What are your thoughts on this megachurch?

Rzr05 · May 5, 2013

1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

6. The atmosphere is impersonal and cliquish, pretty hard to "naturally" fellowship with others. Also, on one of their Facebook groups, if someone posts a prayer request, they'll only get a couple of comments, but if someone posts some big, upcoming event, they get a swarm of likes and comments.

What is your take on this megachurch? Do they sound a bit greedy? Also, do they sound like they have a "superiority complex", and are self-promoting? Lastly, what are your opinions on megachurches in general?

MrJim · May 5, 2013

Rzr05 said:
1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

What is your take on this megachurch? Do they sound a bit greedy? Also, do they sound like they have a "superiority complex", and are self-promoting? Lastly, what are your opinions on megachurches in general?

Sounds typical of modern "seeker-sensitive" contemporary megachurch.. :scratch:

...I don't do the megachurch thing and if it their tactics trouble you then you should perhaps move on and let them to their business of "churching" as they see fit...life is way too short to fret over such things.

strelok0017 · May 5, 2013

Doesn't sound like God is in the midst of it.

strelok0017 · May 5, 2013

Church should not trump her financial needs. No power of God will go through unless the arm of the flesh is cut off.

Brother Alan · May 5, 2013

How does one know whether the church is full of sincere leaders or has a problem. Sometimes it is difficult to spot until later down the line.

At least three signs will tell you something :-

1) is the leadership truly plural in nature or does one leader run everything ? If the answer is that one leader runs the church, beware.

2) Who is the leader submissive and answerable to (the other leaders should not count)? If no one, be doubly aware and consider leaving.

3) Do you have leaders below the 'top' who are mere clones of the leadership directives ? If yes be really aware and consider leaving.

hope that this helps

Blessings

BA

Hammster · May 5, 2013

Rzr05 said:
1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

No problems with this.

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

No problem with this. Holding members accountable to the debt of the church.

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

Our church will do a year at a time if you request it.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

I generally have issues with sermon series that aren't books of the bible. The sermon, prima facia, seems pointless.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

NO WAY!!!

6. The atmosphere is impersonal and cliquish, pretty hard to "naturally" fellowship with others. Also, on one of their Facebook groups, if someone posts a prayer request, they'll only get a couple of comments, but if someone posts some big, upcoming event, they get a swarm of likes and comments.

Is it them, or you? This may be subjective.

What is your take on this megachurch? Do they sound a bit greedy? Also, do they sound like they have a "superiority complex", and are self-promoting? Lastly, what are your opinions on megachurches in general?

I don't care for mega churches in general.

seashale76 · May 5, 2013

This:
Parody Of Our Modern Church Service - YouTube

Plus This:
What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable. - YouTube

And a little of this:
Real Preachers of Genius: Seeker-Sensitive Mega Church Guy - YouTube

Equals exactly how the biggest mega church in my city seemed to me, because I once attended it. The building has escalators and didn't even have Christmas services. It's locally known as Six Flags Over Jesus. I'll say this: I never ever considered becoming a member there. It was more like, I should go somewhere, I don't know where, so I guess here is better than nowhere, but it was pointless enough than nowhere seemed more appealing.

seashale76 · May 5, 2013

abysmul · May 6, 2013

Rzr05 said:
1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

I don't get "church memberships" period. It's not a health club, it's not some fraternal organization with a private bar, it's not "Sam's Club".
Church memberships are one of the many things that turned me away from denominations in general, let alone individual congregations.

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

Frankly, that sort of obsession with finances (brought on by the almost cult like "church of the neon god syndrome") makes me nauseous.

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

That's not in any way unique to mega churches. I think it's funny they are using money they get in those envelopes to turn around and by more envelopes to give to the people to put more money in the envelopes to be able to buy more envelopes.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

IMHO, "sermons" should be preaching the Word of God, not cheer leading or feel good garbage about the congregation.
The Twitter thing almost seems cult like to me, for some reason.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

I am personally opposed to celebrating "Christmas" at "church".
(Pagan rituals and holy days packaged around the birth of Christ by the original Mega Church)

6. The atmosphere is impersonal and cliquish, pretty hard to "naturally" fellowship with others. Also, on one of their Facebook groups, if someone posts a prayer request, they'll only get a couple of comments, but if someone posts some big, upcoming event, they get a swarm of likes and comments.

That's part of the "club" thing that Mega Churches are good at. Disgusting.

What is your take on this megachurch? Do they sound a bit greedy? Also, do they sound like they have a "superiority complex", and are self-promoting? Lastly, what are your opinions on megachurches in general?

My take: it's not for me and when I read the Bible I don't see anything close to a "mega church" being described.

Eric Hibbert · May 6, 2013

Rzr05 said:
1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

We do the same thing. Only ours are a couple of weeks long.

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

Not sure what that means.

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

If you mean tithing, then that's wrong, since the tithe was for the Israelites, not for the Church.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

Not enough info.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

Not enough info.

6. The atmosphere is impersonal and cliquish, pretty hard to "naturally" fellowship with others. Also, on one of their Facebook groups, if someone posts a prayer request, they'll only get a couple of comments, but if someone posts some big, upcoming event, they get a swarm of likes and comments.

Not enough info.

cow451 · May 6, 2013

Rzr05 said:
1. Attending a 3-hour new members class is mandatory to become an official member (regardless of being baptized at the church, transfer, etc.)

Why is this a problem?

2. One ministry of theirs is dedicated to the sole purpose of receiving extra donations to pay down the church's large debt (volunteers make 3-year commitment to donate extra).

Somebody gotta pay for the multimillion dollar Family Life Center and all the amenities. Or, congregants made foolish choices and gotta own them (no pun intended).

3. The church mailing out 2 months worth of tithing envelopes, with the dates of the Sundays on them.

Makes bookeeping easier and helps you if you deduct contributions on your tax return.

4. Them having a sermon series titled "I Love My Church" (with said church's name right underneath). They also encouraged members to tweet (using a specified, unique hashtag), about why they love said megachurch.

40% of sermon series are goofy, anyway.

5. Also, last year, when they were mentioning their upcoming Christmas services, they said something about making it THE place to celebrate Christmas.

If you want people to go elsewhere, why have Christmas services?

6. The atmosphere is impersonal and cliquish, pretty hard to "naturally" fellowship with others. Also, on one of their Facebook groups, if someone posts a prayer request, they'll only get a couple of comments, but if someone posts some big, upcoming event, they get a swarm of likes and comments.

Maybe you need to try another church. Or, pray about what you should do to be a better member.

What is your take on this megachurch? Do they sound a bit greedy? Also, do they sound like they have a "superiority complex", and are self-promoting? Lastly, what are your opinions on megachurches in general?

Again, there are a kajillion churches in the U.S.

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What are your thoughts on this megachurch?

Rzr05

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MrJim

Legend 3/17/05

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strelok0017

_______

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strelok0017

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Brother Alan

Newbie

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Hammster

Psalm 144:1

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seashale76

Unapologetic Iconodule

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seashale76

Unapologetic Iconodule

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abysmul

Board Game Hobbyist

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Eric Hibbert

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cow451

Standing with Ukraine.

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