Mega Churches?

[Praxeas]

In light of the Bishop Long scandal, CNN had an author of a book that talks a lot about mega churches.

He was asked why do congregations put up with a man that is driving bentlys and sporting all the jewelry and private jets. He said that essentially it's our culture. We are a personality driven culture. Everyone wants to be famous or know someone famous and being in a mega church makes people feel they are closely connected with someone famous and or someone that rubs elbows with someone famous. This in part justifies their wealth and lifestyles as well. It was interesting

[CC1]

Of course there are large churches who have pastors who do not do those things!

[Praxeas]

Of course there are large churches who have pastors who do not do those things!
Of course

[Arphaxad]

In light of the Bishop Long scandal, CNN had an author of a book that talks a lot about mega churches.

He was asked why do congregations put up with a man that is driving bentlys and sporting all the jewelry and private jets. He said that essentially it's our culture. We are a personality driven culture. Everyone wants to be famous or know someone famous and being in a mega church makes people feel they are closely connected with someone famous and or someone that rubs elbows with someone famous. This in part justifies their wealth and lifestyles as well. It was interesting


So that's why Raiders fans are Raiders fans?

:doggyrun

[Jack Shephard]

So does it look like the story about Bishop Long is true?

[canam]

So that's why Raiders fans are Raiders fans?

:doggyrun:thumbsup

[Praxeas]

So does it look like the story about Bishop Long is true?
I hope not, but Id rather wait for the evidence if any

[Jack Shephard]

Ditto. He doesn't seem like he would do that, but no one ever does I suppose.

[Praxeas]

Ditto. He doesn't seem like he would do that, but no one ever does I suppose.true

[Mr. Smith]

Of course there are large churches who have pastors who do not do those things!


Most don't. In proportion, very few do.

[Sam]

A Rolex or two, expensive cars, lots of bling, a boat, hunting club membership, a couple of homes, .....I thought that's how you judged a minister's success/anointing/status/godliness.

[Mr. Smith]

A Rolex or two, expensive cars, lots of bling, a boat, hunting club membership, a couple of homes, .....I thought that's how you judged a minister's success/anointing/status/godliness.

Only on TBN.

[Sam]

Only on TBN.

Only on TBN?
I think it has come closer to home than that.

[Mr. Smith]

Only on TBN?
I think it has come closer to home than that.


TBN-type churches. Put it this way....just because it's a mega-church doesn't mean the pastor lives extravagantly. But if it's a TBN pastor? Yep.

[Sam]

TBN-type churches. Put it this way....just because it's a mega-church doesn't mean the pastor lives extravagantly. But if it's a TBN pastor? Yep.

I attended what would be considered a mega church from 1992 to 2006. We had about 5,000 people in our weekend services. Our pastors did not live extravagantly. They would be found passing out cold drinks on a hot day or cleaning toilets for local businesses, or handing out coffee and donuts on Christmas Eve to people who had to work to show the love of God in a practical manner.

[Sherri]

I attended what would be considered a mega church from 1992 to 2006. We had about 5,000 people in our weekend services. Our pastors did not live extravagantly. They would be found passing out cold drinks on a hot day or cleaning toilets for local businesses, or handing out coffee and donuts on Christmas Eve to people who had to work to show the love of God in a practical manner.
I don't ever want to get so big or too important to have this kind of heart!

[commonsense]

But we only hear about the flamboyant pastors. It sells.

There is a local charasmatic style church that gives back to the community instead of begging for more.
In the past they've given out school book bags; given free haircuts; their teens have done free car washes........
So often we only see the give me more mentality.


Unfortunately many UPC (and others) groups are poor and the only focus is raising money. I've been part of churches that constantly do fund raiseers.
Bake sales, peanut brittle, suckers, garage sales, car wahses----------I've seen many just burn out and quit church.

[Sister Alvear]

giving brings life....if we do not give we become a dead sea....

[Timmy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0&ob=av2e

(Love that song! One of the best crank-it-up songs of all time. :thumbsup)

[coadie]

http://gatewaypeople.com/index.php?action=abt_about

Call me old fashioned. This church is over 15,000. They have singing at each branch and the pastor preaches on a big screen to several places. So it is big screen and video from a remote location.

[Aquila]

Christianity grew the fastest when it didn't focus on building an empire with buildings, programs, concerts, etc. A faith of home and hearth. Even today, the fastest growing movements are in regions too poor to build large churches and establish programs or regions where the church faces persecution. The church in China is EXPLODING and they are networked with home based meetings. We often focus on being "a church" and forget that this is a "kingdom".

[Sam]

As one Chinese immigrant asked many years ago when solicited on the street for money from a Christian, "Is your Jesus always broke? Is that why you are always asking for money?"

[pelathais]

So that's why Raiders fans are Raiders fans?

:doggyrun

I think that's a much darker pathology at work.

Either that or Raiders fans just like to play "dress up."

[pelathais]

Christianity grew the fastest when it didn't focus on building an empire with buildings, programs, concerts, etc. A faith of home and hearth. Even today, the fastest growing movements are in regions too poor to build large churches and establish programs or regions where the church faces persecution. The church in China is EXPLODING and they are networked with home based meetings. We often focus on being "a church" and forget that this is a "kingdom".

I dunno. Christianity "grew fastest" in antiquity when it "took over the Roman Empire." Of course, in the end it actually just sort of morphed into the Roman Empire. After that, Christianity was spread by the sword. Just ask the Saxons, Slavs and Avars.

In terms of sheer numbers of growth I think Christianity has spread the most when it was backed by powerful interests and it was in a person's self interests to "convert." This of course leads to internal wars when Christendom is riven by sects, thus we have the development of Secularism to "remove religion" from the public sphere.

Secularism breaks down however when people find the "private" devotions lead to a shallow spiritual experience and they want to "break out" from the confines of Secularism. This leads to a growth in Fundamentalism which leads to another round of sectarianism which leads to more internal warfare. This says nothing of the constant internal wars that Secularism has over the distribution of resources.

We're stuck on a wheel that can only go 'round and 'round. I'm certain that there's a more optimistic way to look at this but my mood is suddenly gloomy.