Megachurch: The New Liberalism

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christianpost.com/news/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism-74152/

Key points:
  • From a sociological perspective, megachurches located in suburban areas will face challenges as the local population declines. Furthermore, cultural changes, demographic realities, and technological innovations have led to the development of megachurch modifications such as churches with multiple locations and video sermons.
  • Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, but there is a risk of a “watered-down” gospel message as megachurches grow in size.
  • The culture at large has become hostile to exclusivist truth claims such as the belief that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. There is also social pressure to accept a more liberal stance on issues related to sex, in particular homosexuality. The fear is that homosexuality will become an accepted practice, much like the issue of no-fault divorce. “Holding to strict biblical teachings on divorce is extremely costly.”
  • There is an apparent tension between preaching "grace’ and “truth” (the author provides a great example via Pastor Andy Stanley and a homosexual couple in his congregation). Pastors wanting to “grow their churches” face a temptation to change the gospel message in order to reach people.
 
An interesting article. I think it is a mistake for a faith community to descend to the levels of the people they are trying to reach. Jesus certainly never compromised his moral authority in order to reach a bigger audience. In fact, he did a lot of things that tended to alienate the masses.

Perhaps that’s a lesson for all faith communities: quality not quantity. If you can reach four thousand individuals by capitulating divorce or homosexuality instead of reaching four by staying true to the teachings of Jesus Christ should you do so? I think the four individuals who were faithful to the authentic teachings of Christ would be worth more than the four thousand who were not.
 
stewstew03 said:
christianpost.com/news/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism-74152/

Key points:
  • From a sociological perspective, megachurches located in suburban areas will face challenges as the local population declines. Furthermore, cultural changes, demographic realities, and technological innovations have led to the development of megachurch modifications such as churches with multiple locations and video sermons.
  • Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, but there is a risk of a “watered-down” gospel message as megachurches grow in size.
  • The culture at large has become hostile to exclusivist truth claims such as the belief that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. There is also social pressure to accept a more liberal stance on issues related to sex, in particular homosexuality. The fear is that homosexuality will become an accepted practice, much like the issue of no-fault divorce. “Holding to strict biblical teachings on divorce is extremely costly.”
  • There is an apparent tension between preaching "grace’ and “truth” (the author provides a great example via Pastor Andy Stanley and a homosexual couple in his congregation). Pastors wanting to “grow their churches” face a temptation to change the gospel message in order to reach people.
Click to expand...
I mean, if you don’t like this church, just don’t go to it.
 
stewstew03 said:
christianpost.com/news/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism-74152/

Key points:
  • From a sociological perspective, megachurches located in suburban areas will face challenges as the local population declines. Furthermore, cultural changes, demographic realities, and technological innovations have led to the development of megachurch modifications such as churches with multiple locations and video sermons.
*** Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, but there is a risk of a “watered-down” gospel message as megachurches grow in size.**
  • The culture at large has become hostile to exclusivist truth claims such as the belief that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. There is also social pressure to accept a more liberal stance on issues related to sex, in particular homosexuality. The fear is that homosexuality will become an accepted practice, much like the issue of no-fault divorce. “Holding to strict biblical teachings on divorce is extremely costly.”
  • There is an apparent tension between preaching "grace’ and “truth” (the author provides a great example via Pastor Andy Stanley and a homosexual couple in his congregation). Pastors wanting to “grow their churches” face a temptation to change the gospel message in order to reach people.
Click to expand...
As far as I have ever heard or read, most truly “mega” churches are non denominational, hardly “conservative” theologically. I know the Osteen mega church is based around cheap entertainment, cheap theology that never mentions sin, and motivational speaking. He’s a fair motivational speaker, I’ve heard better. Scripture is sprinkled into his speeches in order to make a point, not as the basis of the speech. There is no cross in evidence on his stage, just a big globe. He waves a Bible around but if you listen to him, he distorts just about everything Christ ever said into a positive uplifting prosperity gospel “Your Best Life Now.”

:mad:
 
Et_Cetera said:
I mean, if you don’t like this church, just don’t go to it.
Click to expand...
You have to love what Martin Luther did to Christianity. He is the father of fast food theology. If you don’t like what this church says, go to the one across the street. And if you don’t like that one, then down the road there are bounds to be 3-4 that appeal to your fancy.
 
TheRealJuliane said:
As far as I have ever heard or read, most truly “mega” churches are non denominational, hardly “conservative” theologically. I know the Osteen mega church is based around cheap entertainment, cheap theology that never mentions sin, and motivational speaking. He’s a fair motivational speaker, I’ve heard better. Scripture is sprinkled into his speeches in order to make a point, not as the basis of the speech. There is no cross in evidence on his stage, just a big globe. He waves a Bible around but if you listen to him, he distorts just about everything Christ ever said into a positive uplifting prosperity gospel “Your Best Life Now.”

:mad:
Click to expand...
He’s part of the “Name It and Claim It” Word of Faith movement that includes Joyce Meyers, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Marilyn Hickey, Ken Hagan, and many others, Benny Hinn, most of the people who appear on the Trinity Broadcast Network.
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
He’s part of the “Name It and Claim It” Word of Faith movement that includes Joyce Meyers, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Marilyn Hickey, Ken Hagan, and many others, Benny Hinn, most of the people who appear on the Trinity Broadcast Network.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know. I think it’s playing to everything sinful in our natures, our egos, and also shockingly distorting of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. All it takes is one reading of Scripture to see that what these false prophets are preaching is NOT what Jesus said and did while He was on the earth.

