community is greater because of it size.

I've been in smaller churches, and one of the problems that I saw with a few of them is it is harder to "call" the pastor on docternal errors, I.E. one paster of a church(Wont say what church) was saying that Gaberial was Jesus. Tried to show them in the Bible where they were wrong, they replied "That's why we dont use 'That' Bible".

We soon left that one.

[Matrona]

So my church is only 1,000 times bigger than your's :D
LOL. :) Mine's little, but very blessed, I would say. A parish this small has many struggles, for obvious reasons, but I love that our priest is able to personally address any issues we have.

I really don't like being at a church that big, so many people go there because they just want to be a part of something without having to really get involved. If our head pastor is going to be gone on any sunday, attendance drops drastically. We have to beg people to get involved. How do you have 16,000 people attend, and not have 10 volunteers to direct traffic or 3 sunday school teachers per grade?
That is so sad. That mega-church could be subdivided into 30 or more churches, and the parishioners would get so much more personal attention and spiritual help that way.

We Orthodox view sin as being like an illness, and the church as being like a hospital. So I am seeing this as a hospital with 15,000 patients, and one doctor! :eek:

After this rotation of sunday school is over, I'm going church shopping.
God bless you, I hope you find a wonderful, spiritually-rich church of whatever denomination you feel most comfortable in. (BTW, if I were a Protestant, I think I'd be Missouri Synod too. Good choice. ;) )

[Oblio]

Where'd all the icons go? :eek:

;)


Oh, we have them, and they are stunning :) The lower tier are perhaps 4 ft in height, and the upper just came in from Moscow. Now we have to design and build the iconostasis to hold them. We are Orthodox, we do things slowly ...


My friend's parents' church just finished building in Redlands Ca, it's supposed to look like the ark. They flew people in from Rome (I think) to do the painting, which seems wierd because their Coptic so maybe it was Constantinople but Rome is what sticks in my head. It's supposed to be awesome looking.

There are some Coptic churches that have VERY Western style icons. IIRC, there is a move afoot to return to the traditional style.
I prefer the traditional Coptic icons, I don't care for the Western style at all.

[Lotar]

LOL. :) Mine's little, but very blessed, I would say. A parish this small has many struggles, for obvious reasons, but I love that our priest is able to personally address any issues we have.
It's got to be hard to support a church that small. Does your priest get paid by a larger body, or is he supported by the 16 of you?


That is so sad. That mega-church could be subdivided into 30 or more churches, and the parishioners would get so much more personal attention and spiritual help that way.

We Orthodox view sin as being like an illness, and the church as being like a hospital. So I am seeing this as a hospital with 15,000 patients, and one doctor! :eek:

It really should be, but Greg Laurie has become something of a celebrity pastor, so even if it was divided most people would still attend his church. We do have 14 pastors, though I've only met 5 of them.


God bless you, I hope you find a wonderful, spiritually-rich church of whatever denomination you feel most comfortable in. (BTW, if I were a Protestant, I think I'd be Missouri Synod too. Good choice. ;) )

In a lot of ways they are pretty similiar to the Orthodox. If it wasn't for that darn justification issue, I wouldn't mind going to an Orthodox church. ;)

[ChoirDir]

If it wasn't for that darn justification issue
Not sure what you mean by this Lotar?

[Lotar]

Not sure what you mean by this Lotar?
We have very different views on justification and salvation. As much as I like the Orthodox Church, I would never compromise the teaching of sola fide.

[Matrona]

It's got to be hard to support a church that small. Does your priest get paid by a larger body, or is he supported by the 16 of you?
Our priest has an outside job. More and more Orthodox priests are able to support themselves with the salary from their church, though--my godmother's father, for one.

It really should be, but Greg Laurie has become something of a celebrity pastor, so even if it was divided most people would still attend his church. We do have 14 pastors, though I've only met 5 of them.
I was wondering why his name sounded familiar!

I will pray for these megachurches and the spiritual health of those who attend them. The only reason my family ever attended church when I was younger was because of the "cultural Christianity" thing. :(

In a lot of ways they are pretty similiar to the Orthodox. If it wasn't for that darn justification issue, I wouldn't mind going to an Orthodox church. ;)
"For when a man is once a believer, he is straightway justified." --St. John Chrysostom ;)

[Oblio]

4 pages with no debating. Soteriology might be a good place for ya'll to discuss justification, sanctification & Theosis ;)

[Lotar]

Our priest has an outside job. More and more Orthodox priests are able to support themselves with the salary from their church, though--my godmother's father, for one.
That's got to be hard, being a priest and working at the same time.

Well, atleast you have a preist, I know a lot of the Orthodox churches have a hard time getting one. My friend said that when she was younger that there was a priest that would drive to 3 churches.


I was wondering why his name sounded familiar!

