I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Through the years, many innovations have entered churches in the United States.

                                                             1.      Many resisted these innovations because they believed the changes to the churches were unnecessary and unauthorized by the Scriptures.

                                                             2.      Others advocated the innovations because they believed the changes were needed to attract the so-called “unchurched” who would not respond to ordinary preaching and churches.

B.      The result of these innovations is the present proliferation of many massive churches across the nation now known as “megachurches.”

                                                             1.      The fears of those who resisted the changes have now been realized.  These new megachurches are drawing people by the thousands with carnal appeals and empty messages.

                                                             2.      Those who advocated the changes have now achieved their goals of building massive churches with thousands of people, even though these churches are devoid of any spiritual significance.

II.      WHAT ARE MEGACHURCHES?

A.      The Hartford Institute for Religion Research (HIRR) has defined, researched, and identified megachurches in the United States.  The following information is according to their website.

                                                             1.      A megachurch is considered to be any Protestant congregation with a sustained average weekly attendance of at least 2,000 persons in its worship services.

                                                             2.      The average weekly attendance in a megachurch is 3,857 persons.  The largest megachurch in the United States is Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, with an approximate attendance of 47,000 over multiple services.

                                                             3.      The total number of megachurches in the United States increased from 350 in 1990 to over 600 in 2000, and now there are over 1,200.

                                                             4.      Megachurches tend to grow to their great size in less than ten years under the oversight of a single, highly charismatic, so-called pastor.

                                                             5.      HIRR surveyed 406 megachurches in 2005 and found that they averaged twenty full time ministers, twenty-two full time staff members, and 284 volunteers.

                                                             6.      More than sixty percent of all megachurches are located in the southern Sunbelt of the United States.  The closest megachurches to Gallatin are the Long Hollow Baptist Church (2,200 per week) and the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville (3,300 per week).

B.      Megachurches are most easily identified by their size, but the various Protestant megachurches generally share many other traits.  This is why they comprise a category unto themselves.

                                                             1.      HIRR reports that many megachurches claim to be nondenominational (34%), but most are somewhat associated with denominations (16% are Southern Baptist, 10% are other Baptist, 6% are Assembly of God, 5% are United Methodist).

                                                             2.      Even so, most megachurches have more in common with one another than they have with other smaller churches within their denomination.  This is because megachurches tend to adopt the same practices, methods, philosophies, and teachings regardless of their denominational affiliations.

a.       Megachurch services are typically massive productions that require careful choreography and rehersals with professional performers.

i.         There is a great emphasis placed upon the presentation of every service.  This is the main selling point for any megachurch.

ii.        Most megachurches employ contemporary music with live bands at all services.

b.       Most megachurches have elaborate buildings that include state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, recreation centers, schools, and childcare facilities as well as gift shops, coffee shops, and other revenue-generating amenities.

c.        In their teachings, most megachurches prefer to avoid or at least minimize the mention of sin, repentance, accountability, judgment, hell, or other unpleasant topics in favor of messages that they consider to be more positive.

i.         Megachurch organizers believe that the public will not be drawn to such unpleasant subjects, and so they are typically eliminated from public messages.

ii.        Joel Osteen, “pastor” of the Lakewood Church in Houston, said:

“I think for years there’s been a lot of hellfire and damnation.  You go to church to figure out what you're doing wrong and you leave feeling bad like you're not going to make it.  We believe in focusing on the goodness of God.” (Religion Gets Supersized at Megachurches, Fox News, 2/3/04)

d.       Most megachurches follow a business model and employ business professionals in order to market and manage their massive organizations.  This business-like approach affects everything about a megachurch, including the doctrine that is taught.

e.        These common traits among megachurches are highly successful in drawing masses of people, which is their goal.

                                                             3.      Note: Catholic churches are not counted among megachurches because they do not follow the same trends as the Protestant megachurches but instead maintain their traditions (there are more than 3,000 Catholic churches with more that 2,000 attendees in the U.S.).

III.   PROBLEMS WITH MEGACHURCHES

A.      The megachurch approach is foreign to the New Testament.

                                                             1.      Christ and His gospel were the only means ever used in the New Testament to save anyone.

a.       The church, its worship services, its meeting place, and the personalities of its leaders were never used to attract anyone in the New Testament.

b.       The gospel of Christ is the singular power of God for salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16), and it needs no worldly packaging.

i.         The appeal of the gospel is the power of a crucified and risen Savior (1Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 1:18-23).  Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32).

ii.        Those who value salvation will be drawn to the gospel’s appeal, but those who reject the gospel will not be convinced or saved by emotional performances, impressive personalities, or lavish entertainment.

iii.      The gospel has its own marketing plan, which is evangelism (Acts 8:4; 2Tim. 2:2; 4:1-2).  The Lord devised this plan, and He does not require man’s input.

                                                             2.      The Lord did not build His church to be the social, recreation, and entertainment center of the community.  He built it to function as His spiritual body.

a.       The church is a spiritual temple for God (Eph. 2:19-22).  Just as its nature is spiritual, so also its work is spiritual (evangelism, edification, worship).  Any physical works (such as benevolence) are purely secondary.

b.       Christ equipped His church for its spiritual work (Eph. 4:11-16).  This spiritual equipment is the only means necessary and authorized for the building up of the church.

B.      The truth of the gospel and Christ’s church is obscured by megachurch influence.

                                                             1.      The influence of megachurches is greater than their numbers would indicate.

a.       Even though people attending megachurches only comprise about 1% of the church-going population in the United States, megachurches have the resources (money) to get access to mass media (television, radio, internet) whereby they spread their influence.

b.       Many small churches now believe they have to emulate megachurches to have success.

                                                             2.      The diluted and corrupted messages of megachurches are turning millions of people away from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

a.       By eliminating sin, repentance, and judgment from their messages, megachurches are hiding the true message of God from the masses (see Acts 17:30-31).

b.       By portraying the church as a massive social and recreation center, megachurches are preventing the masses from understanding the true work and nature of the church.

c.        This type of danger is not new, for even Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2Cor. 11:3)

                                                             3.      Even denominational differences are beginning to fade away because churches are adopting megachurch methods and doctrines.

a.       Normally, this would be good, but in this case they are trading one error for another.

b.       Do not think that the church of Christ is exempt from this trend, for the Madison church of Christ (TN) is one of many that fits the megachurch model.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Regardless of how many people are drawn into megachurches, the megachurch model is wrong because it does not follow the pattern of the Lord’s church according to the New Testament.

B.      Let us not be drawn into these popular trends.  Rather, let us stand by the ancient truth of God where salvation and hope are found.  “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar…” (Rom. 3:4).