:mad:
 
stewstew03 said:
christianpost.com/news/is-the-megachurch-the-new-liberalism-74152/

Key points:
  • From a sociological perspective, megachurches located in suburban areas will face challenges as the local population declines. Furthermore, cultural changes, demographic realities, and technological innovations have led to the development of megachurch modifications such as churches with multiple locations and video sermons.
  • Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, but there is a risk of a “watered-down” gospel message as megachurches grow in size.
  • The culture at large has become hostile to exclusivist truth claims such as the belief that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. There is also social pressure to accept a more liberal stance on issues related to sex, in particular homosexuality. The fear is that homosexuality will become an accepted practice, much like the issue of no-fault divorce. “Holding to strict biblical teachings on divorce is extremely costly.”
  • There is an apparent tension between preaching "grace’ and “truth” (the author provides a great example via Pastor Andy Stanley and a homosexual couple in his congregation). Pastors wanting to “grow their churches” face a temptation to change the gospel message in order to reach people.
Click to expand...
That’s because they’re not really Church’s; they’re businesses. Their goal is to get as many people as possible, and from a marketing point of view that means you go for the lowest common denominator.

The other good way to do it (for those with large egos) is to develop a cult of personality. Although that usually blows up eventually.
 
curlycool89 said:
That’s because they’re not really Church’s; they’re businesses. Their goal is to get as many people as possible, and from a marketing point of view that means you go for the lowest common denominator.

The other good way to do it (for those with large egos) is to develop a cult of personality. Although that usually blows up eventually.
Click to expand...
Yes, it blows up as soon as the founder dies or becomes incapabe of ministry. Look at Robert Schueller’s ministry and the Crystal Cathedral (now proudly the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
Yes, it blows up as soon as the founder dies or becomes incapabe of ministry. Look at Robert Schueller’s ministry and the Crystal Cathedral (now proudly the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles)
Click to expand...
Diocese of Orange, but your point stands.
 
Yep, Luther is the father of relativism. I remember hearing about a mega-church in Tyler TX called Green Acres where the stained glass windows are inside implying they create their own light. Nevertheless, when asked about what their chuch taught, they had no answers or any books about their doctrine in their massive complex. It only offered feel good sermons and fellowship.
 
Luther was the father of absolutism IMHO…accept that the gathering of books we call the Bible contains all truth…or not…then came Jean Cauvin (Calvin) and the other who have claimed inspiration.

It all makes me very suspicious of any human who claims Divine Knowledege.

John
 
Pork_Roll said:
Yep, Luther is the father of relativism. I remember hearing about a mega-church in Tyler TX called Green Acres where the stained glass windows are inside implying they create their own light. Nevertheless, when asked about what their chuch taught, they had no answers or any books about their doctrine in their massive complex. It only offered feel good sermons and fellowship.
Click to expand...
That church is sometimes referred to as “Six Flags Over Jesus” because their approach is more amusement park than worship.

😉
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
You have to love what Martin Luther did to Christianity. He is the father of fast food theology. If you don’t like what this church says, go to the one across the street. And if you don’t like that one, then down the road there are bounds to be 3-4 that appeal to your fancy.
Click to expand...
It is slowly coming back around…people are beginning to desire the real faith again.
 
MacBP said:
An interesting article. I think it is a mistake for a faith community to descend to the levels of the people they are trying to reach. Jesus certainly never compromised his moral authority in order to reach a bigger audience. In fact, he did a lot of things that tended to alienate the masses.

Perhaps that’s a lesson for all faith communities: quality not quantity. If you can reach four thousand individuals by capitulating divorce or homosexuality instead of reaching four by staying true to the teachings of Jesus Christ should you do so? I think the four individuals who were faithful to the authentic teachings of Christ would be worth more than the four thousand who were not.
Click to expand...
You hit the nail on the head! This is a great post addressing the rise of the “mega-church” in today’s secular world and how it waters down the fullness of God’s truth and grace to accomodate people’s lifestyles in keeping the focus on YOU. If you have never attended a “worship service” at one of these churches, this is what it is like:

northpoint.org/messages/christian

Does this feel like a worship service to the Almighty God who is so deserving of our love and praise? To me, it feels more like a college lecture on someone’s opinion on a theological topic of “What is a Christian”. I think these ministers are misleading in the information they are feeding people. It is the truth watered down.

Praise God that I was raised a cradle Catholic by parents who loved their Catholic faith and passed that tradition down to me because I don’t think I could stand being a spectator in the worship of God. I prefer to be a participant and praise Him.
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
You have to love what Martin Luther did to Christianity. He is the father of fast food theology. If you don’t like what this church says, go to the one across the street. And if you don’t like that one, then down the road there are bounds to be 3-4 that appeal to your fancy.
Click to expand...
hahah this is funny. Or just start your own church and get your theology degree in the mail!
 
Et_Cetera said:
I mean, if you don’t like this church, just don’t go to it.
Click to expand...
Hmm… the author of the article is a prominent Southern Baptist leader, and president of a large seminary. He has a legitimate reason to criticize what he sees as a threat to orthodox Christianity.

But he is simply voicing his opinion. This isn’t a news article.
 
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