He's not my favorite pastor. He is very good at appealling to people's emotions, but I'm very intellectual about my faith. I've seen what can happen with Christians who are high on the zeal and low on the knowledge. I know that I'd probably be an agnostic by now if I had been raised in this church. "God said it, I believe it" isn't a good enough answer for me, guess it's a side affect of being an engineer :D

We're the "Harvest Crusade" church. People talk about how the mega-churches can do the big outreaches, but I'm not convinced that the huge "Crusades" are the most effective way of evangelizing. They seem to be more of temporary boost.


I will pray for these megachurches and the spiritual health of those who attend them. The only reason my family ever attended church when I was younger was because of the "cultural Christianity" thing. :(

That is why so many attend :sigh:

I've been trying to be active in my littlest sister's faith, since almost all she remembers is this church. She's been forming her own beliefs, and I've been very happy about that (even if she is bending towards Calvinism :D ). I'm her godfather, and the last thing I want to do is fail her in that area.



"For when a man is once a believer, he is straightway justified." --St. John Chrysostom ;)

I'm going to have to put him on my reading list. That darn list is growing faster than I have time to read. :D I should finish The Confessions by next week, so maybe I'll get around to him soon.

[ChoirDir]

Lotar:
Not unusual in small mission parishes for the priest to have a "day" job. The salary is usually paid by the members. In missions that qualify for a grant, the priest cannot have a day job. He must draw his salary from the grant and be a full time priest. Of course the larger established churches can usually afford to pay the priest but a lot of them hold down second jobs as well. My priest up north taught some theology classes at the Community College there. And usually the priests wives work as well. I guess clergy are just as affected by the 2 income household as the rest of us are!

[Oblio]

Our little parish supports our hieromonk (monk-priest) and pays all our other expenses without any 'national' help. We are at a spiritual and financial turning point in our mission to evangelize our region.

[Phoebe]

I wouldn't want to be in such a large congregation. How does the shepherd keep track of all those sheep? Do they know when one is lost?

The whole "feel good" philosophy doesn't sit well, either.

[II Paradox II]

We are always SRO, we forgot to buy pews :)

http://home.mindspring.com/%7Ercwilcox/StInnocent/images/Church/011104/PICT0003.jpg
That's a really pretty sanctuary. The light flowing in is quite beautiful.

ken

[Oblio]

Thanks Paradox :)

We figure that in a pinch we could get 300 worshipers inside at Pascha (Easter).
here (http://home.mindspring.com/~rcwilcox/StInnocent/NewConstruction/New%20Construction.html) are a few more pics. If we outgrow this, we will build another :)

[ufonium2]

My church gets around 30 people on a normal Sunday. Sometimes all the Russians in the city seemingly get together and pick a random Sunday to come to church, and then we may get 50+.

Our priest has a full-time day job. While I feel sorry for him, I think it's good for the congregation because we have to do things ourselves. For instance, a lay member teaches the Orthodox Education class and the Bible study, another handles the finances, etc.

Almost all the churches in my city are "borderline-mega," so I really appreciate the intimacy of knowing everyone in my church.

[theseed]

I've not read the article, but I must ask you this? Does what one pastor say genalize to all Mega-Chruches, or could it just apply to his church?

I don't go to a Mega-Church, but in defense, I often find small churches to be dry and apathetic about ministry and missions.

[Matrona]

That's got to be hard, being a priest and working at the same time.
It is--we also have to share with another parish. Luckily, there are 168 hours in everyone's week, and he uses every one of them. ;)

Well, atleast you have a preist, I know a lot of the Orthodox churches have a hard time getting one. My friend said that when she was younger that there was a priest that would drive to 3 churches.
That is true, luckily we have new ones coming in. A friend of mine who is soon going off to seminary is, I think, going to be a wonderful addition to our clergy.

He's not my favorite pastor. He is very good at appealling to people's emotions, but I'm very intellectual about my faith. I've seen what can happen with Christians who are high on the zeal and low on the knowledge. I know that I'd probably be an agnostic by now if I had been raised in this church. "God said it, I believe it" isn't a good enough answer for me, guess it's a side affect of being an engineer
You would like my priest very much! :clap: He strikes a good balance, I think, between using one's intellect and coming to know Christ with your emotions. I was involved in Campus Crusade before finding Orthodoxy. I learned SO MUCH about the Bible from his homilies alone.

I see you live a looong way from me. But Lotar, if you are ever in South Carolina, let me know. I'd like to invite you to church one Sunday!

(BTW, my dad is an electrical engineer, and my friend is studying to be a civil engineer!)

We're the "Harvest Crusade" church. People talk about how the mega-churches can do the big outreaches, but I'm not convinced that the huge "Crusades" are the most effective way of evangelizing. They seem to be more of temporary boost.
This is unfortunately true. When I was with Crusade, I got to the point where I would sit in the bathroom crying after meetings and Bible studies, because I just didn't understand what was going on, I wasn't raised as a Christian, I wanted so badly for someone to take an interest in me, to actually give a you-know-what and check on how I was progressing in my newly-found Christian identity. But there was no one who could do that. I mean, there was my Bible study leader, but she didn't really like me all that much and, well, basically didn't care whether I even came to her meetings or not.

Moreover, she didn't know all that much more about the Bible than I did. She was a student, just a couple years older than me.

I've been trying to be active in my littlest sister's faith, since almost all she remembers is this church. She's been forming her own beliefs, and I've been very happy about that (even if she is bending towards Calvinism :D ). I'm her godfather, and the last thing I want to do is fail her in that area.
See if you can nip this Calvinism in the bud. ;) It's wonderful that you are cultivating her faith--I bet she is lucky to have such a caring godfather.

I'm going to have to put him on my reading list. That darn list is growing faster than I have time to read. I should finish The Confessions by next week, so maybe I'll get around to him soon.
That would be wonderful! We love St. John Chrysostom; Chrysostom means 'golden-mouth'. (There's a dentist who goes to the Greek Orthodox church in my city whose name is Chrysostom!)

[Lotar]

It is--we also have to share with another parish. Luckily, there are 168 hours in everyone's week, and he uses every one of them. ;)


That is true, luckily we have new ones coming in. A friend of mine who is soon going off to seminary is, I think, going to be a wonderful addition to our clergy.
That's good.


You would like my priest very much! :clap: He strikes a good balance, I think, between using one's intellect and coming to know Christ with your emotions. I was involved in Campus Crusade before finding Orthodoxy. I learned SO MUCH about the Bible from his homilies alone.

Those are the guys I like, knowledgeable but interesting at the same time. I was only getting milk for so long, I started to forget what I had learned when I was younger. At a mega-church, the most you can hope to get is Gerber :D I just study on my own right now, but I really want to find a church with a knowledgable pastor, and one that I can talk to ;)


I see you live a looong way from me. But Lotar, if you are ever in South Carolina, let me know. I'd like to invite you to church one Sunday!

I'll keep that in mind, only I doubt I'll end up there anytime soon.


(BTW, my dad is an electrical engineer, and my friend is studying to be a civil engineer!)

Civil engineering is the way to go. Two words: Job Security :cool:


This is unfortunately true. When I was with Crusade, I got to the point where I would sit in the bathroom crying after meetings and Bible studies, because I just didn't understand what was going on, I wasn't raised as a Christian, I wanted so badly for someone to take an interest in me, to actually give a you-know-what and check on how I was progressing in my newly-found Christian identity. But there was no one who could do that. I mean, there was my Bible study leader, but she didn't really like me all that much and, well, basically didn't care whether I even came to her meetings or not.

Moreover, she didn't know all that much more about the Bible than I did. She was a student, just a couple years older than me.

That's too bad. I didn't like the CC at my school, I only went a couple of times. They're all anabaptist heretics anyways ;)

But Campus Crusade in my experience is a lot like the mega-churches, babies leading babies. People will give you their big fake smiles and pretend that they are interested in your life, but they really don't want to get involved or help you out if you need it.


Now imagine this, the preacher gives an invitation, you go down on the field with hundreds of other people, say a quick prayer, they hand you a NT, take down your name and number, and send you on your way, never to be heard from again. They talk about thousands being "saved", yet only a fraction make their way into a church, and only a fraction of those stay there. Plus, since nobody gets any real advise, many end up in places like the LDS.

Personally, I think 30 smaller congregations can get a lot more done than one huge one.


See if you can nip this Calvinism in the bud. ;) It's wonderful that you are cultivating her faith--I bet she is lucky to have such a caring godfather.

Oh, I'll try ;)
I'd rather she be a Calvinist that doesn't believe in double predestination than a Arminian. I'd rather she end up at a LCMS than a PCA, but as long as she really knows what she believes, I can't be too unhappy. I am more afraid of her ending up at college not knowing what she believes, and having her faith ripped away.


That would be wonderful! We love St. John Chrysostom; Chrysostom means 'golden-mouth'. (There's a dentist who goes to the Greek Orthodox church in my city whose name is Chrysostom!)

I wonder if he was a gangsta :sorry:

[Isaiah 53]

One of the Good things about the larger chruches is they can do More for the surrounding community.

I.E. Our church gave out over $1,000,000 Last year to mission works alone.

And we have our food programs for feeding the hungry, our job programs, and all other types of outreach programs that would be hard for a smaller church to support. Yes some "mega" churches try to "please" the crowd, but I know the Pastor at our church as steped on my toes more than once.

Is it a perfict chruch, No, but then any church built by man has its problems, but is it bad becuse it is large... No I dont think so, the amount of resources it has for reaching the community is greater because of it size.

I've been in smaller churches, and one of the problems that I saw with a few of them is it is harder to "call" the pastor on docternal errors, I.E. one paster of a church(Wont say what church) was saying that Gaberial was Jesus. Tried to show them in the Bible where they were wrong, they replied "That's why we dont use 'That' Bible".

We soon left that one.While I agree that larger Churches may be more fiancially well off. I would disagree that small churches cannot be beneficial to their communities. Our church has an average weekly attendace of about 125-150; we have a number of ministries that support our local community and through the SBC we support missions around the world.

Don't get me wrong, I cannot say that all 'mega-churches' are the same as the one in this particular article. But the quotes from this 'pastor' are disturbing.

Lotar:

I listen to Greg Laurie on the radio!! I enjoy the CSN radio programs and listen to them constantly! I find it very hard to conceive going to a church and not have ever met the pastor!

(You know I was just kidding about the Southern Baptist thing, I pray God will lead you to a Church where you can serve Him!!)

PEACE IN CHRIST!!

PEACE IN CHRIST!!!

[Suzannah]

I don't know how many of you feel about this craze infecting our nation, but I for one am disgusted. Before reading this article I had no real problem with today's mega-churches; I attend a very small congregration of about 150 per week.

After reading the comments of the 'Pastor' of the largest of these mega-churches, I am not only concerned but alarmed.

What is your opinion?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110240,00.html

PEACE IN CHRIST!!
Yes, I agree 100% with your thoughts. Although I do recognize that the "Jesus Revolution" of the seventies brought many, many people to Jesus for the first time, by "de-formalizing" many things, it seems that by avoiding one ditch, people simply fall into another. This is one of the reasons I converted to Orthodoxy. I can agree 100 percent with the sentiments "against" in the article, and then some!
:)
Thanks for posting the topic and letting me "vent"...
In Christ,
Suzannah

[Greeter]

Being a military brat, I have been a part of many different congregations. One thing I have found is that size doesn't necessarily mean anything. It turns out two of my favorite congregations were night and day in the size category. The first one, located in Geneva (middle of nowhere) Alabama was simply a house partially converted into our Church. It consisted of less then 20 members at any time. Ironically, the only other time I have felt the connection I felt there, is with the one I presently attend with somewhere around 14k attending through the weekend.

The benefit of large congregations is the impact they can have on the community. I am often in awe of the many things our Church has been able to accomplish, and the services they can offer. The running joke in these parts is "to live in Pompano Beach, you have to attend Calvary Chapel". :)

[Isaiah 53]

Being a military brat, I have been a part of many different congregations. One thing I have found is that size doesn't necessarily mean anything. It turns out two of my favorite congregations were night and day in the size category. The first one, located in Geneva (middle of nowhere) Alabama was simply a house partially converted into our Church. It consisted of less then 20 members at any time. Ironically, the only other time I have felt the connection I felt there, is with the one I presently attend with somewhere around 14k attending through the weekend.

The benefit of large congregations is the impact they can have on the community. I am often in awe of the many things our Church has been able to accomplish, and the services they can offer. The running joke in these parts is "to live in Pompano Beach, you have to attend Calvary Chapel". :)Let me be clear. I am not opposed to a large congregation who is following the will of God. Teaching from the Bible and is very Christ centered not church centered.

My problem arises with comments like, "We don't use crosses and such because they can be barriers" (paraphrased).

If a church is being 'seeker friendly' by watering down the gospel or avoiding main Christian doctrines to avoid offending someone. If thier goal is to bring in people thus bringing in money and not preaching the gospel of Christ. Then I have a real problem.

I have no problem with Calvary Chapel, I listen to their radio station everyday; I have found the word preached consistenly and without error each time. It is not the sheer numbers that offends me, its the 'feel good' 'your ok Im ok' attitude that I take issue with.

PEACE IN CHRIST!!!

[Suzannah]

Let me be clear. I am not opposed to a large congregation who is following the will of God. Teaching from the Bible and is very Christ centered not church centered.

My problem arises with comments like, "We don't use crosses and such because they can be barriers" (paraphrased).

If a church is being 'seeker friendly' by watering down the gospel or avoiding main Christian doctrines to avoid offending someone. If thier goal is to bring in people thus bringing in people and not preaching the gospel of Christ. Then I have a real problem.

I have no problem with Calvary Chapel, I listen to their radio station everyday; I have found the word preached consistenly and without error each time. It is not the sheer numbers that offends me, its the 'feel good' 'your ok Im ok' attitude that I take issue with.

PEACE IN CHRIST!!!
Me too! one hundred percent. Thanks for posting!